Tinnitus is something that can affect your life dramatically. However it affects you, the likelihood is that you suffer from ringing in the ears, or another noise that isn’t from an external source.

Some people suffer from it intermittently, whereas others have it on a constant basis. Whatever the extent of your tinnitus is, there are many treatments available, and you don’t have to suffer from this alone.

We’ve put together a list of treatments that your audiologist is likely to recommend if you suffer from tinnitus.

White noise machines

White noise machines can be useful if you suffer from tinnitus, and they’re usually recommended by an audiologist for use at night.

They emit relaxing sounds – such as the sound of rain falling – and can work to either lessen the noises that you hear, or cover them completely.

Of course, a white noise machine won’t cure your tinnitus as such, but it gives you some temporary relief from it, especially whilst you’re trying to sleep.

Masking devices

Another treatment that your audiologist may recommend is masking devices, which provide a constant source of white noise, to soothe your symptoms throughout the day.

It has a similar appearance to a hearing aid, and it could be greatly beneficial to you if you suffer from the symptoms of hearing loss, too.

If you can only hear a flow of water, rather than the ringing in your ears, when you’re next to the faucet, then this could be a good method of treatment for you.

Removing earwax

Earwax doesn’t cause tinnitus, but it can make your symptoms a lot worse than they already are, and as such, earwax removal may be a recommended course of action.

You can remove earwax by using eardrops, your audiologist can recommend medical earwax removal, or you could try a home remedy, like olive oil and cotton wool.

Environment management

Tinnitus can be made worse by a few factors, such as stress, consumption of alcohol, and caffeine. Your audiologist may recommend that you avoid those things that exasperate your symptoms.

Managing your stress appropriately is greatly important, and you may need to look into methods of managing it yourself, or visiting a therapist who can help you to do so.

Many different stimulants have been linked to increases in tinnitus symptoms, and if you find that this is the case for you, then steering clear of them may be a good idea.

Regular exercise

Many audiologists will recommend that you take up some form of exercise – if you’re able to – as this will help you to ignore the severity of your tinnitus.

This can also help with the effects that tinnitus has on your mental health, as it releases endorphins, so ask your audiologist about the exercise that you could do, no matter how small it is.

Speak to your audiologist

There are many different treatments available for tinnitus, but the best course of action is to talk to your audiologist, who will point you in the right direction based upon the severity of your symptoms.