What Is Sound Therapy for Tinnitus?

woman listening to headphones; sound therapy for tinnitus concept

Sound therapy for tinnitus is a treatment that uses specially designed sounds or white noise to help reduce the perception of tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing in the ears. The idea is to provide external sounds that can distract from the tinnitus and reduce its impact on a person's daily life.

Examples of sound therapy for tinnitus include:

White noise machines.
Tinnitus maskers.
Relaxing music or nature sounds.
Cognitive behavioral therapy with sound enrichment.
Hearing aids with tinnitus sound therapy features.

Habituation (or getting used to the noise) is actually another form of therapy. You can train your brain to become accustomed to the noise. As explained in the Harvard Health blog, "you listen to noise similar to your tinnitus sound for long periods.

Eventually your brain ignores the tone, along with the tinnitus sound. It’s similar to how you eventually don’t think about how glasses feel on your nose. The therapy is done with guidance from a specialist and the time frame varies per person, usually anywhere from 12 to 24 months."

The effectiveness of sound therapy for tinnitus can vary among individuals, but some studies have shown that it can provide relief for some people. In a review of clinical trials, it was found that sound therapy combined with counseling can improve tinnitus symptoms and your quality of life.

However, it's important to keep in mind that not all sound therapies work for everyone, and it may take some time to find the right type of therapy and sound that works best for you. Because the underlying cause of tinnitus and its severity is different for everyone, you should consult a hearing healthcare professional who can help determine the most effective therapy based on your individual needs and tinnitus characteristics.

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Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

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