How to Manage Tinnitus: Coping Strategies and Lifestyle Changes

If you’re heating a constant ringing, buzzing, whooshing or similar noise in your ear, you might be experiencing tinnitus. Many people experience tinnitus all over the world, and it is quite common. You may hear it constantly, you may hear it for short periods of time every now and then, it might be quiet and it might be loud. It can come in many different forms, and it can be caused by multiple different factors.

As hearing loss is closely associated with hearing loss, many may consider it a form of hearing loss – which isn’t necessarily the case. Tinnitus can be a symptom of hearing loss, but it can also be a symptom of many other issues, too.

You may experience tinnitus as a result of trauma to the ear, which can be both temporary and permanent depending on the case. You may also experience temporary tinnitus due to an ear infection, which may clear up over the course of a few weeks. With that said, there are many who are experiencing hearing loss every day, all of the time and adjusting to that can take some time. There are methods that many use to cope with their tinnitus and lifestyle changes that can help to alleviate the symptoms.

Using Background Noise

Oftentimes people with tinnitus will find ways to mask the noise they hear within their ears using different external noises. This is most commonly known as tinnitus masking, or sound therapy in which you use white noise to drown out the sound of your tinnitus. Ultimately it may come down to the individual based on preference, whether it’s ocean sounds, wind sounds, the sound of the rain or otherwise.

Even using music can help, however, it’s important to consider the volume of your music. Having your music too loud might be tempting if you’re really trying to drown out the sound of the tinnitus, but it’s important that you don’t have the music so loud that you damage your hearing. If you’re looking for something simpler, using a fan or something else that produces a similar noise can help just as much. Any kind of ambient and non-alarming noise can be a great way to reduce the impact of your tinnitus.

Accepting the Tinnitus

The biggest hurdle you may face when experiencing tinnitus is accepting it. It can be alarming to live with, and you may have some trouble adjusting to life with tinnitus. Know that it can improve, and your symptoms of an underlying condition might not be permanent. In any case, the best thing you can do for yourself is talk with your audiologist, they will be able to help in treating your tinnitus. Instead, looking for ways to work around it can prove to be much more helpful.

It’s also worth noting that feeling overly distressed about your tinnitus can actually make it worse. Overall stress and anxiety have been linked to the worsening of tinnitus, so accepting the symptom of an underlying condition is a must for making it easier to live with and finding more effective solutions with your audiologist.

Resting Your Head

Many note that tinnitus is can be worse at nighttime, as there’s often less background noise to help drown out the tinnitus. In times like these, it might seem like your tinnitus has gotten louder, especially if you don’t have a sufficient headrest. It’s recommended that you sleep with your head in an elevated position to reduce congestion. Having two or more pillows may help your tinnitus to seem quieter while you try to sleep and make it easier to mask it using your choice of white noise.

Get in Touch with an Audiologist

If you’re experiencing tinnitus, you should make sure you get a professional opinion as soon as possible. You should find out what the cause of your tinnitus is, and whether or not this is going to be short-term or long-term. You might find that you have hearing loss, you might find that you have an ear infection or you might find that your ear has excess wax. Whatever the case is, getting answers about your tinnitus can help you to pick your next steps. Talk with your audiologist about tinnitus and how to get relief.

If you want to make your appointment now or have questions regarding tinnitus, you can reach out to ChEARS Hearing Center at (619) 717-2601. The sooner you get your diagnosis, the sooner you can get to working on a solution.