Are you Suffering from any of these symptoms as a result of Tinnitus? Call Today for a Consultation.

    Mild to severe anxiety
    Insomnia
    Triggered fight or flight

  Depression
  Negative thinking
  Crying spells

  Hopelessness
  Suicidal thoughts
  Ringing in the ears

Do you feel your family and friends don’t understand?
Are you growing more isolated?
Do you feel like life will never be the same?
Are you refraining from activities that you enjoy?
Are you fearful of losing your job?
Do you find that your thoughts tend to be negative?

If you answered yes to 3 or more of these questions or symptoms, then we can help.

You may be a candidate for Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy, or TCRT.  Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, with over 20 years of clinical experience, a New York University graduate, developed Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy and founded Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in response to the growing number of Tinnitus sufferers coming to his private practice. He discovered that by helping people to retrain and reinterpret the thoughts around their Tinnitus, anxiety and depression symptoms began to improve. But even more important so did the Tinnitus.

Call us at (646) 213-2321 for a FREE consultation.

See our main site: www.tinnituscognitivecenter.com
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Category Archives: Tinnitus Treatment

Top Tinnitus Treatments

What are the top tinnitus treatments? While many would think that the ringing they hear in their ears is nothing too serious, that unfortunately may not be the case. This ringing that people hear in their ears is called tinnitus, and it sometimes it is a symptom of a much larger health concern.

Top tinnitus treatments USA UK EURO
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Therefore, even if it does not seem serious, you need to be careful and look for more effective methods to treat it before it worsens with time. Fortunately, professionals have worked on many treatment options for tinnitus, including the symptom itself or the underlying health concern.

What are the Symptoms of Tinnitus?

Tinnitus has very obvious symptoms, but it can also be very personal. Often the ringing that people hear is unique to their ears, and no one else can hear it. It can usually happen when the small hairs in your inner ears undergo damage.

Due to the subjective nature of tinnitus, people can also be hesitant to tell others about what they are experiencing. Luckily, physicians have definitive ways of checking if a person has tinnitus and its severity. And depending on what they find, they will be able to recommend different treatment options.

Treatment Options for Tinnitus

Getting treatment for tinnitus is rarely ever simple, as physicians must first go through the proper process of diagnosing the situation. Therefore, treatment options can vary widely depending on the type of tinnitus a person has and their underlying medical condition. However, some very popular treatment options for tinnitus include the following:

Using Hearing Aids

Individuals who lose their hearing due to old age or loud noises can greatly benefit from hearing aids. These hearing aids can help reduce the ringing resulting from hearing loss.

Removing Ear Wax

The body naturally produces ear wax to protect the opening of the ears from dust and dirt. However, if the ear canal accumulates too much of it, it will likely affect the individual’s ability to hear clearly. Of course, you should only try to remove the wax using a q tip. Instead, it would help if you visited a professional who can safely clean out your ears.

Suppress the Excess Noise

People with tinnitus often face the most difficulty sleeping since there are no external voices to help mask the sound. Therefore, they will need to properly mask their tinnitus sound using various other types of soothing sounds. White noise machines often have various sounds that can help an individual sleep with tinnitus. You can also find unique headphones designed for people to wear when they sleep since they do not hurt the inside of their ears.

Best top tinnitus treatments
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Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is one of the most important treatment solutions individuals can get since it focuses on treating tinnitus symptoms through counseling and sound masking techniques. You will likely go to an audiologist specializing in treating conditions like tinnitus.

They will give you a masking device to wear while offering counsel. Not only are they trying to help relieve symptoms in the short term, but they are also helping an individual’s ears block out the noise. The treatment will also help you better manage your feelings when dealing with those symptoms.

Top Tinnitus Treatments: Conclusion

Tinnitus can be a very serious issue for many individuals, as it can greatly affect their lives. But with the right diagnosis and treatment options, people can learn to manage their symptoms and live normal lives again. With more than 20 years of experience of providing Tinnitus Retraining Therapy TRT, Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW R at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York, can surely help you with your condition.

Give us a call for an online consultation today.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
646-213-2321

Best Ways to Manage Tinnitus

What are the best ways to manage tinnitus? Tinnitus can be a difficult condition to both diagnose and treat, especially since a physician can never say with any guarantee how long it will last. Despite extensive research in the field, a lot about this condition remains unknown, which makes a proper diagnosis all the more difficult.

Best Ways to Manage Tinnitus
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Since tinnitus could be a symptom of an underlying condition,  physicians must consider various factors before recommending any treatment. So if you currently hear a ringing in your ear from time to time, you don’t have to struggle continuously. Instead, you can better manage your condition by following these tips.

Ways to Better Manage Your Tinnitus

One of the best ways to better manage your tinnitus is by finding out the many things that could trigger it. By understanding these smaller triggers, you can learn how to manage your condition better. Here are a few ways that you can better manage it:

Try to Get More Sleep

One of the few major reasons people hear a ringing in their ears is that they do not get enough rest. Sleep deficiency can lead to a vicious cycle of people not being able to sleep due to tinnitus, depriving them of valuable sleep, which then worsens tinnitus symptoms.

One of the ways that people try to manage their tinnitus to get more sleep is by playing soothing or masking sounds to cancel out the ringing in the ear. These soothing sounds could be of waves, nature, or even of white noise.

Allow Yourself to Relax

Sometimes, the only thing that makes tinnitus worse is you keep thinking about it. Constant stress is also a major contributor to this condition, as the stress could make the blood vessels less elastic. These blood vessels can transfer blood much faster, increasing the ear’s ringing.

It would help if you considered looking into Yoga, meditation, or any other recreational activity that can help you feel more at ease. Listening to music can also be a good way to relax, but avoid using ear plugs that go into the ear and loud volume.

Get Effective Hearing Protection

Another popular trigger for tinnitus includes loud noises, regardless of where they come from. Even if the loud noise is music, like at a concert, then it is very likely that you will hear a sharp ringing during or after the event.

In these specific instances, you must get effective hearing protection. From noise canceling headphones to earplugs, whatever can comfortably block out loud sounds can help you avoid tinnitus from resurfacing.

Best Ways to Manage Tinnitus TRT
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Reduce Consumption of Alcohol and Caffeine

Tinnitus can also be temporary, usually due to high blood pressure. Therefore, you should avoid consuming things that could spike your blood pressure. Caffeine and alcohol are infamous for increasing blood pressure to a dangerous degree, which could lead to a ringing in your ear.

If you depend on caffeine to help you get through the day, you should consult a physician on how to move away from it slowly.

Stop Smoking

Aside from the different ways that smoking can affect the body, it can also lead to people experiencing serious hearing loss. Smoking can also cause coughing fits, putting a lot of pressure on the inner ears.

Try Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Tinnitus retraining therapy aims to make slightly better improvements of the reactions made because of the links between the autonomic nervous system and limbic system. Its goal is to make the person suffering from Tinnitus habituate to the sounds and perceptions its brain is making. The Tinnitus retraining therapy involves several techniques that can achieve this.

Learn more about TRT here: https://www.tinnitustreatmentnyc.com/do-you-have-tinnitus-you-may-benefit-from-tinnitus-retraining-therapy/

Best Ways to Manage Tinnitus: Conclusion

Tinnitus is an unfortunately common occurrence in individuals. Some can have it for just a short time, but others experience it as a persistent problem. Following these tips and effectively managing triggers for tinnitus can help you live a more comfortable life.

Stephen Geller Katz at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York, has over 20 years of experience providing excellent tinnitus retraining therapy. Visit us in person or give us a call today.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
646-213-2321

Latest Data on Tinnitus

What is some of the latest data on tinnitus? Many people, especially adults, experience the tinnitus symptoms. In fact, an estimated number of 3.4 million people suffer from tinnitus. Not to forget, 56.1 percent of these adults are experiencing tinnitus for more than 5 years. On the other hand, tinnitus is affecting the remaining for over 15 years.

Latest Data on Tinnitus
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While tinnitus can affect people of all ages, adults mostly fall victim to this hearing condition. You can notice a direct correlation between increased severity of symptoms and people over the age of 51. Let’s see what tinnitus really is and whether you need to see a doctor for your tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus?

Simply put, tinnitus is a hearing condition that affects a person’s ability to hear a sound that has no external source. Normally, we are able to hear and recognize sounds when a certain thing in our surrounding environment sends sound waves towards our eardrums.

However, people suffering from tinnitus can hear sounds that do not have an external source. Many people happen to hear a ringing sound in their head whereas others also experience sounds like roaring, chirping, hissing, whistling, and humming, etc.

If you’re suffering from tinnitus, you might hear such sounds in one or both your ears, or even inside your head. Some with tinnitus can hear a sound coming from a distance. The sound(s) can be intermittent, constant, or pulsating. In fact, the symptom can vary from person to person.

More often than not, symptoms of tinnitus are very subjective but it can also be objective at times. This means that other people are also able to hear your tinnitus with you. For example, you might be hearing a whooshing sound in case you have a heart murmur. So, your doctors can hear such tinnitus with the help of a stethoscope.

One common type of tinnitus is pulsatile tinnitus that normally affects older adults. Pulsatile tinnitus is characterized by a heartbeat in the ears that usually becomes more prominent and noticeable during the night. In case you experience pulsatile tinnitus in your bed at night, consult a doctor for a tinnitus checkup. This type of tinnitus in older people can also be a sign of blood vessel damage or even a tumor.

What Causes Tinnitus?

Although tinnitus can affect people for long periods of time, almost everyone experiences it at some point of their life. You may experience symptoms of tinnitus for a short time after you’re exposed to loud noise, like at a concert or a party. This type of short term tinnitus can go on for 2 to 3 days.

