ear, nose, and throat disorders
Tinnitus
Treatment of Tinnitus
Treatment of the underlying disorder may lessen tinnitus. Treatment (eg, with a hearing aid) relieves tinnitus in about 50% of patients. Because stress and other mental factors (eg, depression) can exacerbate symptoms, efforts to recognize and treat these factors may help. Many patients are reassured by learning that their tinnitus does not represent a serious medical problem. Tinnitus also can be worsened bycaffeineand other stimulants, so patients should try eliminating use of these substances. Although no specific medical or surgical therapy is available, many patients find that background sound masks the tinnitus and may help them fall asleep. Some patients benefit from a tinnitus masker, a device worn like a hearing aid that provides a low-level sound that can cover up the tinnitus. Tinnitus retraining therapy, offered by programs that specialize in tinnitus treatment, are helpful for some patients. Electrical stimulation of the inner ear, as with a cochlear implant, occasionally reduces the tinnitus but is appropriate only for patients who are profoundly deaf. 