Tinnitus Relief: Understanding Causes & Treatment Options

Tinnitus is a symptom, not a condition, according to the Mayo Clinic. Tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears, can be a result of ear injury, hearing loss or a circulatory system condition. It affects one in five people. For some it is only a mild annoyance, but for others it can be a major distraction in their lives. In some cases relieving tinnitus involves treating the actual cause, while other treatments are intended to mask the noise.

Instructions

• 1

  Identify the cause of the tinnitus symptoms. See your doctor to evaluate your medical condition. If your physician can identify and treat the cause, that can relieve the tinnitus. Ear/nose/throat specialists (ENT) are specially trained to deal with hearing problems.

• 2

  Check for earwax, which may be the cause of your symptoms.

• 3

  Treat a circulatory condition by medication or surgery, if your doctor determines this is the cause.

• 4

  Change your prescription medication, if your doctor feels your medication is the cause of your tinnitus symptoms.

• 5

  Suppress the noise of tinnitus by using a hearing aid, masking device or white-noise machine. These are used typically when the cause cannot be cured, and you need to treat or cope with the symptoms.

• 6

  Take a medication to reduce the symptoms. Medications used for this purpose include tricyclic antidepressants, alprazolam and acamprosate