Tinnitus What can help against chronic ringing?

Behavioral therapies and co - What can help those affected by tinnitus

Almost every person has already experienced ear noises. Most of these disappear after a few seconds or minutes. However, if the sounds are persistent or are felt over an extended period of time, it is called tinnitus. There are different treatment approaches. Experts explain what can help those affected.

Millions of Germans have chronic tinnitus

According to the German Tinnitus League, ten million adults experience tinnitus every year. Other health experts assume that about one in four is affected in their lives by the tormenting ear noises and tinnitus. Most of the complaints are only temporary. But millions of Germans suffer from chronic tinnitus. Among other things, these patients can help with cognitive behavioral therapy.

Around three million Germans suffer from chronic tinnitus. Experts explain what can help against the unpleasant ear noise. (Image: Daniel Ernst / fotolia.com)

Ear noises can have different causes

Tinnitus causes can be very different. Stress is one of the main causes of ear noises.

But other factors, such as mental health problems or certain physical illnesses, can trigger the unpleasant ringing, whirring or rushing in the ears.

"In 80 percent of cases, acute tinnitus is eliminated by treatments for the respective causes or on its own. The ear noise can thus completely disappear again, but it can also stay, "writes the German Tinnitus League on its website.

Then one speaks of chronic tinnitus.

Facilitate the management of the disease

"According to the Dt. Tinnitus league in Germany have about 3 million adults a chronic tinnitus, i. Tinnitus lasting longer than 3 months. Every year, about 270,000 new cases are added, "it says on the portal" ENT doctors in the network "of the German professional association of ENT specialists e.V.

According to the experts, although chronic tinnitus may not be medically curable, there are a variety of treatments available today that will help ease the disease and give patients a better quality of life. "

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the possible tinnitus therapies.

Cognitive behavioral therapy can help sufferers

Through this therapy, patients can learn to better deal with the constant whistling and ringing in the ear.

Patients use this treatment to gradually pay less attention to the sound of the ear until it ideally fades into the background and is then perceived as less frightening.

Holistic therapy concept

Even "so-called noise devices (such as tinnitus mask or Noiser), which are worn like hearing aids on the ear, help to drown out the annoying noise of the ear with a comprehensive frequency or distract from it," write the "ENT doctors on the net".

And "the comprehensive tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) helps many sufferers to live better with the constant ear noise."

This holistic therapy concept has the goal "that the patient no longer perceives his tinnitus at all or at least as disturbing."

In addition to other treatment elements, the therapy also includes cognitive behavioral therapy.

Some medications can also help to improve the patient's situation. The intake of such preparations should be discussed with a physician.

Hope also makes a message from the US. There, researchers from the University of Michigan have recently reported a new approach that will allow patients using a new device to influence their noise.

The dual stimulus against tinnitus was also tested on 20 people with tinnitus after initial animal experiments.

The subjects reported that after four weeks of daily use of the device, the volume of their noise decreased and thereby improved their quality of life.

When to go to the doctor

Nowadays whistling sounds in the ear are no longer treated as emergency. But the sooner the tinnitus is treated, the greater, according to experts, the chances of healing or alleviation.

But when should one go to medical treatment?

"If ear noises suddenly appear with a strong intensity, or if the distances become ever shorter, then the ENT specialist should be consulted within 24 hours," explained Dr. med. Michael Bohndorf, ENT specialist in Düsseldorf, in an interview on important questions about tinnitus.

"If a hearing loss is added, then the ENT specialist should be consulted immediately," said the expert. (Ad)