Using sound to manage tinnitus is called “sound therapy.” Mixing your tinnitus in the sound around you helps make it less annoying and may help your brain to learn to ignore it. There are many easy and inexpensive ways to do this! Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:
- Avoid silence!
Surround yourself in low levels of sound at all times. Often, this is happening naturally during our busy lives. When you find yourself in quiet and/or if your tinnitus is practically bothersome (e.g., at bedtime or when you are stressed), try some of the options below.
- What makes a good “sound therapy” sound?
The sound chosen should not be annoying or distracting. Choose something that can fade into the background and allow you to focus on other activities. If it is calming or relaxing, that is ideal but not required. Different types of nature sounds and noises are usually good choices.
- How loud should it be?
Set the volume of the sound to be clearly heard, hopefully making your tinnitus less prominent, but not so loud that it interferes with talking to someone at a normal level of voice. If someone has to raise their voice for you to hear them (especially if you are using headphones), it is too loud and you could be damaging your ears.
Popular apps and devices:
- ReSound Tinnitus Relief
- Starkey Relax
- White Noise Lite
- Common household items like fans and television
- White noise machines
- Sound pillows
- Speakers and/or headphones to provide continuous sound throughout the day
We encourage you to make an appointment at the ISU Speech and Hearing Clinic with our audiologist who specializes in tinnitus treatment.
If the above suggestions do not provide you with adequate relief or peace of mind and/or you are also having hearing difficulties, we encourage you to make an appointment at the ISU Speech and Hearing Clinic with our audiologist who specializes in tinnitus treatment. If you have hearing loss, a combination hearing aid/sound therapy device improves tinnitus for most people. There are other, non-hearing aid, tinnitus treatment options that your audiologist can recommend and provide.
