Tinnitus treatment: Exercises and therapy to manage ringing in the ears

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) treatment can involve medical intervention or natural remedies. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are ways to better manage the condition.

Tinnitus is permanent in about 25 percent of patients. In many cases, addressing the underlying cause of tinnitus can help ease the symptoms. Treatment methods may include taking antibiotics, removing obstructions or ear wax, changing medications or dosages, treating certain neurological illnesses, getting a surgery to correct joint problems, going for counseling for stress or depression, and getting dental work done. Exercise has also been shown to be an effective treatment option.

Therapies to manage tinnitus

Sound therapy: The goal of sound therapy is to fill silence with neutral sounds to distract the patient from tinnitus. This can be as simple as opening a window or leaving a TV or radio on.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Often used for anxiety or depression, this type of therapy works to retrain your thoughts, which are believed to change the way you behave. In tinnitus, the goal is to retrain your thoughts to reduce stress and anxiety about tinnitus.

Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT): This is a specific type of therapy which helps retrain the brain in the way it responds to tinnitus, so you can be better able to tune out the sound.

Music therapy: Music therapy, particularly classical, can be calming and ease a patient’s reaction to tinnitus.

Acoustic therapy: Six main types of acoustic therapy are: sound generator, tinnitus instrument, hearing aids, tabletop or portable sound generator, home masking, and music therapy.

Biofeedback and neurofeedback: These techniques connect the patient to electrodes that send signals to a computer displaying visual or auditory signals that indicate stress, blood pressure, heart rate, and brain waves. The patient is then encouraged to regulate their body based on these signals to reduce their stress and other factors. Over time, this teaches the patient to control their bodily functions.

Exercises to manage tinnitus

Exercise, too, can be beneficial in managing tinnitus. Relaxation and meditation techniques help a patient reduce stress, a large contributor to tinnitus. Exercises that increase your heart rate not only keep your heart strong and weight in check, but also boost blood circulation in your body, including ears, to help reduce the ringing.

To relieve your tinnitus symptoms, you can exercise alone or seek professional guidance. Whether you choose to work out in the comfort of your home or in a studio setting, regular exercise and mindfulness practice is always a good idea for the benefit of your overall health.