Tinnitus affects more than 25 million people in the United States. If you or a loved one have recently joined that group, this article addresses your most pressing questions, including:
Is there a tinnitus cure?
How do I find a tinnitus specialist?
How can family members and friends help a loved one diagnosed with tinnitus?
What are the treatment options for tinnitus?
What changes should be made at home for someone diagnosed with tinnitus?
What technology is available to help with the day-to-day challenges of tinnitus?
Where can I get more information about tinnitus?
Is there a tinnitus cure?
Because tinnitus is typically a symptom of another underlying health issue, like age-related hearing loss or a neurological condition, there is no specific cure for tinnitus. Whether tinnitus can be cured depends on the underlying cause.
If, for example, tinnitus is the side effect of a medication, the ear ringing may go away if you switch up your prescription. Similarly, tinnitus symptoms might improve with treatment for hearing loss. In some cases, however, chronic tinnitus can be a lifelong diagnosis.
For people living with tinnitus for longer than 3 months, lifestyle changes, therapy, and environmental changes may help make tinnitus symptoms more manageable.
These might include:
Using relaxation techniques like meditation, guided breathing, or yoga
Listening to soundscapes, white noise, or other gentle sounds
Wearing noise-cancelling headphones or ear plugs
Joining a tinnitus support group
To learn more about support groups and other long-term care ideas for tinnitus, see Chronic Tinnitus and Long-term Care.
How do I find a tinnitus specialist?
When planning your tinnitus treatment, you’ll want to form a care team of specialists who will pay close attention to your regular hearing, not just your tinnitus symptoms.
Your tinnitus care team might include:
An otolaryngologist, also known as an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT), to identify possible tinnitus sources
An audiologist, to test hearing
A neurologist, if symptoms come from an issue in the nervous system
A dentist, if issues in the jaw or mouth cause tinnitus
A physical therapist, to identify movements or exercises that offer some relief
Your family doctor or primary care provider is a great place to start when looking for a tinnitus specialist in your area. If you have private medical insurance through an employer or family member, an insurance advisor may also have a list of in-network audiologists.
If you’re not sure where to start, Ability Central offers a national database of nonprofit organizations supporting people with tinnitus. The Service Locator tool allows you to search a wide range of service types based on location, specialties, and target demographic. Use this tool to find a nonprofit near you that can help connect you to treatment.
How can family members and friends help their loved one who has been diagnosed with tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be an overwhelming, frustrating, and isolating condition. It’s most important to have empathy for a loved one with tinnitus and to understand that their symptoms are real, even if no one else can hear them.
One of the best ways to help a loved one with tinnitus is to simply show up. You can offer support through conversation, volunteering to handle unpleasant chores, or providing company at doctors’ appointments. Only offer advice if your loved one asks for it.
If you have a loved one with chronic tinnitus, Healthy Hearing recommends the following tips:
Educate yourself about tinnitus.
Ask your loved one about their specific situation and how tinnitus impacts them.
Help your loved one relax by talking through their tinnitus-related anxiety or frustration.
Work with them on meditation and other relaxation techniques.
What are the treatment options for tinnitus?
There is no single medication or surgical procedure that treats tinnitus. Instead, treatment typically focuses on whatever is causing tinnitus symptoms.
If doctors aren’t sure what’s causing your ears to ring, or if treatment is still in progress, they may also recommend daily coping skills and treatment options.
These might include:
Sound therapy, like white noise machines, apps, and wearable devices.
Talk therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and counseling to manage mental health symptoms and develop coping methods for tinnitus.
Physical therapy, to identify movements or exercises that bring some relief.
Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, which are sometimes used to improve mood or help with sleep.
What technology is available to help with the day-to-day challenges of tinnitus?
Ongoing tinnitus can be frustrating and overwhelming, especially if someone’s ears ring all day.
In cases where tinnitus symptoms can’t be cured, technology helps make symptoms less noticeable.
Masking devices produce a continuous, low-level white noise that suppresses tinnitus symptoms. They are worn in the ears like hearing aids.
White noise machines placed next to your bed can help improve sleep. Some of the most common soundscapes used to help tinnitus at night are static, ocean waves, rain, or city sounds. Other devices like fans, humidifiers/dehumidifiers, and air conditioners produce their own white noise, and may also help someone with tinnitus fall asleep.
Some technology-based treatments use a combination of headsets, tongue or jaw stimulators, and control through a remote or app to reduce tinnitus symptoms.
Earbuds, wireless headphones that insert directly into the ears without a bulky headset, can also be helpful for people with tinnitus. Many people with tinnitus play white noise or music through earbuds while they sleep.
In addition, the American Tinnitus Association (ATA) recommends multiple apps for tinnitus management and sound therapy. You can download these to a traditional cell phone with accessibility features that help people with tinnitus.
See Ability Central’s searchable mobile device database to find a smart device that meets your needs.
What changes should be made at home for someone diagnosed with tinnitus?
Lifestyle changes and additions can make your home a more manageable environment for chronic tinnitus.
If you deal with chronic, daily tinnitus, doctors might recommend that you:
Invest in a white noise machine to help with sleep.
Create a consistent sleep schedule and comfortable sleeping environment.
Stock the kitchen with healthy options. Some people find that salt, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, and alcohol worsen tinnitus symptoms.
Get regular exercise. Most doctors recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times per week.
Create a dedicated space for relaxation. Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness have all been linked to tinnitus relief.
Finding community can also help someone with tinnitus feel less alone. Individual counseling, group therapy, and support groups can help identify ways to improve tinnitus symptoms at home.
Learn more in Chronic Tinnitus and Long-term Care.
Where can I get more information about tinnitus and hearing loss?
To learn more about tinnitus, see:
To learn more about other hearing and processing-related conditions, see:
Auditory Processing Disorder or Hearing Loss? Seven Quick Facts You Should Know
Understanding a Hearing Loss or Deafness Diagnosis and Your Next Steps
Phonological Processing Disorder (PPD): The Impact of Speech-Language Disorders on Children & Adults
Receptive Language Disorder: Why Can’t I Understand What People Say?
