What can you do about your tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be a horrible affliction, affecting about 1-in-8 people in the UK. It’s a ringing in the ears, but it’s everyone is different. Some describe it as a whistling, a crunching or a hissing noise, while others hear buzzing or even something akin to music playing.

About 30% of people will experience tinnitus at some point in their lives, and of those who have persistent tinnitus, 1-in-10 will find it has a significant impact on their daily lives.

What causes tinnitus?

There are many theories, but the bottom line is, we don’t know. That’s where the problem lies.

There are some things that are generally agreed upon, such as tinnitus resulting from some type of change, either physical or mental, and it doesn’t even have to be related to the ear. The problem seems to be in the brain, which makes it even more of a mystery.

There are some likely causes, but none of them are 100% proven. Hearing loss might make tinnitus more noticeable, but it’s not the reason it exists. Exposure to loud sounds seems to be a common factor, so if you work in a noisy environment, your employer must provide hearing protection under the Health and Safety Act.

What can I do about my tinnitus?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for tinnitus. There are however different things you can do to lessen its impact.

At night, some people find sound therapy helps. Basically, this is a way to lessen the sudden juxtaposition between a noisy day and a silent night by playing some low-level background noise.

If your tinnitus is accompanied by any hearing loss, then trying to correct this loss with hearing aids is often very helpful for managing tinnitus. It may be the case that your brain is trying to make up for the lost sounds by creating sounds of its own, but again, this is all speculation.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help you manage the effect that tinnitus has on your life by helping you deal with anxiety and distress through mental techniques. CBT can be a stand-alone therapy or used in combination with sound therapy.

Exercise is always good for you, and there are some studies that show it may help with tinnitus. If you’re not used to exercise, try to build it up slowly, finding which activities are right for you.

Tinnitus gets worse the more you think about it, so finding time to relax is important. Meditating or yoga have worked for some people, while others keep their minds busy with other things so as not to think about the ringing in their ears.

Whatever form your tinnitus takes shape, you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from it all over the world. The British Tinnitus Association has more information and support if you would like to reach out.