Living with tinnitus? Here’s what you can do to quiet the noise

The persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing that only the person can hear, is called tinnitus and can be very distressing and upsetting. Tinnitus is formed when the inner ear feels damage or irritation, causing the auditory nerve to send phantom signals to the brain and the brain then interprets these signals as a sound. While tinnitus can’t always be cured, there are effective ways to manage and reduce its impact. Doctify helps patients connect with ENT specialists and audiologists who provide evidence-based care and tailored treatment plans.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound or ringing in the ears without an external source, often described as ringing, humming, or whistling. It is formed when damage or irritation to the inner ear, most commonly from loud noise exposure, causes the auditory nerve to send phantom signals to the brain. The brain then interprets these signals as a sound, even though there is no external source. It is commonly linked to: hearing loss, long-term noise exposure, ear infections, wax buildup, medication side effects, or circulatory issues.

How common is tinnitus?

Tinnitus affects roughly 1 in 8 adults in the UK, with many experiencing it intermittently. Prevalence increases with age but also affects younger adults exposed to loud music or work environments. While it is often benign, chronic tinnitus can cause sleep problems, stress, or concentration issues.  It can be temporary or chronic, and severity varies between individuals.

What causes the “ringing”?

Tinnitus originates from changes in the auditory system or brain’s sound-processing centres. Its causes are not fully understood, however it has been linked to a variety of causes, like:

• Noise-induced hearing damage.
• Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis).
• Earwax blockage or middle ear infections.
• Head or neck injuries.
• High blood pressure or other vascular conditions.

Sometimes, no clear cause is found — but treatment still focuses on relief and habituation.

Managing Tinnitus: Proven treatment approaches

Here are some recommendations for managing tinnitus:

1. Sound Therapy: it uses background or “masking” sounds to make tinnitus less noticeable. It Includes white noise machines, smartphone apps, or customised hearing aids that blend environmental sounds.
2. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): it helps change the emotional response to tinnitus — reducing stress, anxiety, and frustration. It has shown to improve sleep and quality of life.
3. Hearing Aids: it amplifies external sounds to reduce the brain’s focus on internal noise. It’s particularly effective for tinnitus linked with hearing loss.

Emerging and complementary treatments

Nowadays, scientists have found new emerging and complementary treatments such as:

• Neuromodulation therapies, which target brain networks involved in tinnitus perception.
• Pharmacological options, some medications are under research for nerve and auditory regulation.
• Relaxation and mindfulness, it can reduce stress, which often worsens symptoms.
  

Lifestyle and home strategies

• Protect your ears from loud noise (use earplugs or limit headphone volume).
• Avoid excessive caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, which can aggravate ringing.
• Manage stress through breathing exercises, relaxation exercises, or yoga.
• Maintain good circulatory and heart health, as vascular issues can contribute.
• Maintain a good sleep habit, it helps regulate stress.

Living well with tinnitus

Many people start to learn to live well with tinnitus, many patients learn to habituate — their brains tune out the noise over time. As well, support groups and online tinnitus programmes can offer reassurance and coping techniques. It is fundamental to have regular check-ups with an ENT specialist, in order to track changes and adjust treatment as needed.

When to see a doctor

Please contact a doctor if you have any of these symptoms:

• Persistent tinnitus lasting more than one week.
• Sudden onset, especially in one ear.
• Accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, or ear pain.

ENT specialists can rule out treatable causes and recommend further tests such as audiometry or imaging if needed.

Conclusion

Tinnitus can be annoying, irritating, and challenging, yet effective management options exist to help quiet the noise and restore quality of life, such as: sound therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), hearing aids, neuromodulation therapies, pharmacological options, and relaxation and mindfulness. Tinnitus not only affects old adults, it also affects younger adults exposed to loud music or loud work environments. Avoid very loud environments or use earplugs when exposed to very loud noises and don’t ignore persistent or worsening symptoms — early evaluation matters. We invite you to use Doctify to find a verified ENT specialist or audiologist experienced in tinnitus management for compassionate, expert care.

Feel free to consult an ENT specialist through Doctify for personalised advice whenever you want, we will be happy to help you! Find the best ENT surgeons in the United Kingdom or search for the best specialists globally:

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Medically Reviewed
Last reviewed on 04/11/2025