About Tinnitus
Frequently Asked Questions page 3
Questions about Tinnitus Treatments
Go to Page 1 of the F.A.Q., General Questions About Tinnitus
Go to Page 2 of the F.A.Q., Tinnitus Prevention, Diagnosis, and Research
Go to Page 4 of the F.A.Q., Questions about ATA Resources
Answers
Is there a cure for tinnitus?
There is no cure, per se, for tinnitus in that there is no one magic pill that will make the millions of people with tinnitus no longer hear the noises in their ears and head. However, in some cases, tinnitus can be quieted. For example, some people have excessive earwax that blocks outside sound from coming in. When ear wax or any foreign object, such as a hair, touches the eardrum, tinnitus can be a result. By having a physician or audiologist remove the wax, the source of the tinnitus is also removed. Some people with severe hearing loss have found that a cochlear implant helps them hear the world around them, which in part makes the tinnitus in their heads much less noticeable. Neither of these examples is a hard and fast cure, but the examples do represent that relief is available and possible.
In the meantime, ATA enthusiastically supports tinnitus research with grants to researchers worldwide. ATA also advocates for increased federal funding of tinnitus and hearing research.
[ back to top ]
What kinds of treatments are available?
There are many treatments for tinnitus. Please see the Tinnitus Treatment Options page. You will want to talk with your doctor, audiologist, or other healthcare professional to find the best treatment for you. Because tinnitus is so individual, treatments work differently for different people.
[ back to top ]
Which treatment does the American Tinnitus Association recommend?
The American Tinnitus Association does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment strategy for tinnitus. Treatments, like causes of tinnitus, are varied, and what works for one does not work for all. Controlled clinical research is also limited, and so there are no data that state unequivocally that one treatment is better than all the rest. As a resource for patients, the ATA provides information on all available treatments and contact information for professionals, with the encouragement for patients to find a professional who will take the time to find the appropriate treatment for them.
[ back to top ]
Does health insurance cover tinnitus treatments?
Health insurance rules can vary immensely by state. And private health insurance can be far different than public programs like Medicaid or Medicare. It is possible that initial visits to an ear, nose, and throat doctor or audiologist are covered by insurance, but it is also possible that many tinnitus treatments are not covered because they are considered experimental. Other treatments, like hearing aids, are not covered at all because they are expensive, and insurance companies don't have to cover them.
[ back to top ]
What's the difference between masking and TRT?
Masking and TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy) are similar in many ways. Both treatments introduce sounds to patients. In-the-ear maskers emit sounds that either partially or completely cover the sounds of tinnitus. TRT sound generators, also worn in the ear, emit a much quieter sound that allows the tinnitus to still be heard. Maskers are meant to provide immediate relief from the perception of tinnitus. TRT and its use of sound generators are accompanied by a specific kind of counseling called "directive counseling"; the combination is intended to retrain the brain to no longer notice the tinnitus signal. Unlike the immediate effectiveness of masking, TRT can sometimes take as long as two years to be achieved. See the treatments page for more information.
[ back to top ]
What is residual inhibition?
Residual inhibition is the temporary suppression of tinnitus after someone who uses a masker turns the masker off. Sometimes, someone may have a masker in, wear it for a little while, and then turn it off to find out that his tinnitus is either reduced or totally absent. The time period of this cessation of tinnitus after masking can vary from a few minutes to a few days. People who experience residual inhibition must have tinnitus that can be masked -- i.e., a masker must be a viable treatment for your tinnitus.
[ back to top ]
What kinds of drugs are available to treat tinnitus?
There is no drug on the market designed specifically for tinnitus treatment. There are, however, several medications that have provided many tinnitus patients with relief. But they are not without their own caveats. For example, some medications that can help tinnitus are also habit forming and should only be used when under the care of a physician who understands tinnitus. The ATA has more information about various medications that can help, although ATA staff cannot recommend medications. The ATA also distributes a list -- compiled by the Physician's Desk Reference -- of medications that can cause tinnitus. This listing is available by calling the ATA at (800) 634-8978. We do not have copyright permission to make this listing available online.
[ back to top ]
What kind of alternative treatments could I try?
Again, ATA does not recommend any specific treatment for tinnitus management. This is for you and your health care provider to determine. A general listing of alternative treatments is listed on the Tinnitus Treatments page. Many of these treatments are considered controversial because there is too little research on them showing overwhelmingly positive results. Furthermore, dietary supplement manufacturers are only required to demonstrate proof of safety, not proof of effectiveness, for their products to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Still, some people with tinnitus report that these alternative therapies work.
If you have a question about a specific so-called alternative product, feel free to call an ATA staff member or call a naturopathic physician in your area for more information. Healthy skepticism is good for any product that purports to "cure" tinnitus—or any other ailment for that matter. But from another perspective, if something does not cause harm and may improve quality of life or overall well being, it may be something to discuss with your physician for you to try.
[ back to top ]
