At Harmony Hearing we understand that tinnitus is usual subjective and unique to every individual that is experiencing it. Therefore we adopt a holistic approach to our tinnitus treatments in Perth. Usually tinnitus accompanies some change to the auditory system which won't always show as a detectable hearing loss on an Audiogram. However most of the time tinnitus accompanies hearing loss and the pitch of the tinnitus being perceived is around the frequency range of the greatest hearing loss. We often find that by putting back sound around the frequency range where the hearing levels are most diminished can have an inhibiting effect on the tinnitus. So we usually include a form of sound therapy in our tinnitus treatment plan.

Sound Therapy

Perhaps you’ve had tinnitus for years, or you’ve recently started struggling with a persistent ringing in your ears that you find very distracting and concerning. We’re here to help you with your tinnitus condition, because it’s frustrating to live with and in many cases can be unbearable. Harmony Hearing & Audiology is a family-owned business with reputable Audiologists on staff who have extensive experience in reducing the discomfort of tinnitus.

How does sound therapy alleviate tinnitus?

Sound therapy is a major method of helping ease tinnitus symptoms. This overarching term refers to the use of sound in different forms. For example the use of hearing aids that amplify environmental sounds can help. Use of sound generators can help inhibit the tinnitus as well as help the individual habituate to the tinnitus. The right hearing aid can alleviate or reduce the persistent ringing.

New generation digital hearing aids are used in tinnitus sound therapy because they can be configured with additional inbuilt sound programs and generators. Hearing aids with inbuilt sound generators reduce the perceived contrast between the natural occurring environmental sound and the perceived tinnitus.

More recent models include sounds of nature such as the sound of the ocean, and other relatively non-invasive, pleasant sounds. Often the amplification alone of naturally occurring ambient sounds is enough for the majority of people to report a noticeable reduction in the perceived volume of their tinnitus. For some the tinnitus vanishes altogether and for a small minority there is little or no reduction in the perception of their tinnitus and other approaches should be considered.

We offer the Neuromics program so people with normal or near normal hearing thresholds may also require tinnitus sound therapy as a method of managing their tinnitus. Our experienced Audiologists are passionate about helping people manage and habituate to their tinnitus. We use only the latest technologies and evidence-based methods available. Tinnitus treatment makes a difference and many of the new hearing instruments incorporate tinnitus inhibiting signals.

Tinnitus treatment

Some instances of tinnitus are caused by infections or blockages in the ear, and the tinnitus can disappear once the underlying cause is treated. Frequently, however, tinnitus continues after the underlying condition is treated. In such a case, other tinnitus treatments will include conventional and alternative methods that may bring significant relief by either decreasing or covering up the unwanted sound.

The good news for tinnitus sufferers is that gone are the days where you would be told ‘nothing can be done and you just have to learn to live with it.’ Audiologists use a number of approaches to treat and alleviate tinnitus symptoms. It is usually a holistic multi-disciplinary approach that is the most effective treatments.

Where there is accompanying hearing loss, the use of hearing aids over a period of time can help inhibit the tinnitus. The hearing aids are programmed to put back the sound stimulation around the frequency ranges that have diminished and this usually has an inhibiting effect on the Tinnitus. For many people, the inhibition is immediately noticeable whereas for others the reduction of tinnitus occurs over time.

Tinnitus management

As part of a holistic approach, appropriate counselling is necessary. Tinnitus treatment techniques include helping you to reduce stress, fatigue and anxiety. Appropriate nutrition, the avoidance of certain foods and Ototoxic medications also form important parts of helping you manage it.

While there is no tinnitus cure, we can help you manage the condition by teaching you to habituate to your tinnitus so that you begin to tune it out so it doesn’t bother you as much. The perception of tinnitus is closely linked to the autonomic and limbic nervous systems, which influence our emotional state. Our arousal levels, anxiety and stress levels are closely linked with our perception of the tinnitus and how invasive we perceive it to be. This can be managed through sound therapy.