What Are the Treatments for Tinnitus?
Tinnitus treatment often aims at treating an underlying cause of ringing in the ears, according to Mayo Clinic. Possible treatments include removal of impacted ear wax, treating a blood vessel condition and changing medication that may be causing or contributing to tinnitus.
To reduce the symptoms of tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, physicians may recommend tricyclic antidepressants such as nortiptyline, alprazolam or amitriptyline, according to the Mayo Clinic. These drugs, though, may include side effects such as heart problems, drowsiness, blurred vision, constipation, dry mouth or nausea.
Noise suppression is also a common method to treat the bothersome effects of tinnitus, according to the Mayo Clinic. Physicians may recommend using a white noise machine to produce environmental sounds that distract from the constant ringing. Humidifiers, fans or air conditioners in a bedroom may provide internal noise as well. Individuals with hearing problems may find relief from the symptoms of tinnitus while wearing hearing aids. Masking devices worn in the ears that produce a low-level white noise may suppress the symptoms of tinnitus. Some patients may also opt to participate in tinnitus retraining, which is a process in which a wearable device delivers tonal music to mask frequencies of the ringing. Over time, this can help patients to focus less on the symptoms of tinnitus.
