Tinnitus is the perception of sound, usually a ringing or buzzing, that other people cannot hear. The symptom affects approximately 10 to 25% of adults. Though some patients only experience the occasional ringing, others deal with chronic cases (lasting three months or longer).
Let’s take a look at the newest tinnitus management tools to help alleviate your ringing.
Bimodal Neuromodulation Devices
A bimodal neuromodulation device is a newer form of tinnitus management. The devices send mild electrical pulses to the tongue while playing relaxing sounds through headphones. The combination of electrical pulses and sound stimulates changes in the brain to improve tinnitus symptoms.
Counseling
Tinnitus can lead to an unending train of negative thoughts. It’s common for patients to repeat thoughts like “Nobody can help me” or “It’ll never stop.” These thought patterns are incredibly easy to fall into. The more you think about them, the more they arise and the stronger they feel. The stressful thoughts can, in turn, lead to tinnitus worsening.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a qualified mental health professional is an effective tinnitus management method to minimize the negative emotional reaction to the ringing.
A mental health professional will use CBT to help guide your immediate reactions to more positive territory rooted in reality. They may begin by discussing the reasoning behind the negative or emotionally distressing thoughts. Once they understand what’s causing these thought patterns, they’ll teach you strategies to reframe your thinking. For example, “nobody can help me” could become “This is challenging, but I have a strong support system in my family and tinnitus experts that will help me through it.” By reframing your thoughts, you’re taking some of the power away from tinnitus.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy is one of the most common forms of tinnitus management. It works by masking the internal ringing with a calming noise. You may choose white noise, nature sounds, soothing music or any other sounds that relax you. Hearing aids are an excellent tool for sound masking on the go. If your hearing aids have tinnitus masking features, turn them on through the smartphone companion app whenever the ringing arises.
You can also use a sound machine or smartphone app to generate noise. Sound machines are beneficial at night when you’re trying to sleep and can’t wear hearing aids.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) combines sound therapy with counseling to help you notice your ringing less frequently. For TRT, your hearing care professional will use counseling to teach you to react to tinnitus neutrally. In addition to counseling, they will deliver low sound levels via headphones to minimize your body’s response to the ringing.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Tinnitus Experts
Finding the right tinnitus management strategy may take a few tries, but we’re here to help. Contact Advanced Hearing today for an evaluation with one of our trusted tinnitus experts.