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Tinnitus Masking and Treatment

Although there’s no known cure, there are several management options available that can help tinnitus. Unfortunately, some tinnitus “treatments” advertised are little more than gimmicks; but the management approaches listed here have been scientifically proven to ease tinnitus.
Hearing aids

Around 80% of people with tinnitus also have hearing loss.1 If you have tinnitus and a hearing loss, however mild, hearing aids may provide relief.2–6 This is because hearing loss is a common contributor to tinnitus;2–4,7–10 so tinnitus can be reduced by correcting hearing loss with hearing aids. Together with a hearing professional (an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser), you can find the best hearing aids for tinnitus.

Tinnitus masking and sound therapy

This is using noise to help mask the troubling sounds of tinnitus. This could be white noise, specialised ear masking noises, low-level music or even your own customised sound. By listening to different types of sounds, it becomes easier to shift your attention away from the tinnitus. Many hearing aids offer forms of sound therapy, these are known as the best hearing aids for tinnitus.

You may see sound therapy referred to as ‘tinnitus masking’ or hear people talking about ‘tinnitus maskers’. These names imply that you should cover up tinnitus with external sound, but totally masking tinnitus isn’t the optimal approach. While masking some degree of the tinnitus can provide relief, it’s important to leave some of the tinnitus audible to allow your brain to learn to ignore it – this is called ‘habituation’. Acclimating to tinnitus over time is a key part of tinnitus management, as without habituation, once a masking sound is shut off, the tinnitus is highly likely to come back. 

Tinnitus app: ReSound Relief™

We understand that tinnitus is individual. That's why we’ve created a solution you can personalise. ReSound Relief™ is a free tinnitus app that provides sound therapy (‘soundscapes’), relaxing exercises and soothing meditation clips, to ease tinnitus whenever you want and wherever you are. It can be used by anyone suffering from tinnitus, and you don’t have to be a hearing aid user.

The app provides a wide range of sounds that you can ‘mix and match’ and control the volume for. Playing up to five sounds simultaneously means you can create the perfect of background ‘scene’ to relieve your tinnitus.

Hear how soundscapes work by clicking on the buttons below. First, click on the tinnitus description to hear the example tinnitus sound. Then select the recommended soundscape to hear the tinnitus disappear into the background. Get more information about the app and check your smartphone’s compatibility on our tinnitus relief app page.

Tinnitus 1

Play
00:02 / 00:17
      Without Soundscape: Cicadas

Tinnitus 2

Play
00:02 / 00:17
Without Soundscape: Heavy Rain

 

 

You can download ReSound Relief™ for free from the Apple App Store or
get it on Google Play and be on your way to a more comfortable life with tinnitus.

Download on the App Store. Get it on Google Play.
Tinnitus management programmes

Most tinnitus management programmes provide exercises to teach the brain to be less distracted by tinnitus sounds, while learning to focus on other sounds or things important to you. This includes cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT). With the tinnitus sounds relegated to the background, people suffering from tinnitus can focus on the more important things in life.

Stress and anxiety management
Tinnitus and stress can form a vicious circle: tinnitus may cause stress, which then makes the tinnitus worse. Addressing stress with anti-anxiety measures like listening to soothing/calming sounds, exercise, or meditation can be an effective form of tinnitus treatment.
Take the first step in managing your tinnitus

If you have tinnitus, it is important to talk to your GP or a hearing professional (an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser).11,12 Hearing professionals have the necessary training and equipment to thoroughly assess your ears, hearing, and tinnitus, and to provide you with expert recommendations to help you find relief.13–15

Find a local audiologist
Do you think you might have a hearing loss?

As many people with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss it’s a good idea to have your hearing checked by a hearing professional.3,12

If you’re eager to gauge your hearing level before seeing a hearing professional, take our quick and easy online hearing test today.

Take online hearing test

No tinnitus treatment works immediately. It takes time and commitment from you to gain control over your tinnitus. But many people do learn to manage their tinnitus, especially if they find a skilled hearing professional who can help with finding the best hearing aids for tinnitus masking.

References

  1. British Tinnitus Association. Tinnitus and severe-profound hearing loss. August 2021. Available at: https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/tinnitus-and-severe-profound-hearing-loss (accessed January 2022);
  2. British Tinnitus Association. Hearing aids and tinnitus. September 2019. Available at: https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/hearing-aids-and-tinnitus (accessed January 2022);
  3. Tunkel DC, et al. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014;151(2):S1–40;
  4. Hoare DJ, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(1) doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010151.pub2;
  5. Sereda M, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;(12) doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013094.pub2;
  6. British Tinnitus Association. All about tinnitus. July 2019. Available at: https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=dbcc5097-a082-4740-9e2a-77c41c6dfe3c (accessed January 2022);
  7. Cima RFF, et al. HNO. 2019;67(1):10–42;
  8. Haider HF, et al. Front Neurosci. 2018;12:866;
  9. Baguley DM. Br Med Bull. 2002;63:195–21;
  10. Tan CM, et al. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol. 2013;14(2):275–82;
  11. British Tinnitus Association. Is there a cure for tinnitus? June 2017. Available at: https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/FAQs/is-there-a-cure-tinnitus (accessed January 2022);
  12. British Tinnitus Association. All about tinnitus. July 2019. Available at: https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=dbcc5097-a082-4740-9e2a-77c41c6dfe3c (accessed January 2022);
  13. Pascal JT and Yueh B. JAMA. 2012;307(11):1185–94;
  14. Northern JL. Audiol Res. 2011.1(1):e20l;
  15. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Hearing Aids. July 2015. Available at: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/Documents/health/hearing/nidcd-hearing-aids.pdf (accessed December 2021.