Latest Data on Tinnitus
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Other common causes for tinnitus are:

Hearing Loss

Your inner ears have small hair cells called cochlea that move when met with sound waves. As your ear receives sound waves and movement of cochlea takes place, ears send electrical signals along the auditory nerve towards your brain. You are finally able to hear when the brain interprets these signals. Tinnitus can be a symptom of hearing loss if you have a broken or bent cochlea.

Ear canal blockage or infection

Ear canal blockage and ear infection can both contribute to tinnitus. Cerumen or fluid buildup from an ear infection can block your ear canal creating pressure in your ear. As a result, you might experience symptoms of tinnitus.

Head and neck injuries

Oftentimes, an injury of the head or neck can damage your ear and associated parts and functions. It can affect your inner ear, brain function that is linked to hearing, and auditory nerves. Such injuries can lead to tinnitus, usually in one ear only.

Medications

Tinnitus can also be a result of certain medications. Various medications can trigger or worsen tinnitus, especially in case of high doses. These medicines normally include NSAIDs, diuretics, antibiotics, antidepressants, and cancer drugs.

Latest Data on Tinnitus: Bottom Line

Although tinnitus does not indicate a serious health risk in most cases, it can also be associated with nerve damage or tumor. Therefore, it is important to seek professional medical help if your symptoms of tinnitus prevail longer than a few days.

If you’re looking for the top tinnitus treatment specialist in New York, speak with  Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™. Dr. Katz possesses over 20 years of clinical patient experience and provides excellent Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy.

Call Dr. Katz and schedule an online tele-session today:

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001
646-213-2321

Common Treatments for Tinnitus

What are some common treatments for tinnitus? Tinnitus is a hearing condition that affects millions of people all around the world. In the US alone, 50 million adults suffer from tinnitus. While tinnitus can affect people of all ages, it is most common among adults older than 50 years of age.

Common Treatments for Tinnitus

Moreover, adults usually experience the chronic form of tinnitus due to several aging related health conditions. In fact, various studies reveal that more than half of the adults affected by tinnitus have been experiencing tinnitus sounds for over 5 years.

Tinnitus Diagnosis and Treatment

Your medical professional will typically run a diagnosis based on your symptoms. However, tinnitus can also often be a sign of underlying health conditions. So your doctor might also conduct the following tests:

  • Hearing exam: Hearing loss is the most common cause of tinnitus, so a hearing test can help identify that.
  • Movement: Lips, tongue, or jaw disorders can also cause tinnitus. Movement tests can help identify underlying disorders that need treatment.
  • Imaging: If your doctor suspects a certain cause, they may need imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans.
  • Labs: Drawing and testing blood is essential to look for thyroid problems, anemia, or vitamin deficiencies.

Tinnitus treatment typically depends on the cause behind your tinnitus. Common treatments include:

  • Earwax removal: Cerumen (earwax) buildup can trigger tinnitus for many, so removal can prove significant.
  • Treating blood vessels: Damaged, bent or hardened vessels can lead to tinnitus in one or both ears. So, treatment of blood vessels can largely help address your tinnitus problem.
  • Hearing aids: Hearing aids may help if your tinnitus is a result of age related or noise induced hearing loss.
  • Changing medications: tinnitus can also often be a side effect of certain medications, such as cancer drugs. Changing the medication should ease tinnitus in such cases.

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Sound Therapy

There are four general mechanisms of sound therapy that work to suppress tinnitus sounds:

  • Masking: Masking is a form of sound therapy that uses sound maskers to cover up or ‘mask’ the sounds of tinnitus.
  • Distraction: Distraction uses pleasant external sounds to distract a person from tinnitus sounds.
  • Habituation: The practice of habituation trains the mind to disregard tinnitus sounds as unimportant noise.
  • Neuromodulation: Neuromodulation also makes use of specialized external sounds that rewire the brain to minimize neural hyperactivity.

Counseling

Counseling refers to behavioral treatment options that help affected people in coping and live with tinnitus. It seeks to change the way a person thinks about tinnitus, reducing anxiety and stress associated with stress. This way, tinnitus sounds no longer affect your productivity, mood, or concentration.

Best Common Treatments for Tinnitus

Common options include:

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

Tinnitus retraining therapy is a personalized treatment program that requires brilliant cooperation between a medical professional and the patient. TRT uses a combination of treatment methods such as sound therapies and counseling from trained professionals. Over time, tinnitus becomes less annoying and debilitating through tinnitus retraining therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy is another form of counseling that involves a licensed mental health professional helping you cope with tinnitus. The medical professional counsels and teaches techniques that can make the symptoms of tinnitus less noticeable and bothersome.

Common Treatments for Tinnitus: Conclusion

Tinnitus is a hearing related condition in which a person perceives sounds that do not exist in the external world. Constant ringing in the ears can have various adverse effects on the quality of life. So, seeking medical help can prove significant in enjoying life again.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York has over 20 years of experience in providing excellent TRT. Schedule a convenient online session with Dr. Katz today.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001

Call today for a consultation
646-213-2321

Tinnitus Sound Therapy

You may benefit from tinnitus sound therapy to help manage and treat your tinnitus symptoms. Tinnitus is a sound disorder that involves ringing, buzzing, and similar types of sensations in one or both of the ears of the affected person. It is a common medical problem that affects millions of people every year. It’s a fact that tinnitus usually affects older people because they are vulnerable to an array of health problems and disorders.

Tinnitus Sound Therapy & Treatments
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Tinnitus is a persistent condition that is rarely curable through constant treatment. If you have tinnitus, you might already know that ringing or buzzing sensations can be frequent and intermittent. Moreover, they vary in loudness from high to low pitches. When the sensations or tinnitus noises occur in sync with your pulse, experts regard it as pulsatile tinnitus.

However, many treatment options aim to reduce the adversity and impact of the noises that occur due to tinnitus. They aim to alleviate the discomfort due to tinnitus. Nonetheless, we will focus primarily on tinnitus sound therapy in this article.

What Conditions & Illnesses Can Lead to Tinnitus?

Here are some of the most general causes of tinnitus that also include health conditions:

  • Meniere’s disease damages the inner parts of the ears, which may lead to tinnitus.
  • Specific kinds of prescription drugs and medication also hurt cardiovascular health and parts of the ear, which leads to the manifestation of tinnitus symptoms.
  • Excessive ear wax buildup can cause infections and in rare cases, benign tumors, which usually affect the auditory nerves. This causes irregular electric impulses to the brain resulting in tinnitus.
  • Elderly people are susceptible to a high range of health problems as their body cells and organs weaken. The same goes for healthy parts of the inner and middle ears.
  • Stiffening of the minute bones in the inner ear (otosclerosis) leads to tinnitus since the sound conduction no longer remains efficient.
  • Injuries to sensitive parts of the head and neck can lead to deterioration of the blood vessels within. Hence, there are high chances of experiencing tinnitus and tinnitus episodes.
  • High blood pressure and cholesterol disorders can weaken blood vessels which damage the sound-sensitive organs in the ear.

Tinnitus Sound Therapy

Currently, there is no permanent cure to treat tinnitus or any of its rare or common types. Nearly all treatment options emerge from the field of ENT and pertain to reducing the symptomatic effects of tinnitus and associated health problems. However, among the various types of treatments and remedial approaches to tinnitus, sound therapy is one of the most sought-after and successful practices.

The first thing to know about tinnitus sound therapy is that it involves an expert audiologist who can handle and deal with multiple hearing and audio devices. These include hearing aids, masking devices, noise-blocking devices, and similar types of machines.

Tinnitus is an internal sound that occurs due to musculoskeletal and cardiovascular movements. Hence, it produces non-auditory sounds. Therefore, counteracting the noise symptoms of tinnitus with the use of external sound devices can help. To sum up sound therapy for tinnitus, you should know that your doctor will instruct you to wear the most effective noise blocking or reducing device in conjunction with relieving and directive counseling.

While sound masking devices will block unwanted external noises and tinnitus sounds to allow you to focus, directive counseling will enable you to conduct a transparent and non-bothersome thought process with as little awareness of the tinnitus issues as possible. Often, experts suggest that you use external sound devices to drown out the tinnitus sounds, making them seem less disturbing. This could include sounds of rain, wind, and others.

Top Tinnitus Sound Therapy Specialist
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Mechanisms of Actions for Tinnitus Using Sound Therapy

There are 4 primary action mechanisms in the tinnitus sound therapy treatment. Here are all 4 of them in a brief and comprehensible manner.

Masking

This involves the doctor or audiologist exposing you to external sounds. These sounds are loud enough to cover the tinnitus noises of a person, either partially or entirely.

Diversion

This mechanism refers to the distraction that the external sound causes, making the patient less aware of the tinnitus sounds.

Habituation

This is a form of directive therapy that aims to reclassify tinnitus sounds in the brain of the patient. Accurate guidance helps patients overlook tinnitus noises such as ringing or buzzing as neural signals.

Neuromodulation

This is a complex mechanism that involves using specialized sounds to reduce neural hyperactivity that experts believe is the origin of tinnitus.

Tinnitus Sound Therapy: Conclusion

If you are in search of the best tinnitus specialist near you, contact Tinnitus Cognitive Center™. Dr. Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, provides individualized attention to all his patients and caters to the treatment of different ENT disorders, including tinnitus and its rare types.

To schedule an easy, online tele-appointment with us, call 646-213-2321. We offer compassionate and reliable healthcare services to all the patients seeking to alleviate the stress and anxiety caused by sound disorders such as tinnitus.

