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An estimated 12 million Americans have severe tinnitus, a chronic ringing or other distressing noise in the ears or head. Although there is no cure, there are treatments that can help. Many people with tinnitus are unaware that useful treatments exist.

If you are interested in a treatment program but are uncertain how to access appropriate care, the following steps can help you through the process.

Were you using a new medication when it first began? Were you injured or exposed to excessive noise right before it started? Is the tinnitus in one ear, both ears, or perceived to be somewhere in the head? Does it fluctuate or is it constant in tone? Do you have a hearing loss?

These are valuable pieces of information that can potentially lead your health care provider to a solution and you to relief.

There are several physiological causes of tinnitus – such as high blood pressure, an underactive thyroid, excessive ear wax, and in rare cases a tumor on the auditory nerve. Control of these medical problems can bring tinnitus relief.

Many people choose to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist, also referred to as an ENT or otolaryngologist. An otologist is an ears-only specialist. ENT’s or otologists can perform medical tests; screen for allergies, Ménières syndrome, or any pathology (disease or malformation); perform surgery; and prescribe drugs. In certain situations, doctors might order neurological tests (i.e. MRI or CAT scans). When a pathological cause of tinnitus is ruled out, some medical doctors refer patients to audiologists for additional tinnitus evaluation and treatment.

An audiologist is a hearing specialist with advanced degrees – always a Master’s sometimes a doctorate. Audiologists can perform all audiological tests and hearing evaluations. They can also, if licensed, dispense hearing aids (that can amplify everyday sounds to cover or "mask" the tinnitus), tinnitus "maskers" (hearing aid-like devices that produce a more pleasant sound than the patient’s tinnitus), and tinnitus instruments (combination units that include both maskers and hearing aids). Some audiologists offer counseling, relaxation strategies, biofeedback, and a tinnitus perception retraining therapy called "auditory habituation" which uses ear-level noise generators to help in this process.

Both medical doctors and audiologists can perform diagnostic tests – such as auditory brainstem response (ABR), electrocochleography (EcoG), electronystagmography (ENG), and a test for otoacoustic emissions (OAE) – to better determine middle ear and inner ear function.

Step #4 - Try Something.

• Hearing aids and/or maskers, drug therapy, and auditory habituation have all been used with some success.
• Counseling can help. Depression and/or anxiety occasionally accompany tinnitus in its early stages.
• Cognitive therapy is used to alter the way patients react to their tinnitus through the identification and elimination of negative thought and behavior patterns.
• Biofeedback therapy enable patients to consciously control their breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension through electronic monitoring. This treatment is usually coupled with counseling and other stress reduction techniques.
• Some cases of tinnitus appear to be of TMJ (temporomandibular jaw joint) origin. A dentist specializing in TMJ can perform this evaluation. Therapy may include orthodontia or a removable in-the-mouth appliance.

Try a treatment again. Something that did not work the first time around might work on a second try. For some patients, a combination of therapies is more effective than a single therapy.

Step #5 - Take Care Of Yourself.

• Use hearing protection (earplugs or ear muffs) in noisy surroundings. A worsening of tinnitus can be prevented by avoiding excessive noise exposure.
• Learn how you relax best. Exercise, yoga, meditation, and environmental audio tapes (rainfall, ocean waves, etc.) are stress reduction tools that can promote relaxation and reduce fatigue. You may find that the tinnitus is better tolerated when you are relaxed.
• Get sleep. Many people are able to fall asleep by listening to FM radio static, and electric fan, or a bedside masker. Caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, and some drugs can interfere with falling and/or staying asleep.
• Keep a diary. You might recognize a correlation between the tinnitus and your physical activities, consumption of certain foods, or drug usage.
• Be patient with the therapy you are trying. Many therapies require an investment of time to be effective. Remember that the goal is for tinnitus control, not a cure.