The AudioNotch Tinnitus Treatment Blog

Please note: the following information does not constitute professional medical advice, and is provided for general informational purposes only. Please speak to your doctor if you have tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a condition often described as a “ringing” or “buzzing” sound in the ears. Tinnitus can be continuous or intermittent, and the sound may be loud or soft and subtle. The condition is fairly common, and many people simply adjust to the ongoing sounds in their ears without huge difficulty. For some people, however, the condition can be very loud and extreme. It can interfere with normal hearing, even though the Tinnitus is not necessarily causing the hearing loss.

Searching For Relief

Tinnitus can appear for many reasons. The top cause is exposure to loud noise, like gunshots or loud machinery. Infections and ear blockages can also bring on the condition. Some medications, including aspirin and antidepressants, can bring on Tinnitus. For some people the sound can be continuous and go on through the night, causing sleep loss. This can bring on a vicious circle, as fatigue and stress are also thought to be linked to Tinnitus.

There is no known cure for Tinnitus at this time, but some people have found relief by listening to another sound that helps block the sound. This is called a “masking sound.” The best masking sound for Tinnitus may vary for different people, but here are a few sounds that are said to work well to alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus.

Sound Therapies

Finding the best masking sound for Tinnitus is an important part of therapy for this condition. The best masking sound for Tinnitus, whether it is the sound of rainfall, a relaxing ocean surf sound, or the quiet sound of general “white noise,” can work in several ways to ease the anxiety that Tinnitus can bring on in a patient.

The best masking sound for Tinnitus is one that can completely cover the sound inside the ear, or at least enough to be a distraction. The element of distraction is important as it can ease symptoms of the condition immediately. The sound masking treatment also helps to train the patient’s brain in a way that makes it tune out the Tinnitus sound. The American Tinnitus Association calls this brain training a way of “classifying” the sound as an “unimportant” (and thus easier to ignore) sound. The ATA also refers to a neuromodulation effect that comes with sound masking, as the masking sounds can help relieve hyperactivity in the brain that is also thought to bring on Tinnitus.

Today there are many options for masking sounds, ranging from peaceful ocean sounds to nature sounds to white noise, or white noise without high frequencies. Masking sounds can be played from a special player or even put in ear pieces.

The good news is that masking sounds do bring relief and they bring it in a way that is low cost and has no side effects. That’s a great bit of news for Tinnitus sufferers everywhere, to be sure.