 

Reference Links:

https://www.ata.org/managing-your-tinnitus/treatment-options/sound-therapies
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-tinnitus-basics
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/856916-overview
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4134891/

Tinnitus Treatment Options

What are the most effective tinnitus treatment options? Many people misinterpret tinnitus as a disease, but it’s actually a symptom. Tinnitus is the unpleasant clicking, ringing, and hissing sound you feel in your ear. At times, it can get very hard to control and makes you feel uncomfortable. Tinnitus also links to many hearing issues, making it difficult for you to hear properly. Tinnitus treatments include a variety of different behavioral, electronic, and medical therapies. It’s always best to consult with your physician before opting for any treatments. Mentioned below are the different Tinnitus treatment options available.

Tinnitus Treatment Options
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Different Tinnitus Treatment Options

1.     Behavioral Therapy

The intensity of tinnitus people experience has a lot to do with their emotions. This explains why it is so important to control your emotions to relieve the tingling sound due to tinnitus. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the best way to get a hold of your emotions, thereby controlling tinnitus. A common name for this is talk therapy, which helps people accept the disturbing sound they hear. Instead of getting rid of the sound, the therapy involves learning how to live with it. At the same time, it helps control your stress levels.

Psychological disorders like depression and anxiety are common among people suffering from tinnitus. These conditions make the symptoms worse and vice versa. Hence, it’s important to control it using CBT. You will have professional therapists overlooking this treatment procedure, and within a few weeks, you will feel less irritable in response to different sounds.

2.     Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy (TCRT)

Tinnitus retraining therapy is another treatment option. It involves a professional audiologist conducting the therapy. These treatments involve wearing a sound masking device and receiving counseling from a professional. As you hear different sounds, the professional will guide and counsel you through it. The purpose of this treatment is to reduce the feelings of stress and anxiety you experience upon hearing disturbing sounds.

3.     Hearing Aids

Tinnitus links with hearing loss as it is one of the symptoms of this condition. To revive your hearing ability, it is best to use a hearing aid. When you suffer from hearing loss, the brain starts perceiving sound frequencies in different ways. For this, a hearing aid is necessary. This device comes with an amplifier, speaker, and microphone. The brain is able to process sounds differently thanks to neuroplastic changes in the instrument. According to a report in The Hearing Review, around 60% of people experiencing tinnitus received relief thanks to the use of a hearing aid.

4.     Medications

Numerous antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs can help reduce tinnitus symptoms, giving you some sort of relief. Your doctor can prescribe most of these medications.

Top Tinnitus Treatment Options
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5.     White Noise Machines

White noise sound machines are a unique way to treat tinnitus. They do so by producing static and environmental sounds such as sea breeze or waves. These sounds provide a sense of calmness and drown any disturbing noise.

6.     Sound-Masking Devices

To reduce the sounds of tinnitus, you can use sound-making devices. This is an electronic tabletop device that plays sounds like nature’s noises, white noise, or any other ambient sounds. These sounds are louder than the static people may hear due to tinnitus. The purpose behind this is to eradicate the sounds slowly.  Some people also fit these devices in the ear for better sound exposure.

7.     Physical Activity

With tinnitus, it is common to experience a decline in well-being, and it only gets worse. This is why it is crucial to maintain your overall well-being. The best way to do that is by engaging in daily physical activity via a consistent exercise routine. This will help you keep tinnitus-induced symptoms, such as anxiety, depressive mood, and stress, under control. It also allows you to sleep better and stay fit to fight off tinnitus.

Other Treatments

  • Ear Wax Removal
  • Mindfulness-based stress reduction
  • Hypnosis
  • Homeopathic remedies
  • Acupuncture
  • Nutritional Supplements

Tinnitus Treatment Options: Final Words

Tinnitus treatments are readily available, but make sure you consult with a healthcare professional before acquiring any of these treatments. If you’re opting for behavioral therapies, make sure you seek them from a professional with years of experience.

For the best tinnitus treatments, visit the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York City to experience a new chapter of life unbothered by tinnitus-induced symptoms.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001

Call today for a consultation:
646-213-2321

Dr. Katz fluently speaks 5 languages. All sessions are performed online.

Can You Cure Tinnitus?

People suffering from this condition must often ask, can you cure tinnitus? Tinnitus is usually a symptom of an underlying condition that you may be suffering from. If you go to a doctor when suffering from tinnitus, they will initially diagnose you for another cause that may be leading to diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor cannot find another cause for your problem, and this allows for medical examination.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a symptomatic expression that causes you to hear a ringing or whistling sound without the existence of external sounds. The frequency, loudness, and type of sound varies from person to person. Some experience a hissing sound, while others may also experience a clicking sound. The most commonly reported tinnitus sound is the ringing sound.

Causes and Treatment

Depending on whether you are aware of the underlying cause that is causing your tinnitus, the doctor will treat it differently. If the doctor manages to treat the underlying condition, then the symptomatic tinnitus is likely to get better.

In some instances, an added wax buildup in the ear causes the occurrence of tinnitus. Therefore, earwax removal is the simplest and appropriate treatment for your tinnitus. Alternatively, if a more serious problem is causing the tinnitus such as a blood vessel issue, then the treatment could either be medication or surgery.

Can you cure tinnitus?
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It is important to note that the severity of the underlying condition determines the intensity of the tinnitus to a great extent. Your tinnitus may be more frequent and louder if you previously existing, and inherited issues with your ear. Additionally, tinnitus is also common amongst older people with hearing loss.

Can You Cure Tinnitus?

Your auditory system is one of the main reasons behind tinnitus. This involves the inner ear, outer ear, and the nerves that transmit signals between the ears and brain. People that suffer from tinnitus have faulty mechanisms in the auditory parts of the brain.

Thus, depending on the networking of the electric signals in the brain, the tinnitus you experience can either be persistent and loud, or subtle and low. In most cases, tinnitus is a rare occurrence. While to some people, it seriously disrupts their quality of life.

Since tinnitus is not in itself a condition, there is no cure for the symptom. However, you can find methods that can help reduce the intensity of the condition and make it bearable. Methods take shape in the form of medication, remedial techniques, and more importantly therapy.

As a person suffering from tinnitus, you can use many therapeutic measures to alleviate the pain. While there is no promise of a cure, there are therapies in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and some remedial measures that could improve your quality of life and help you deal with tinnitus.

Common Treatments of Tinnitus

Health practitioners will recommend plenty of techniques and options to mask the annoying sounds tinnitus patients hear. This is mainly because there isn’t any proven way to stop the sounds. So, resorting to sound therapy remains the alternative option for now.

TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy)

In this therapy, professionals use cognitive solutions, such as sound therapy and counseling to “retrain” the brain, or the patient to have a different reaction, perception, and understanding of the sound. Unlike a medical cure, this therapy leans towards psychological solutions, and it largely works because of the subconscious nature of tinnitus.

The idea behind TRT is to heal the person on the subconscious level since there are no effective options that will heal them physiologically. The brain has a natural ability to “habituate” or become familiar with a sound and ignore it, subconsciously classifying it as “white noise” or background sounds.

Thus, with proper counseling in the form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, a patient can ultimately achieve a different perception of the dreaded sound and learn to avoid it. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are the two main methods that comprise TRT.

Can you cure tinnitus? Treatment Specialist | USA UK Europe Dubai UAE
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CBT is a form of in-person counseling in which the therapist aims for the patient to discover the root and depth of their problems. With enough counseling and insight, it is very much possible for the person to look past the drastic sounds and not lose focus.

Sound exposure therapy also helps in this regard. In this, the patient exposes themselves to the tinnitus sounds more frequently with the help of an external source. The goal of this therapy is to desensitize the individual to drastic sounds.

With enough exposure to sounds, patients are likely to have a better response to sounds when they encounter an episode of tinnitus. There is plenty of evidence that supports the efficacy of these methods, and most of them have changed the lives of many suffering from this condition.

Can You Cure Tinnitus? Conclusion

Tinnitus is a tough condition to diagnose and treat, which is why it’s generally best to consult with a specialist. Stephen Katz LCSW is a tinnitus specialist in New York, with years of experience in dealing with tinnitus patients.

Call today to schedule a convenient online session, accessible from anywhere in the world. Dr. Katz speaks 5 languages and has dedicated much of his life to helping people diagnose & treat tinnitus and other sound disorders. 

Call Today

(646) 213-2321

Visit our website for more information.

Natural Ways to Relieve Tinnitus

What are some natural ways to relieve tinnitus? The most common definition of tinnitus is the ringing in your ears. Well, a patient suffering from tinnitus can hear multiple different sounds apart from just ringing. The sounds that a tinnitus patient hears have no external source or existence producing them. This can be quite disrupting for an individual, as there is no possible way to remove yourself from the annoying sound.

Tinnitus Causes

A patient can suffer from either short-term tinnitus or long-term. The causes for this condition are not certain but may vary from several factors such as earwax, loud sound exposure, stress, or even anxiety. Although genetics may also be one factor to blame for the occurrence of tinnitus, it is difficult to pinpoint one particular cause of tinnitus.

This is because tinnitus is not a disease itself, but it is a symptom of another underlying illness or condition. Conditions either may directly or indirectly result in tinnitus without any relation to the ear.

natural ways to relieve tinnitus
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What does Tinnitus Sound Like?

Most people describe tinnitus as a ringing sound in their ear; however, the wide range of sounds that people can experience includes whistling, hissing, grinding, buzzing, and more. Moreover, the frequency of occurrence may also vary in each individual.

