Key points:
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Tinnitus, or persistent ringing in the ears, is generally a symptom of hearing loss or a related condition.
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A thorough hearing exam and diagnostic workup is an important step to finding the best treatment for you.
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Treatments include hearing aids, sound therapy, habituation techniques, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Stress reduction and a healthy lifestyle are also helpful.
For many people who experience tinnitus, a buzzing, hissing or ringing sound in the ears is something they experience all the time. This constant soundtrack is impossible to escape and it can make everyday activities and daily life more difficult.
Fortunately, there are many treatment options to try. Some will require the help of a hearing care provider or therapist, while others are "at-home" remedies. Often, it will take a combination of tools to find the best relief.
First, get a medical checkup
Tinnitus is considered a symptom of something else, and it has many causes. So, before spending any money on treatment or home remedies, the first step is to see a doctor or health care provider so they can evaluate your symptoms and determine a diagnosis. Tinnitus also can have medical causes that are easily treatable, such as impacted ear wax. It can also be a medication side effect.
Second, get a hearing exam
If there are no medical reasons for your hearing loss, you will likely want to see a hearing care professional, such as an audiologist. They will start by asking lots of questions about your symptoms such as:
- How long has this been going on?
- Is it occasional or constant?
- Is it worse at certain points of the day?
- Is it a pulsating sensation?
- In which ear do you hear the tinnitus? Both?
- How loud is the noise?
- Is the pitch high or low?
- It the issue extremely bothersome or just a little irritating?
- Are there certain conditions that make it worse such as exposure to noise or certain foods or beverages?
- Does the sound change?
- What does it sound like? Clicking, rushing, humming, rhythmic?
Tinnitus-specific tests
An audiologist or similar professional may use a series of tests to tailor your treatment. Examples include:
- A pitch match test to determine the approximate frequency of sound that you are hearing. For example, do you hear high-pitched sounds or low-pitched sounds?
- A loudness match test to quantify the level of the sound you are hearing, which could range from a whisper to a shout. It is more common for people to experience soft sounds than loud.
- A visual analog scale to determine perceived loudness. Tinnitus is often perceived much louder than the decibel level that it matches. On a scale from zero to 10, you'll be asked to rank the loudness. About 70 percent of patients will report a loudness value of six or higher.
When tinnitus is caused by hearing loss
The top treatment: Hearing aids
One of the biggest causes of tinnitus is hearing loss, and because of this, many people find nearly complete relief from tinnitus when they wear hearing aids. Hearing loss can be gradual, so you may not even realize that your hearing has worsened. The ringing in your ears may be the only noticeable sign.
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Other helpful treatments and remedies
Habituation
If you have frequent tinnitus, habituating is an important skill to learn. Some tinnitus sufferers say that learning to habituate tinnitus, or ignore it, is one of the best ways to find relief. How you learn to habituate can vary, but it's all about breaking the stress cycle that occurs when you experience a flare-up in tinnitus.
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Relaxation and meditation
Relaxation is important in two ways: First, it helps ward off tinnitus. For many people, stress is a trigger for their tinnitus, so learning some relaxation techniques can help prevent it before it starts. And when you do experience tinnitus, calming your body—and mind—is a vital tool to help keep it from affecting your entire life.
Sound therapies
Similar to habituation, tinnitus sound therapy helps you get used to the sound, with the goal of learning to ignore it. Essentially, your brain reclassified the unwanted sound as something neutral or unimportant. An audiologist trained in tinnitus therapy can help you explore several options.
Behavioral treatment options
Mental health care is an important part of tinnitus treatment. Tinnitus can impact your mental health and your relationships. Many people find cognitive-behavioral therapy useful for managing the emotional impact of tinnitus. A review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology found that “CBT treatment for tinnitus management is the most evidence-based treatment option so far.”
Tinnitus prevention and management
Wear hearing protection
If you're working around loud machinery, going hunting or dancing near speakers at a live concert, don't forget to wear foam earplugs or earmuffs so your tinnitus doesn't get worse. Noise exposure can trigger tinnitus for some people. It also damages your hearing, which in turn can make tinnitus more intense.
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Exercise
Exercise is a key way to manage stress, and is good for both your brain and body. If your tinnitus is related to high blood pressure, increasing your activity level can help get your blood pressure under better control and reduce tinnitus. Also, yoga is a great exercise for tinnitus sufferers because it incorporates meditative breathing and relaxation techniques along with a healthy workout.
Evaluate your diet
For some people, their tinnitus is helped by reducing the amount of salt they consume and incorporating healthy eating habits, including a hearing-friendly diet full of these vitamins and minerals and low on caffeine. For people who have Meniere's disease—which causes hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness—lowering salt may be especially helpful.
More tips:
If your tinnitus feels overwhelming
For some people, tinnitus can have a big impact on their mental health, leading to suicidal thoughts. If you are finding yourself in this position, our article on suicide and tinnitus offers tips to help you through the immediate crisis.
If you're a veteran
Tinnitus is extremely common among veterans and the VA has many programs to help.
Where to find help
If you are experiencing ringing in your ears it is important to get a thorough hearing evaluation from a hearing care professional. Finde an audiologist that specializes in tinnitus treatment near you by visiting our directory of hearing care providers. Please note that not all hearing clinics treat tinnitus, so you may need to browse several clinic pages to find the right provider.
Joy Victory, managing editor, Healthy Hearing
Joy Victory has extensive experience editing consumer health information. Her training in particular has focused on how to best communicate evidence-based medical guidelines and clinical trial results to the public. She strives to make health content accurate, accessible and engaging to the public.
Read more about Joy.
Reviewed by
Amy Sarow, AuD, clinical audiologist 
