How to Stop Tinnitus
Tinnitus – the perception of ringing or buzzing when there is no external source – can be an infuriating and confusing condition. What makes things worse is that the more you think about it the more difficult it can become to handle. But it is not insurmountable and can get better; here's how to stop tinnitus.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Lots of people assume that tinnitus is always a result of exposure to loud noise. But there are far more causes of tinnitus then spending too long at rock concerts:
- Hearing loss as you age – this is an inevitability which is sadly sometimes accompanied by tinnitus
- Stress or anxiety – at the very least this can make existing tinnitus much worse
- Ear infections – while these must be seen by your GP, and related tinnitus is likely temporary
- Ear wax build up – this is a surprising cause of tinnitus but fortunately one with a simpler solution: getting the impacted wax removed by a nurse
- Ménière's disease – a rare condition that affects the inner ear and is most often accompanied by vertigo
- Perforated eardrum – these can be caused by infections, pressure change or extremely loud noises, and will undoubtedly also be very painful
- Extended exposure to loud noise – it is always important to protect your ears, whether you work in a loud environment or enjoy going to gigs
- Diabetes – high fluid pressure in the ear can sometimes result in tinnitus
Whatever you suspect the cause of your tinnitus might be, it is vital that you visit a GP to ascertain its cause.
Preventing Tinnitus
If you're reading this and don't yet have tinnitus – or have only mild tinnitus – don't underestimate the importance of looking after your ears! It is important to wear protective earplugs when listening to loud live music, particularly if you do it regularly. They won't stop you hearing the music, but they will stop you hearing ringing sounds.
Relief Through Relaxation
For many people, their experience of tinnitus is closely related to the anxiety they feel because of tinnitus. This can be a horrible cycle because the more anxious you feel about your tinnitus the more you notice it and the louder it will seem. Thankfully, however, the opposite is also true, and as you become more calm you will notice your tinnitus less and less.
Everyone has a different relationship to this kind of anxiety, but some common elements of relaxation include:
- Meditation techniques
- Relaxing exercises such as Yoga or Tai Chi
- Ensuring you stay active
- Maintaining a healthy diet
Masking the Tinnitus
Related to relaxation, but making larger steps to actively block tinnitus sounds, are techniques for using sound to mask your tinnitus. You can try using the ambient sound of something like a desk fan, but you are likely to find active white-noise devices more effective.
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Tags: Aids for Daily Living, Sleep Better, Learn About Conditions, Tinnitus, Hearing Impairment