If you have recently been diagnosed with the ringing in your ears that often constitutes tinnitus, you may have been surprised to discover that, while many treatment options exist, there is not yet a cure or a guaranteed cessation of symptoms. Fortunately, research is ongoing and there are numerous tinnitus treatment options available.Therefore, if one does not work, another might, and the following advice has aided many tinnitus sufferers in recent years.    

Consider The Use Of A Hearing Aid  

Since it has been established that there is a strong association between hearing deficits and confirmed incidents of tinnitus, one popular method of addressing the symptoms is the use of an appropriate hearing aid. It works by compensating for the changes the brain makes due to the onset of a hearing loss, which can reduce the sounds you hear. In addition, it can essentially cover up the ringing sounds you hear with the outside sounds that you have been unable to hear without the new adaptive device.

In a 2007 study, about one out of six tinnitus sufferers experienced a slight relief of their symptoms with the use of a hearing aid, and just over one out of five people reported a moderate improvement. Significant improvement was reported by about another fifth of the polled participants. 

Perhaps Cognitive Therapy Is A Better Choice

Cognitive therapy has been found to be helpful to tinnitus sufferers in several ways. It should first be made clear that the effects of tinnitus can be socially debilitating and make daily life quite challenging. Therefore, frequent occurrences of it are known to cause anxiety and depression. As a result, cognitive therapy is often needed in in order to improve the quality of life for tinnitus sufferers and help them to cope with hearing high-pitched sounds that nobody else can.      

Chronic pain sufferers have been benefiting from cognitive therapy for many years, applying many of the same principles. Essentially, when you feel bad, it's easy to let those negative feelings and emotions extend to the rest of your life and the same is true if you feel good. Cognitive therapy helps patients feel better and cope with the challenges and stresses of tinnitus in healthier ways.  

Prevent Additional Worsening Of Symptoms By Protecting Your Existing Hearing 

As mentioned previously, tinnitus is connected with hearing loss. That means that it's possible that if your hearing worsens, your tinnitus symptoms could increase in frequency or intensity. Thus, it's clear that you must protect your ears and hearing whenever possible.

Your primary care physician, audiologist, or ears-nose-and-throat doctor should be able to make recommendations as to the use of appropriate ear plugs, muffs, or other protective ear wear. Just as you might carry reading glasses with you in case you need them, it's a good idea to carry those units with you as well, in case you are unexpectedly exposed to loud noises. 

In conclusion, tinnitus is a debilitating issue that impacts many Americans in varying levels. As a result, it's best to be aware of your options for treating it, and above you will find information to help you to do so.