For example, some people might experience the sounds constantly, while others can experience the sounds occasionally. Similarly, the loudness also alternates between very loud and very quiet. If you can hear some of these common sounds without any external presence of the sound, that is a good indication of tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a common disorder and affects people of all age groups, including children. It is more commonly a symptom of old age. For most people, tinnitus is a temporary disruption; however, to others, it destroys their quality of life.

Natural Ways to Relieve Tinnitus: Treatment

If you want to treat your tinnitus, you have to figure out the root cause of the disorder. If the tinnitus you experience is an underlying symptom of another condition, you have to treat that cause to get rid of the problem.

For example, if you have an earwax buildup that is resulting in tinnitus, then you must treat the earwax to get rid of the tinnitus to some extent or even alleviate the tinnitus symptoms.

On the other hand, if your tinnitus does not come from any underlying condition but only the abnormal perception of your brain, then you have to seek other solutions. Cognitive Behavior Therapy stands as, by far, the most widely accepted treatment that helps with chronic tinnitus.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

Tinnitus may be resulting from the drastic conditions of stress, anxiety, depression, or insomnia. These underlying mental conditions are common with people who suffer from tinnitus. CBT is a therapy that treats mental disorders such as these. Many people have reported their tinnitus to disappear, along with their anxiety. Some even claim their tinnitus triggers as soon as they come across a stressful situation.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aims to make people familiar with an uncomfortable situation so that they do not have an anxiety-fueled response to adverse situations. As a result, it makes you confident, calm, and free of tinnitus.

In other words, treating a person’s anxiety and depression will ultimately make their tinnitus better because they will no longer fall victim to stressful situations. CBT not only makes your tinnitus better but also improves your life’s quality.

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How Does it Work?

CBT, with a combination of medication, proves to be one of the best treatments for tinnitus. However, it is a natural solution that can also work without medication. It involves the key role of a therapist or consultant who helps you determine the inner workings of your thought process.

It helps you relinquish some of the feelings and thoughts that you have been holding on to. By doing so, it gives you another perspective on your anxiety and depression. In other words, it is the rewiring of the brain, which helps you act differently to a triggering situation.

To people that experience tinnitus at an instance of a stressful situation, CBT can be immensely effective.

Other Natural Treatments

Other natural solutions to tinnitus revolve around lifestyle changes such as frequent exercise and nutrition. Activities such as these help with inflammation, better sleep, and reduced stress. Thus, they can be critical in controlling the intensity of your tinnitus.

Some people like to resort to meditation to alleviate stress and anxiety, which is another method of treating tinnitus. Along with the common herbal remedies and supplementation, basic mindfulness is amazing alternatives to treat tinnitus.

Natural Ways to Relieve Tinnitus: Conclusion

Tinnitus can be frustrating and, in some cases, severe. The worst thing about this condition is that there is no particular cure or treatment for it. The only promise relies on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other methods. We provide the best CBT services for Tinnitus patients. Visit Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ and call us at 646-213-2321.

Treatments For Tinnitus

What are the treatments for tinnitus? Many factors can cause Tinnitus, including genetics, physical problems, noisy environments, etc. To know what is causing ringing in your ears, visit us for a thorough examination, including a close check-up of your ear. Tinnitus may also occur as a side effect of different medications. Therefore, when you come for an inspection, tell us what medication you are taking so that we can figure out the cause accurately.

If the source of your problem is not apparent, we may recommend you to consult an otolaryngologist, an otologist or an audiologist for testing your hearing, and nerves. Your examination may include an audiogram, which is a hearing test. We may also recommend imaging techniques, such as a CT scan or an MRI, to observe any structural damage.

Treatments For Tinnitus
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Treatments for Tinnitus

In most cases, Tinnitus is a result of an existing condition. Treating that condition/disease helps get rid of Tinnitus. If your ear problem does not relate to any medical condition, we will suggest you other non-medical treatments like masking the unwanted noise or therapies. Some Tinnitus cases may go without any medical treatments, but some do not – they need proper treatment.

If earwax is causing Tinnitus, our doctors will clean your ears with a suction device to give you instant relief. We may prescribe ear drops, which include hydrocortisone and antibiotics, to cope with the infection. You have to make sure to use the eardrops properly to treat Tinnitus.

1.     Medications for Tinnitus

Many medications can help you recover from Tinnitus. Some low dose anti-anxiety drugs, such as Valium or Elavil, may reduce some types of Tinnitus. For some people, placing steroids inside the ear with anti-anxiety medicine (alprazolam) is helpful.

2.     Masking Devices

Tinnitus maskers are also helpful for some patients. This masking device is like hearing aid but plays a pleasant sound to fight with the noise produced by Tinnitus. New masking devices come with both functions i.e., they can act as a masker and a hearing aid.

3.     Dental Treatment

According to many professional doctors, Tinnitus may also occur due to a problem in the TMJ or temporomandibular joint. This joint is near the middle ear and connects the lower jaw with the head. Some hearing nerves also pass through this joint. If the TMJ disorder is the reason for Tinnitus, dentists realign the jawbone to provide relief.

4.     Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive Therapy is a counseling process that helps you in understanding how to modify your reaction to Tinnitus. When performed with proper medication and masking, cognitive therapy can offer some great results.

5.     Cochlear Implants

This device is useful for treating deafness. Additionally, it can be a great help for people who have Tinnitus. This device sends signals from the ears to your brain. Doctors only recommend this surgery if the cause of Tinnitus is a hearing problem.

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6.     Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

This technique relies on the natural functioning of the brain. You hear the raindrops falling on the road or the roof when it starts raining. A few moments later, your brain ignores to hear those sounds actively. The noise of raindrops falling on the roof is still there, but your brain makes you let it go unnoticed. This is the basic principle that experts use when treating Tinnitus with TRT. There are two parts of TRT:

  • A person suffering from Tinnitus gets one-on-one counseling.
  • The tinnitus patient wears sound generators in the ear and plays some neutral sound.

7.     Biofeedback

This relaxation technique helps in stress management. Biofeedback can be helpful for some people as they change their reaction towards Tinnitus.

8.     Alternative Treatments

Some patients find relief from treatments like acupuncture, hypnosis, or magnets. There is no concrete evidence that these methods work. In some cases, people take vitamin supplements to treat the condition. According to some people, herbal supplements, zinc, or magnesium tablets have shown benefits.

Call Stephen Katz to Treat Your Tinnitus

The treatment your doctor chooses for you depends on your specific case. It is essential to know what the cause of this condition is before trying any treatment. Tinnitus treatment specialist Stephen Katz LCSW can help you with your condition.

Contact us at (646) 213-2321 to schedule an appointment.

I Have Tinnitus. What Are My Treatment Options?

What are your tinnitus treatment options?

Diagnosis of Tinnitus

Anyone who has Tinnitus should visit a specialist for evaluation and examination before treating the condition because many conditions, diseases, environmental factors, etc. can cause it. You cannot opt for a specific treatment unless the cause of Tinnitus is clear. The diagnosis may include:

  • Examination of the head, torso, neck, and ear
  • Hearing tests
  • Laboratory blood tests
  • Imaging studies

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Tinnitus Treatment Options

The first step in treating your Tinnitus is to visit a Tinnitus specialist who will diagnose your condition and find out the causes of its occurrence. If your ear problem relates to another health condition, your doctor will treat that problem. In most cases, treating the underlying cause helps overcome Tinnitus as well. Otherwise, the doctor will suggest you other non-medical treatments, such as therapies, or masking the unwanted noise. In some cases, Tinnitus would go away without any specific treatment. In other cases, you might have to go for therapy to get rid of the condition.

For instance, if earwax blockage is the reason for your Tinnitus, the specialist will clean your ears with a suction device. Clearing the wax will relieve you from Tinnitus. If the ear infection is causing you Tinnitus, drops like hydrocortisone and antibiotics will treat your Tinnitus.

1.     Through Habituation Techniques

Our brain subconsciously habituates some sound signals that it considers unimportant, such as the noise of gentle rain, computer fans, air conditioners, etc. TRT therapy works by continuously hearing some pleasant sound and eventually drowning the ringing sounds.

2.     With the Help of Masking

Masking devices are just like hearing aids, but they play a pleasant sound in your ears to help you fight Tinnitus. These devices drown out the ringing of Tinnitus with sounds such as white or pink noise. Some masking devices can mask the condition and act as hearing aids at the same time.

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3.     Through Medications

A variety of medicines can help you take care of the causes of Tinnitus, some low-dose anti-anxiety drugs like Elavil or Valium, for example. In some situations, inserting steroids into the ear along with an anti-anxiety medicine (alprazolam) can be helpful.

4.     With the help of Hearing Aids and Implants

A hearing aid can also be helpful if your Tinnitus is due to the loss of hearing. The hearing device will help you cope with the loss of hearing, which will eventually treat Tinnitus.

If the cause of Tinnitus is a hearing problem due to damage to the cochlea, the specialist will recommend cochlear implants. This surgery helps in treating severe deafness. It works by sending signals to your brain from the ears. Cochlear implants have helped many patients who had Tinnitus due to hearing loss.

5.     Through Dental Treatment

Temporomandibular joint or TMJ disorder can also lead to Tinnitus. A TMJ disorder is the result of the dislocation of the TMJ. This joint is near the inner ear, and some of the sensory nerves passing through this joint reach the brain to perform the hearing function. When this joint is misaligned, it damages your nerves, causing a hearing disorder. A specialist can help you with your condition by aligning your jaw and relieving you from TMJ disorder, and eventually treating Tinnitus.

6.     Through Stress Management

The biofeedback technique can help you with stress management. It can be helpful as your reaction towards Tinnitus is changed.

