Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, clicking or roaring sound that cannot be heard from the outside. Affecting between 15% to 20% of people, tinnitus can cause stress, anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness. While tinnitus has no known cure, you can manage its symptoms for better quality of life.
One potential option for symptom management is notch therapy.
How Does Notch Therapy Work?
Most tinnitus management methods focus on either acceptance therapy or masking. With successful acceptance therapy, you will still notice the internal ringing, but your stress and anxiety surrounding the sound are lessened. Masking focuses on providing external noises to drown out the internal ones.
Notch therapy works a little differently. By targeting the specific frequency of your tinnitus, notch therapy turns down the amplification to make it easier for your brain to ignore.
Is Notch Therapy Effective?
Notch therapy is still a relatively new technique. While there is still more research to do, one small study of 29 patients with newly diagnosed chronic tinnitus found that after one month, notch therapy could inhibit tinnitus by regulating the auditory center. The study found that notch therapy could also access the brain’s emotional control center to minimize adverse emotional responses to the internal ringing.
Every case of tinnitus is an individual experience. Techniques and tinnitus management options that work for others may not work for you. The best way to find your ideal management tools is to speak to an audiologist about your tinnitus triggers and experiences. With the help of an expert, you can begin to benefit from tinnitus management tools like therapy and hearing aids.
What Are the Benefits of Tinnitus Management?
Tinnitus can harm your relationships, work-life, sleep and more. Something as small as studying at Handlebar Coffee Roasters could be accompanied by a frustrating and stress-inducing internal ringing.
By managing your tinnitus symptoms, the ringing in your ears doesn’t need to cause a negative impact on your mood or relationships. You can begin to enjoy a good night’s rest and time with your friends, family and coworkers.
For more information on tinnitus management, contact Hearing Services of Santa Barbara today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.
