Can Tinnitus Be Treated or Cured?
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If you suffer from tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, we have good news. A mix of counseling and sound therapy can provide relief.
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Research to Cope With and Eventually Cure Tinnitus
What Causes Tinnitus?
Most patients develop tinnitus as a symptom of hearing loss, caused either by age, long-term hearing damage, or trauma to the auditory system.
Tinnitus is more common in men, seniors, blue-collar workers, military personnel, and people with common health problems, such as arthritis, hypertension, varicose veins, and arteriosclerosis.
Roughly 90 percent of tinnitus cases occur with an underlying hearing loss. The worse your hearing is, the more likely you are to have tinnitus.
Another important risk factor for tinnitus is excessive noise exposure. It is generally true that the louder the noise and the longer the exposure, the greater the hearing loss.
How Can I Manage My Tinnitus?
Please note the details below are for informational purposes only. Ask your doctor for medical advice specific to your case.
Tinnitus Activities Treatment (TAT): This treatment method looks at the whole person and considers individual differences and needs. For example, your doctor will look at your sleep patterns and underlying hearing loss issues. Patients learn ways to improve their concentration, sometimes using background sounds, and change their reactions to their tinnitus.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This method of counseling focuses on restructuring negative reactions and regaining control over the condition. In addition to relaxation techniques, it teaches that while you can’t change the tinnitus, you can change your attitude toward it and in this way better manage it.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT): This therapy aims to make patients no longer aware of your tinnitus except when you focus on it, and even when you do notice the tinnitus, it does not bother you.
How Hearing Health Foundation Is Helping
This scientific work is made possible by Hearing Health Foundation, the largest nonprofit funder of hearing loss research in the U.S. Our Hearing Restoration Project is a collaborative scientific consortium that investigates the regeneration of hair cells as a cure for hearing loss and tinnitus.
Watch: Real Talk About Hearing Loss and Tinnitus From Noise
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