7.     Through Counseling

To treat Tinnitus, a specialist may also use this counseling method to help you modify your reaction to Tinnitus. This way, you can ignore the sound of Tinnitus. Cognitive therapy can boost the performance of Tinnitus medication and Tinnitus masking techniques.

Conclusion

Visiting a specialist is essential in treating your Tinnitus, as the occurrence of this condition may indicate a severe disease or some other serious medical condition. Tinnitus is an indication that something is not right with your body, and after diagnosis, you can treat that condition to treat Tinnitus as a result.

You can find a Tinnitus treatment specialist by contacting us at (646) 213-2321 or visiting our clinic for an appointment. Our specialist, Stephen Katz, can examine your condition to help you with the best treatment.

Category Archives: Tinnitus Treatment

Top Tinnitus Treatments

What are the top tinnitus treatments? While many would think that the ringing they hear in their ears is nothing too serious, that unfortunately may not be the case. This ringing that people hear in their ears is called tinnitus, and it sometimes it is a symptom of a much larger health concern.

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Therefore, even if it does not seem serious, you need to be careful and look for more effective methods to treat it before it worsens with time. Fortunately, professionals have worked on many treatment options for tinnitus, including the symptom itself or the underlying health concern.

What are the Symptoms of Tinnitus?

Tinnitus has very obvious symptoms, but it can also be very personal. Often the ringing that people hear is unique to their ears, and no one else can hear it. It can usually happen when the small hairs in your inner ears undergo damage.

Due to the subjective nature of tinnitus, people can also be hesitant to tell others about what they are experiencing. Luckily, physicians have definitive ways of checking if a person has tinnitus and its severity. And depending on what they find, they will be able to recommend different treatment options.

Treatment Options for Tinnitus

Getting treatment for tinnitus is rarely ever simple, as physicians must first go through the proper process of diagnosing the situation. Therefore, treatment options can vary widely depending on the type of tinnitus a person has and their underlying medical condition. However, some very popular treatment options for tinnitus include the following:

Using Hearing Aids

Individuals who lose their hearing due to old age or loud noises can greatly benefit from hearing aids. These hearing aids can help reduce the ringing resulting from hearing loss.

Removing Ear Wax

The body naturally produces ear wax to protect the opening of the ears from dust and dirt. However, if the ear canal accumulates too much of it, it will likely affect the individual’s ability to hear clearly. Of course, you should only try to remove the wax using a q tip. Instead, it would help if you visited a professional who can safely clean out your ears.

Suppress the Excess Noise

People with tinnitus often face the most difficulty sleeping since there are no external voices to help mask the sound. Therefore, they will need to properly mask their tinnitus sound using various other types of soothing sounds. White noise machines often have various sounds that can help an individual sleep with tinnitus. You can also find unique headphones designed for people to wear when they sleep since they do not hurt the inside of their ears.

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Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is one of the most important treatment solutions individuals can get since it focuses on treating tinnitus symptoms through counseling and sound masking techniques. You will likely go to an audiologist specializing in treating conditions like tinnitus.

They will give you a masking device to wear while offering counsel. Not only are they trying to help relieve symptoms in the short term, but they are also helping an individual’s ears block out the noise. The treatment will also help you better manage your feelings when dealing with those symptoms.

Top Tinnitus Treatments: Conclusion

Tinnitus can be a very serious issue for many individuals, as it can greatly affect their lives. But with the right diagnosis and treatment options, people can learn to manage their symptoms and live normal lives again. With more than 20 years of experience of providing Tinnitus Retraining Therapy TRT, Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW R at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York, can surely help you with your condition.

Give us a call for an online consultation today.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
646-213-2321

Best Ways to Manage Tinnitus

What are the best ways to manage tinnitus? Tinnitus can be a difficult condition to both diagnose and treat, especially since a physician can never say with any guarantee how long it will last. Despite extensive research in the field, a lot about this condition remains unknown, which makes a proper diagnosis all the more difficult.

Best Ways to Manage Tinnitus
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Since tinnitus could be a symptom of an underlying condition,  physicians must consider various factors before recommending any treatment. So if you currently hear a ringing in your ear from time to time, you don’t have to struggle continuously. Instead, you can better manage your condition by following these tips.

Ways to Better Manage Your Tinnitus

One of the best ways to better manage your tinnitus is by finding out the many things that could trigger it. By understanding these smaller triggers, you can learn how to manage your condition better. Here are a few ways that you can better manage it:

Try to Get More Sleep

One of the few major reasons people hear a ringing in their ears is that they do not get enough rest. Sleep deficiency can lead to a vicious cycle of people not being able to sleep due to tinnitus, depriving them of valuable sleep, which then worsens tinnitus symptoms.

One of the ways that people try to manage their tinnitus to get more sleep is by playing soothing or masking sounds to cancel out the ringing in the ear. These soothing sounds could be of waves, nature, or even of white noise.

Allow Yourself to Relax

Sometimes, the only thing that makes tinnitus worse is you keep thinking about it. Constant stress is also a major contributor to this condition, as the stress could make the blood vessels less elastic. These blood vessels can transfer blood much faster, increasing the ear’s ringing.

It would help if you considered looking into Yoga, meditation, or any other recreational activity that can help you feel more at ease. Listening to music can also be a good way to relax, but avoid using ear plugs that go into the ear and loud volume.

Get Effective Hearing Protection

Another popular trigger for tinnitus includes loud noises, regardless of where they come from. Even if the loud noise is music, like at a concert, then it is very likely that you will hear a sharp ringing during or after the event.

In these specific instances, you must get effective hearing protection. From noise canceling headphones to earplugs, whatever can comfortably block out loud sounds can help you avoid tinnitus from resurfacing.

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Reduce Consumption of Alcohol and Caffeine

Tinnitus can also be temporary, usually due to high blood pressure. Therefore, you should avoid consuming things that could spike your blood pressure. Caffeine and alcohol are infamous for increasing blood pressure to a dangerous degree, which could lead to a ringing in your ear.

If you depend on caffeine to help you get through the day, you should consult a physician on how to move away from it slowly.

Stop Smoking

Aside from the different ways that smoking can affect the body, it can also lead to people experiencing serious hearing loss. Smoking can also cause coughing fits, putting a lot of pressure on the inner ears.

Try Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Tinnitus retraining therapy aims to make slightly better improvements of the reactions made because of the links between the autonomic nervous system and limbic system. Its goal is to make the person suffering from Tinnitus habituate to the sounds and perceptions its brain is making. The Tinnitus retraining therapy involves several techniques that can achieve this.

Learn more about TRT here: https://www.tinnitustreatmentnyc.com/do-you-have-tinnitus-you-may-benefit-from-tinnitus-retraining-therapy/

Best Ways to Manage Tinnitus: Conclusion

Tinnitus is an unfortunately common occurrence in individuals. Some can have it for just a short time, but others experience it as a persistent problem. Following these tips and effectively managing triggers for tinnitus can help you live a more comfortable life.

Stephen Geller Katz at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York, has over 20 years of experience providing excellent tinnitus retraining therapy. Visit us in person or give us a call today.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™
Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
646-213-2321

Latest Data on Tinnitus

What is some of the latest data on tinnitus? Many people, especially adults, experience the tinnitus symptoms. In fact, an estimated number of 3.4 million people suffer from tinnitus. Not to forget, 56.1 percent of these adults are experiencing tinnitus for more than 5 years. On the other hand, tinnitus is affecting the remaining for over 15 years.

Latest Data on Tinnitus
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While tinnitus can affect people of all ages, adults mostly fall victim to this hearing condition. You can notice a direct correlation between increased severity of symptoms and people over the age of 51. Let’s see what tinnitus really is and whether you need to see a doctor for your tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus?

Simply put, tinnitus is a hearing condition that affects a person’s ability to hear a sound that has no external source. Normally, we are able to hear and recognize sounds when a certain thing in our surrounding environment sends sound waves towards our eardrums.

However, people suffering from tinnitus can hear sounds that do not have an external source. Many people happen to hear a ringing sound in their head whereas others also experience sounds like roaring, chirping, hissing, whistling, and humming, etc.

If you’re suffering from tinnitus, you might hear such sounds in one or both your ears, or even inside your head. Some with tinnitus can hear a sound coming from a distance. The sound(s) can be intermittent, constant, or pulsating. In fact, the symptom can vary from person to person.

More often than not, symptoms of tinnitus are very subjective but it can also be objective at times. This means that other people are also able to hear your tinnitus with you. For example, you might be hearing a whooshing sound in case you have a heart murmur. So, your doctors can hear such tinnitus with the help of a stethoscope.

One common type of tinnitus is pulsatile tinnitus that normally affects older adults. Pulsatile tinnitus is characterized by a heartbeat in the ears that usually becomes more prominent and noticeable during the night. In case you experience pulsatile tinnitus in your bed at night, consult a doctor for a tinnitus checkup. This type of tinnitus in older people can also be a sign of blood vessel damage or even a tumor.

What Causes Tinnitus?

Although tinnitus can affect people for long periods of time, almost everyone experiences it at some point of their life. You may experience symptoms of tinnitus for a short time after you’re exposed to loud noise, like at a concert or a party. This type of short term tinnitus can go on for 2 to 3 days.

Latest Data on Tinnitus
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Other common causes for tinnitus are:

Hearing Loss

Your inner ears have small hair cells called cochlea that move when met with sound waves. As your ear receives sound waves and movement of cochlea takes place, ears send electrical signals along the auditory nerve towards your brain. You are finally able to hear when the brain interprets these signals. Tinnitus can be a symptom of hearing loss if you have a broken or bent cochlea.

