Tinnitus is the perception of a phantom sound unrelated to hearing an external sound source. The perception of tinnitus can be constant or periodic, and localized in either ear or in the middle of the head. Tinnitus sounds can exist in many forms but are often described as ringing, buzzing, humming, or hissing.

Managing Tinnitus: Everyone’s personal perception and reaction to tinnitus can differ greatly. This means that not everyone will benefit from the same structure or components within their specific tinnitus management program. Tinnitus is most often perceived in quiet environments when there are no or few other sounds to hear and focus on. This explains why tinnitus relief is commonly achieved by simply enriching our sound environment. Whether it be actively listening to music, an audiobook, a television or radio program, or passively hearing other background sounds, including fans and humidifiers, our brain’s awareness and attention to tinnitus will decrease by increasing external sensory input around us. It is recommended to listen to sounds that evoke either a neutral or positive reaction when enriching your sound environment.

Tinnitus Maskers: Tinnitus sound therapies are a tool used to enrich the sound environment and partially or fully mask bothersome tinnitus. The purpose of a tinnitus sound therapy device is to provide auditory stimuli inducing temporary relief and distraction from tinnitus, relaxation, and help with falling asleep.

Hearing Aids With Built In Tinnitus Maskers: Since the majority of those with tinnitus also suffer from some degree of hearing loss, hearing aids can play a large role in enriching your sound environment. In addition to providing amplification for hearing loss, many hearing aids offer the option of tinnitus maskers for patients who are seeking additional relief. Tinnitus masking is a sound therapy used to reduce the perception of the tinnitus signal.

Smartphone Apps: Several hearing aid manufacturers offer free tinnitus apps for smartphones that offer different variations of tinnitus masking sounds and relaxation sounds. These include: Oticon Tinnitus Sound, ReSound Relief, Starkey Relax and Widex Zen. Some apps also provide general information about tinnitus, relaxation techniques, and instructional videos.

If you would like to learn more about tinnitus solutions, or how to integrate them into your tinnitus management program, please feel free to contact us to speak with one of our hearing care professionals.