There's no single cure for tinnitus or treatment that works for everyone. But there are options that may help you if you have tinnitus.
If your tinnitus is caused by another condition, treating that condition will help. For example, if your tinnitus is caused by an earwax build-up, eardrops or flushing out the wax with water may help.
Therapies that can treat tinnitus
If the cause of your tinnitus is unknown or cannot be treated, your GP or specialist may refer you for a type of talking therapy.
This could be:
- tinnitus counselling - to help you learn about your tinnitus and find ways of coping with it
- cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) - to change the way you think about your tinnitus and help it become less noticeable
- tinnitus retraining therapy - using sound therapy to retrain your brain to tune out and be less aware of the tinnitus
Managing your tinnitus
There are things you can do that may help ease your tinnitus.
Do
-
try to relax - deep breathing or yoga may help
-
follow some tips for better sleep - tinnitus may affect it
-
try to avoid things that can make tinnitus worse, such as stress or loud background noises
-
join a support group - talking to other people with tinnitus may help you cope
Don't
-
do not focus on your tinnitus - this can make it worse
-
do not have total silence - listening to soft music or sounds may distract you from your tinnitus
Support groups
Chime is the national charity for deafness and hearing loss. They can provide support if you have tinnitus.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