Ear canal blockage or infection

Ear canal blockage and ear infection can both contribute to tinnitus. Cerumen or fluid buildup from an ear infection can block your ear canal creating pressure in your ear. As a result, you might experience symptoms of tinnitus.

Head and neck injuries

Oftentimes, an injury of the head or neck can damage your ear and associated parts and functions. It can affect your inner ear, brain function that is linked to hearing, and auditory nerves. Such injuries can lead to tinnitus, usually in one ear only.

Medications

Tinnitus can also be a result of certain medications. Various medications can trigger or worsen tinnitus, especially in case of high doses. These medicines normally include NSAIDs, diuretics, antibiotics, antidepressants, and cancer drugs.

Latest Data on Tinnitus: Bottom Line

Although tinnitus does not indicate a serious health risk in most cases, it can also be associated with nerve damage or tumor. Therefore, it is important to seek professional medical help if your symptoms of tinnitus prevail longer than a few days.

If you’re looking for the top tinnitus treatment specialist in New York, speak with  Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™. Dr. Katz possesses over 20 years of clinical patient experience and provides excellent Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy.

Call Dr. Katz and schedule an online tele-session today:

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001
646-213-2321

Common Treatments for Tinnitus

What are some common treatments for tinnitus? Tinnitus is a hearing condition that affects millions of people all around the world. In the US alone, 50 million adults suffer from tinnitus. While tinnitus can affect people of all ages, it is most common among adults older than 50 years of age.

Common Treatments for Tinnitus

Moreover, adults usually experience the chronic form of tinnitus due to several aging related health conditions. In fact, various studies reveal that more than half of the adults affected by tinnitus have been experiencing tinnitus sounds for over 5 years.

Tinnitus Diagnosis and Treatment

Your medical professional will typically run a diagnosis based on your symptoms. However, tinnitus can also often be a sign of underlying health conditions. So your doctor might also conduct the following tests:

  • Hearing exam: Hearing loss is the most common cause of tinnitus, so a hearing test can help identify that.
  • Movement: Lips, tongue, or jaw disorders can also cause tinnitus. Movement tests can help identify underlying disorders that need treatment.
  • Imaging: If your doctor suspects a certain cause, they may need imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans.
  • Labs: Drawing and testing blood is essential to look for thyroid problems, anemia, or vitamin deficiencies.

Tinnitus treatment typically depends on the cause behind your tinnitus. Common treatments include:

  • Earwax removal: Cerumen (earwax) buildup can trigger tinnitus for many, so removal can prove significant.
  • Treating blood vessels: Damaged, bent or hardened vessels can lead to tinnitus in one or both ears. So, treatment of blood vessels can largely help address your tinnitus problem.
  • Hearing aids: Hearing aids may help if your tinnitus is a result of age related or noise induced hearing loss.
  • Changing medications: tinnitus can also often be a side effect of certain medications, such as cancer drugs. Changing the medication should ease tinnitus in such cases.

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Sound Therapy

There are four general mechanisms of sound therapy that work to suppress tinnitus sounds:

  • Masking: Masking is a form of sound therapy that uses sound maskers to cover up or ‘mask’ the sounds of tinnitus.
  • Distraction: Distraction uses pleasant external sounds to distract a person from tinnitus sounds.
  • Habituation: The practice of habituation trains the mind to disregard tinnitus sounds as unimportant noise.
  • Neuromodulation: Neuromodulation also makes use of specialized external sounds that rewire the brain to minimize neural hyperactivity.

Counseling

Counseling refers to behavioral treatment options that help affected people in coping and live with tinnitus. It seeks to change the way a person thinks about tinnitus, reducing anxiety and stress associated with stress. This way, tinnitus sounds no longer affect your productivity, mood, or concentration.

Best Common Treatments for Tinnitus

Common options include:

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

Tinnitus retraining therapy is a personalized treatment program that requires brilliant cooperation between a medical professional and the patient. TRT uses a combination of treatment methods such as sound therapies and counseling from trained professionals. Over time, tinnitus becomes less annoying and debilitating through tinnitus retraining therapy.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy is another form of counseling that involves a licensed mental health professional helping you cope with tinnitus. The medical professional counsels and teaches techniques that can make the symptoms of tinnitus less noticeable and bothersome.

Common Treatments for Tinnitus: Conclusion

Tinnitus is a hearing related condition in which a person perceives sounds that do not exist in the external world. Constant ringing in the ears can have various adverse effects on the quality of life. So, seeking medical help can prove significant in enjoying life again.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R at the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York has over 20 years of experience in providing excellent TRT. Schedule a convenient online session with Dr. Katz today.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001

Call today for a consultation
646-213-2321

Tinnitus Sound Therapy

You may benefit from tinnitus sound therapy to help manage and treat your tinnitus symptoms. Tinnitus is a sound disorder that involves ringing, buzzing, and similar types of sensations in one or both of the ears of the affected person. It is a common medical problem that affects millions of people every year. It’s a fact that tinnitus usually affects older people because they are vulnerable to an array of health problems and disorders.

Tinnitus Sound Therapy & Treatments
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Tinnitus is a persistent condition that is rarely curable through constant treatment. If you have tinnitus, you might already know that ringing or buzzing sensations can be frequent and intermittent. Moreover, they vary in loudness from high to low pitches. When the sensations or tinnitus noises occur in sync with your pulse, experts regard it as pulsatile tinnitus.

However, many treatment options aim to reduce the adversity and impact of the noises that occur due to tinnitus. They aim to alleviate the discomfort due to tinnitus. Nonetheless, we will focus primarily on tinnitus sound therapy in this article.

What Conditions & Illnesses Can Lead to Tinnitus?

Here are some of the most general causes of tinnitus that also include health conditions:

  • Meniere’s disease damages the inner parts of the ears, which may lead to tinnitus.
  • Specific kinds of prescription drugs and medication also hurt cardiovascular health and parts of the ear, which leads to the manifestation of tinnitus symptoms.
  • Excessive ear wax buildup can cause infections and in rare cases, benign tumors, which usually affect the auditory nerves. This causes irregular electric impulses to the brain resulting in tinnitus.
  • Elderly people are susceptible to a high range of health problems as their body cells and organs weaken. The same goes for healthy parts of the inner and middle ears.
  • Stiffening of the minute bones in the inner ear (otosclerosis) leads to tinnitus since the sound conduction no longer remains efficient.
  • Injuries to sensitive parts of the head and neck can lead to deterioration of the blood vessels within. Hence, there are high chances of experiencing tinnitus and tinnitus episodes.
  • High blood pressure and cholesterol disorders can weaken blood vessels which damage the sound-sensitive organs in the ear.

Tinnitus Sound Therapy

Currently, there is no permanent cure to treat tinnitus or any of its rare or common types. Nearly all treatment options emerge from the field of ENT and pertain to reducing the symptomatic effects of tinnitus and associated health problems. However, among the various types of treatments and remedial approaches to tinnitus, sound therapy is one of the most sought-after and successful practices.

The first thing to know about tinnitus sound therapy is that it involves an expert audiologist who can handle and deal with multiple hearing and audio devices. These include hearing aids, masking devices, noise-blocking devices, and similar types of machines.

Tinnitus is an internal sound that occurs due to musculoskeletal and cardiovascular movements. Hence, it produces non-auditory sounds. Therefore, counteracting the noise symptoms of tinnitus with the use of external sound devices can help. To sum up sound therapy for tinnitus, you should know that your doctor will instruct you to wear the most effective noise blocking or reducing device in conjunction with relieving and directive counseling.

While sound masking devices will block unwanted external noises and tinnitus sounds to allow you to focus, directive counseling will enable you to conduct a transparent and non-bothersome thought process with as little awareness of the tinnitus issues as possible. Often, experts suggest that you use external sound devices to drown out the tinnitus sounds, making them seem less disturbing. This could include sounds of rain, wind, and others.

Top Tinnitus Sound Therapy Specialist
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Mechanisms of Actions for Tinnitus Using Sound Therapy

There are 4 primary action mechanisms in the tinnitus sound therapy treatment. Here are all 4 of them in a brief and comprehensible manner.

Masking

This involves the doctor or audiologist exposing you to external sounds. These sounds are loud enough to cover the tinnitus noises of a person, either partially or entirely.

Diversion

This mechanism refers to the distraction that the external sound causes, making the patient less aware of the tinnitus sounds.

Habituation

This is a form of directive therapy that aims to reclassify tinnitus sounds in the brain of the patient. Accurate guidance helps patients overlook tinnitus noises such as ringing or buzzing as neural signals.

Neuromodulation

This is a complex mechanism that involves using specialized sounds to reduce neural hyperactivity that experts believe is the origin of tinnitus.

Tinnitus Sound Therapy: Conclusion

If you are in search of the best tinnitus specialist near you, contact Tinnitus Cognitive Center™. Dr. Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, provides individualized attention to all his patients and caters to the treatment of different ENT disorders, including tinnitus and its rare types.

To schedule an easy, online tele-appointment with us, call 646-213-2321. We offer compassionate and reliable healthcare services to all the patients seeking to alleviate the stress and anxiety caused by sound disorders such as tinnitus.

 

Reference Links:

https://www.ata.org/managing-your-tinnitus/treatment-options/sound-therapies
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-tinnitus-basics
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/856916-overview
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4134891/

Tinnitus Treatment Options

What are the most effective tinnitus treatment options? Many people misinterpret tinnitus as a disease, but it’s actually a symptom. Tinnitus is the unpleasant clicking, ringing, and hissing sound you feel in your ear. At times, it can get very hard to control and makes you feel uncomfortable. Tinnitus also links to many hearing issues, making it difficult for you to hear properly. Tinnitus treatments include a variety of different behavioral, electronic, and medical therapies. It’s always best to consult with your physician before opting for any treatments. Mentioned below are the different Tinnitus treatment options available.

