Hearing Aids, Surgery, and Other Tinnitus Treatments

The right treatment for tinnitus depends on what is behind it. Some causes can be fixed directly. For the rest, treatment focuses on making the sound less noticeable and less distressing. Here is an overview of the main options.

Treating an underlying cause

A doctor will first look for anything treatable, such as earwax buildup, an ear infection, a jaw (TMJ) problem, high blood pressure, or a medication side effect. Fixing the cause can reduce or end the tinnitus.

Hearing aids

Hearing loss and tinnitus often go together. When you cannot hear outside sounds well, the brain may "turn up the volume" internally, making tinnitus more noticeable. Hearing aids bring back outside sound and often make tinnitus less obvious. Many modern hearing aids also include built-in sound generators.

Since 2022, adults in the U.S. with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss can buy over-the-counter hearing aids without a prescription. An audiologist can still help you choose and fit the right device.

Sound generators and maskers

Wearable or tabletop devices that produce gentle sound can make tinnitus less intrusive. They work best for some people and not at all for others, so a trial period is a good idea.

Cochlear implants

For people with severe hearing loss, cochlear implants can restore some hearing, and many recipients report that their tinnitus improves as well.

Surgery

There is no general surgery for tinnitus. Surgery is only used when there is a specific structural cause, such as:

• Otosclerosis, a bone growth in the middle ear
• A tumor such as a vestibular schwannoma or glomus tumor
• Certain blood vessel problems that cause pulsatile tinnitus

Medication

No medication is approved by the FDA specifically to treat tinnitus. Doctors may prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, or sleep aids to treat problems that come with tinnitus, such as depression, anxiety, or insomnia. These can help people cope, but they are not a tinnitus cure.

Counseling and CBT

Cognitive behavioral therapy has the strongest evidence for reducing tinnitus distress. It teaches practical ways to change how you think about and react to the sound.

Remedies with little evidence

• Supplements such as zinc, magnesium, melatonin, and ginkgo are not recommended by the AAO-HNS tinnitus guideline, because studies have not shown a clear benefit. (Zinc may help the small number of people who are actually deficient.)
• Acupuncture has been studied, but the evidence is not strong enough to recommend it.

Treatments often work best in combination. Ask your doctor or audiologist to help you build a plan.