Behavioral therapies can relieve tinnitus

Ear noises: Behavioral therapy can help with chronic tinnitus

According to experts, ten million adults in Germany experience tinnitus every year. In many, the ear noises disappear quickly, but in some they remain. Patients suffering from such chronic tinnitus can, among other things, help with cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Around three million Germans suffer from chronic tinnitus

According to a study by the German Tinnitus League, tinnitus occurs annually in ten million adults. 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 according to experts, almost three million people in this country suffer from chronic tinnitus. Among other things, these patients can help with cognitive behavioral therapy.

Patients with chronic tinnitus can help with cognitive-behavioral therapy. They learn to pay less attention to the ear noise. (Image: Daniel Ernst / fotolia.com)

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 number of different treatments available today to 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.

This is also pointed out by the Federal Association of German Pharmacist Associations in its journal "Neue Apotheken Illustrierte".

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 improve the patient's situation. The intake of such preparations should be discussed with a physician.

From when you have 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)