Tinnitus Treatment Options
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Different Tinnitus Treatment Options

1.     Behavioral Therapy

The intensity of tinnitus people experience has a lot to do with their emotions. This explains why it is so important to control your emotions to relieve the tingling sound due to tinnitus. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the best way to get a hold of your emotions, thereby controlling tinnitus. A common name for this is talk therapy, which helps people accept the disturbing sound they hear. Instead of getting rid of the sound, the therapy involves learning how to live with it. At the same time, it helps control your stress levels.

Psychological disorders like depression and anxiety are common among people suffering from tinnitus. These conditions make the symptoms worse and vice versa. Hence, it’s important to control it using CBT. You will have professional therapists overlooking this treatment procedure, and within a few weeks, you will feel less irritable in response to different sounds.

2.     Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy (TCRT)

Tinnitus retraining therapy is another treatment option. It involves a professional audiologist conducting the therapy. These treatments involve wearing a sound masking device and receiving counseling from a professional. As you hear different sounds, the professional will guide and counsel you through it. The purpose of this treatment is to reduce the feelings of stress and anxiety you experience upon hearing disturbing sounds.

3.     Hearing Aids

Tinnitus links with hearing loss as it is one of the symptoms of this condition. To revive your hearing ability, it is best to use a hearing aid. When you suffer from hearing loss, the brain starts perceiving sound frequencies in different ways. For this, a hearing aid is necessary. This device comes with an amplifier, speaker, and microphone. The brain is able to process sounds differently thanks to neuroplastic changes in the instrument. According to a report in The Hearing Review, around 60% of people experiencing tinnitus received relief thanks to the use of a hearing aid.

4.     Medications

Numerous antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs can help reduce tinnitus symptoms, giving you some sort of relief. Your doctor can prescribe most of these medications.

Top Tinnitus Treatment Options
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5.     White Noise Machines

White noise sound machines are a unique way to treat tinnitus. They do so by producing static and environmental sounds such as sea breeze or waves. These sounds provide a sense of calmness and drown any disturbing noise.

6.     Sound-Masking Devices

To reduce the sounds of tinnitus, you can use sound-making devices. This is an electronic tabletop device that plays sounds like nature’s noises, white noise, or any other ambient sounds. These sounds are louder than the static people may hear due to tinnitus. The purpose behind this is to eradicate the sounds slowly.  Some people also fit these devices in the ear for better sound exposure.

7.     Physical Activity

With tinnitus, it is common to experience a decline in well-being, and it only gets worse. This is why it is crucial to maintain your overall well-being. The best way to do that is by engaging in daily physical activity via a consistent exercise routine. This will help you keep tinnitus-induced symptoms, such as anxiety, depressive mood, and stress, under control. It also allows you to sleep better and stay fit to fight off tinnitus.

Other Treatments

  • Ear Wax Removal
  • Mindfulness-based stress reduction
  • Hypnosis
  • Homeopathic remedies
  • Acupuncture
  • Nutritional Supplements

Tinnitus Treatment Options: Final Words

Tinnitus treatments are readily available, but make sure you consult with a healthcare professional before acquiring any of these treatments. If you’re opting for behavioral therapies, make sure you seek them from a professional with years of experience.

For the best tinnitus treatments, visit the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in New York City to experience a new chapter of life unbothered by tinnitus-induced symptoms.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001

Call today for a consultation:
646-213-2321

Dr. Katz fluently speaks 5 languages. All sessions are performed online.

Can You Cure Tinnitus?

People suffering from this condition must often ask, can you cure tinnitus? Tinnitus is usually a symptom of an underlying condition that you may be suffering from. If you go to a doctor when suffering from tinnitus, they will initially diagnose you for another cause that may be leading to diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor cannot find another cause for your problem, and this allows for medical examination.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a symptomatic expression that causes you to hear a ringing or whistling sound without the existence of external sounds. The frequency, loudness, and type of sound varies from person to person. Some experience a hissing sound, while others may also experience a clicking sound. The most commonly reported tinnitus sound is the ringing sound.

Causes and Treatment

Depending on whether you are aware of the underlying cause that is causing your tinnitus, the doctor will treat it differently. If the doctor manages to treat the underlying condition, then the symptomatic tinnitus is likely to get better.

In some instances, an added wax buildup in the ear causes the occurrence of tinnitus. Therefore, earwax removal is the simplest and appropriate treatment for your tinnitus. Alternatively, if a more serious problem is causing the tinnitus such as a blood vessel issue, then the treatment could either be medication or surgery.

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It is important to note that the severity of the underlying condition determines the intensity of the tinnitus to a great extent. Your tinnitus may be more frequent and louder if you previously existing, and inherited issues with your ear. Additionally, tinnitus is also common amongst older people with hearing loss.

Can You Cure Tinnitus?

Your auditory system is one of the main reasons behind tinnitus. This involves the inner ear, outer ear, and the nerves that transmit signals between the ears and brain. People that suffer from tinnitus have faulty mechanisms in the auditory parts of the brain.

Thus, depending on the networking of the electric signals in the brain, the tinnitus you experience can either be persistent and loud, or subtle and low. In most cases, tinnitus is a rare occurrence. While to some people, it seriously disrupts their quality of life.

Since tinnitus is not in itself a condition, there is no cure for the symptom. However, you can find methods that can help reduce the intensity of the condition and make it bearable. Methods take shape in the form of medication, remedial techniques, and more importantly therapy.

As a person suffering from tinnitus, you can use many therapeutic measures to alleviate the pain. While there is no promise of a cure, there are therapies in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and some remedial measures that could improve your quality of life and help you deal with tinnitus.

Common Treatments of Tinnitus

Health practitioners will recommend plenty of techniques and options to mask the annoying sounds tinnitus patients hear. This is mainly because there isn’t any proven way to stop the sounds. So, resorting to sound therapy remains the alternative option for now.

TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy)

In this therapy, professionals use cognitive solutions, such as sound therapy and counseling to “retrain” the brain, or the patient to have a different reaction, perception, and understanding of the sound. Unlike a medical cure, this therapy leans towards psychological solutions, and it largely works because of the subconscious nature of tinnitus.

The idea behind TRT is to heal the person on the subconscious level since there are no effective options that will heal them physiologically. The brain has a natural ability to “habituate” or become familiar with a sound and ignore it, subconsciously classifying it as “white noise” or background sounds.

Thus, with proper counseling in the form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, a patient can ultimately achieve a different perception of the dreaded sound and learn to avoid it. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are the two main methods that comprise TRT.

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CBT is a form of in-person counseling in which the therapist aims for the patient to discover the root and depth of their problems. With enough counseling and insight, it is very much possible for the person to look past the drastic sounds and not lose focus.

Sound exposure therapy also helps in this regard. In this, the patient exposes themselves to the tinnitus sounds more frequently with the help of an external source. The goal of this therapy is to desensitize the individual to drastic sounds.

With enough exposure to sounds, patients are likely to have a better response to sounds when they encounter an episode of tinnitus. There is plenty of evidence that supports the efficacy of these methods, and most of them have changed the lives of many suffering from this condition.

Can You Cure Tinnitus? Conclusion

Tinnitus is a tough condition to diagnose and treat, which is why it’s generally best to consult with a specialist. Stephen Katz LCSW is a tinnitus specialist in New York, with years of experience in dealing with tinnitus patients.

Call today to schedule a convenient online session, accessible from anywhere in the world. Dr. Katz speaks 5 languages and has dedicated much of his life to helping people diagnose & treat tinnitus and other sound disorders. 

Call Today

(646) 213-2321

Visit our website for more information.

Natural Ways to Relieve Tinnitus

What are some natural ways to relieve tinnitus? The most common definition of tinnitus is the ringing in your ears. Well, a patient suffering from tinnitus can hear multiple different sounds apart from just ringing. The sounds that a tinnitus patient hears have no external source or existence producing them. This can be quite disrupting for an individual, as there is no possible way to remove yourself from the annoying sound.

Tinnitus Causes

A patient can suffer from either short-term tinnitus or long-term. The causes for this condition are not certain but may vary from several factors such as earwax, loud sound exposure, stress, or even anxiety. Although genetics may also be one factor to blame for the occurrence of tinnitus, it is difficult to pinpoint one particular cause of tinnitus.

This is because tinnitus is not a disease itself, but it is a symptom of another underlying illness or condition. Conditions either may directly or indirectly result in tinnitus without any relation to the ear.

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What does Tinnitus Sound Like?

Most people describe tinnitus as a ringing sound in their ear; however, the wide range of sounds that people can experience includes whistling, hissing, grinding, buzzing, and more. Moreover, the frequency of occurrence may also vary in each individual.

For example, some people might experience the sounds constantly, while others can experience the sounds occasionally. Similarly, the loudness also alternates between very loud and very quiet. If you can hear some of these common sounds without any external presence of the sound, that is a good indication of tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a common disorder and affects people of all age groups, including children. It is more commonly a symptom of old age. For most people, tinnitus is a temporary disruption; however, to others, it destroys their quality of life.

Natural Ways to Relieve Tinnitus: Treatment

If you want to treat your tinnitus, you have to figure out the root cause of the disorder. If the tinnitus you experience is an underlying symptom of another condition, you have to treat that cause to get rid of the problem.

For example, if you have an earwax buildup that is resulting in tinnitus, then you must treat the earwax to get rid of the tinnitus to some extent or even alleviate the tinnitus symptoms.

On the other hand, if your tinnitus does not come from any underlying condition but only the abnormal perception of your brain, then you have to seek other solutions. Cognitive Behavior Therapy stands as, by far, the most widely accepted treatment that helps with chronic tinnitus.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

Tinnitus may be resulting from the drastic conditions of stress, anxiety, depression, or insomnia. These underlying mental conditions are common with people who suffer from tinnitus. CBT is a therapy that treats mental disorders such as these. Many people have reported their tinnitus to disappear, along with their anxiety. Some even claim their tinnitus triggers as soon as they come across a stressful situation.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy aims to make people familiar with an uncomfortable situation so that they do not have an anxiety-fueled response to adverse situations. As a result, it makes you confident, calm, and free of tinnitus.

In other words, treating a person’s anxiety and depression will ultimately make their tinnitus better because they will no longer fall victim to stressful situations. CBT not only makes your tinnitus better but also improves your life’s quality.

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How Does it Work?

CBT, with a combination of medication, proves to be one of the best treatments for tinnitus. However, it is a natural solution that can also work without medication. It involves the key role of a therapist or consultant who helps you determine the inner workings of your thought process.

It helps you relinquish some of the feelings and thoughts that you have been holding on to. By doing so, it gives you another perspective on your anxiety and depression. In other words, it is the rewiring of the brain, which helps you act differently to a triggering situation.

To people that experience tinnitus at an instance of a stressful situation, CBT can be immensely effective.

Other Natural Treatments

Other natural solutions to tinnitus revolve around lifestyle changes such as frequent exercise and nutrition. Activities such as these help with inflammation, better sleep, and reduced stress. Thus, they can be critical in controlling the intensity of your tinnitus.

Some people like to resort to meditation to alleviate stress and anxiety, which is another method of treating tinnitus. Along with the common herbal remedies and supplementation, basic mindfulness is amazing alternatives to treat tinnitus.

Natural Ways to Relieve Tinnitus: Conclusion

Tinnitus can be frustrating and, in some cases, severe. The worst thing about this condition is that there is no particular cure or treatment for it. The only promise relies on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other methods. We provide the best CBT services for Tinnitus patients. Visit Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ and call us at 646-213-2321.

Treatments For Tinnitus

What are the treatments for tinnitus? Many factors can cause Tinnitus, including genetics, physical problems, noisy environments, etc. To know what is causing ringing in your ears, visit us for a thorough examination, including a close check-up of your ear. Tinnitus may also occur as a side effect of different medications. Therefore, when you come for an inspection, tell us what medication you are taking so that we can figure out the cause accurately.

If the source of your problem is not apparent, we may recommend you to consult an otolaryngologist, an otologist or an audiologist for testing your hearing, and nerves. Your examination may include an audiogram, which is a hearing test. We may also recommend imaging techniques, such as a CT scan or an MRI, to observe any structural damage.

Treatments For Tinnitus
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Treatments for Tinnitus

In most cases, Tinnitus is a result of an existing condition. Treating that condition/disease helps get rid of Tinnitus. If your ear problem does not relate to any medical condition, we will suggest you other non-medical treatments like masking the unwanted noise or therapies. Some Tinnitus cases may go without any medical treatments, but some do not – they need proper treatment.

If earwax is causing Tinnitus, our doctors will clean your ears with a suction device to give you instant relief. We may prescribe ear drops, which include hydrocortisone and antibiotics, to cope with the infection. You have to make sure to use the eardrops properly to treat Tinnitus.

1.     Medications for Tinnitus

Many medications can help you recover from Tinnitus. Some low dose anti-anxiety drugs, such as Valium or Elavil, may reduce some types of Tinnitus. For some people, placing steroids inside the ear with anti-anxiety medicine (alprazolam) is helpful.

2.     Masking Devices

Tinnitus maskers are also helpful for some patients. This masking device is like hearing aid but plays a pleasant sound to fight with the noise produced by Tinnitus. New masking devices come with both functions i.e., they can act as a masker and a hearing aid.

3.     Dental Treatment

According to many professional doctors, Tinnitus may also occur due to a problem in the TMJ or temporomandibular joint. This joint is near the middle ear and connects the lower jaw with the head. Some hearing nerves also pass through this joint. If the TMJ disorder is the reason for Tinnitus, dentists realign the jawbone to provide relief.

4.     Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive Therapy is a counseling process that helps you in understanding how to modify your reaction to Tinnitus. When performed with proper medication and masking, cognitive therapy can offer some great results.

5.     Cochlear Implants

This device is useful for treating deafness. Additionally, it can be a great help for people who have Tinnitus. This device sends signals from the ears to your brain. Doctors only recommend this surgery if the cause of Tinnitus is a hearing problem.

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6.     Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

This technique relies on the natural functioning of the brain. You hear the raindrops falling on the road or the roof when it starts raining. A few moments later, your brain ignores to hear those sounds actively. The noise of raindrops falling on the roof is still there, but your brain makes you let it go unnoticed. This is the basic principle that experts use when treating Tinnitus with TRT. There are two parts of TRT:

  • A person suffering from Tinnitus gets one-on-one counseling.
  • The tinnitus patient wears sound generators in the ear and plays some neutral sound.

7.     Biofeedback

This relaxation technique helps in stress management. Biofeedback can be helpful for some people as they change their reaction towards Tinnitus.

8.     Alternative Treatments

Some patients find relief from treatments like acupuncture, hypnosis, or magnets. There is no concrete evidence that these methods work. In some cases, people take vitamin supplements to treat the condition. According to some people, herbal supplements, zinc, or magnesium tablets have shown benefits.

Call Stephen Katz to Treat Your Tinnitus

The treatment your doctor chooses for you depends on your specific case. It is essential to know what the cause of this condition is before trying any treatment. Tinnitus treatment specialist Stephen Katz LCSW can help you with your condition.

Contact us at (646) 213-2321 to schedule an appointment.

I Have Tinnitus. What Are My Treatment Options?

What are your tinnitus treatment options?

Diagnosis of Tinnitus

Anyone who has Tinnitus should visit a specialist for evaluation and examination before treating the condition because many conditions, diseases, environmental factors, etc. can cause it. You cannot opt for a specific treatment unless the cause of Tinnitus is clear. The diagnosis may include:

  • Examination of the head, torso, neck, and ear
  • Hearing tests
  • Laboratory blood tests
  • Imaging studies

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Tinnitus Treatment Options

The first step in treating your Tinnitus is to visit a Tinnitus specialist who will diagnose your condition and find out the causes of its occurrence. If your ear problem relates to another health condition, your doctor will treat that problem. In most cases, treating the underlying cause helps overcome Tinnitus as well. Otherwise, the doctor will suggest you other non-medical treatments, such as therapies, or masking the unwanted noise. In some cases, Tinnitus would go away without any specific treatment. In other cases, you might have to go for therapy to get rid of the condition.

For instance, if earwax blockage is the reason for your Tinnitus, the specialist will clean your ears with a suction device. Clearing the wax will relieve you from Tinnitus. If the ear infection is causing you Tinnitus, drops like hydrocortisone and antibiotics will treat your Tinnitus.

1.     Through Habituation Techniques

Our brain subconsciously habituates some sound signals that it considers unimportant, such as the noise of gentle rain, computer fans, air conditioners, etc. TRT therapy works by continuously hearing some pleasant sound and eventually drowning the ringing sounds.

2.     With the Help of Masking

Masking devices are just like hearing aids, but they play a pleasant sound in your ears to help you fight Tinnitus. These devices drown out the ringing of Tinnitus with sounds such as white or pink noise. Some masking devices can mask the condition and act as hearing aids at the same time.

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3.     Through Medications

A variety of medicines can help you take care of the causes of Tinnitus, some low-dose anti-anxiety drugs like Elavil or Valium, for example. In some situations, inserting steroids into the ear along with an anti-anxiety medicine (alprazolam) can be helpful.

4.     With the help of Hearing Aids and Implants

A hearing aid can also be helpful if your Tinnitus is due to the loss of hearing. The hearing device will help you cope with the loss of hearing, which will eventually treat Tinnitus.

If the cause of Tinnitus is a hearing problem due to damage to the cochlea, the specialist will recommend cochlear implants. This surgery helps in treating severe deafness. It works by sending signals to your brain from the ears. Cochlear implants have helped many patients who had Tinnitus due to hearing loss.

5.     Through Dental Treatment

Temporomandibular joint or TMJ disorder can also lead to Tinnitus. A TMJ disorder is the result of the dislocation of the TMJ. This joint is near the inner ear, and some of the sensory nerves passing through this joint reach the brain to perform the hearing function. When this joint is misaligned, it damages your nerves, causing a hearing disorder. A specialist can help you with your condition by aligning your jaw and relieving you from TMJ disorder, and eventually treating Tinnitus.

6.     Through Stress Management

The biofeedback technique can help you with stress management. It can be helpful as your reaction towards Tinnitus is changed.

7.     Through Counseling

To treat Tinnitus, a specialist may also use this counseling method to help you modify your reaction to Tinnitus. This way, you can ignore the sound of Tinnitus. Cognitive therapy can boost the performance of Tinnitus medication and Tinnitus masking techniques.

Conclusion

Visiting a specialist is essential in treating your Tinnitus, as the occurrence of this condition may indicate a severe disease or some other serious medical condition. Tinnitus is an indication that something is not right with your body, and after diagnosis, you can treat that condition to treat Tinnitus as a result.

You can find a Tinnitus treatment specialist by contacting us at (646) 213-2321 or visiting our clinic for an appointment. Our specialist, Stephen Katz, can examine your condition to help you with the best treatment.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001

Call today for a consultation
646-213-2321