Understanding Tinnitus Distress and Treatment Options

How Therapy Can Help Tinnitus Distress

What are the psychological effects of tinnitus? Can therapy help people with tinnitus? Dr. Diane Allen answers some common questions about tinnitus and therapy options for those suffering from symptoms.

Understanding Tinnitus Distress and Treatment Options

Ringing in the ears, anxiety, and depression — these are some of the effects of tinnitus, a condition that affects 50 million people in the U.S. alone. The psychological effects of tinnitus are large in number, but there also are special therapy techniques to help treat tinnitus and the distress it can cause an individual. We have gathered some facts about tinnitus, and how therapy can help with tinnitus distress.

What is tinnitus distress, and what causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus affects about 20 percent of people — a common inner ear symptom which can be described as the perception of sound such as ringing or buzzing in one or both ears when no sound is present. Some common causes of tinnitus include prolonged exposure to loud noise, underlying ear problems, chronic health conditions, head or neck injuries, or conditions that affect the nerves in your ear or the hearing center in your brain. 

Tinnitus distress is the persistent, negative emotional reaction to tinnitus. Tinnitus distress can range from mild (causing distraction and annoyance in the individual); moderate (causing one to become avoidant and withdrawn, and impairing their sleep or concentration); or severe (causing the person experiencing the symptoms to feel as though they are being ruled by tinnitus, impairing their sleep and concentration, and causing them to become significantly avoidant and withdrawn).

What are the psychological effects of tinnitus?

Tinnitus can cause a number of adverse effects on a person’s psychological state, including negatively affecting their mood and emotions, as well as their thinking. Anxiety, depression, irritability, sadness, guilt and shame are common emotions experienced by those suffering from tinnitus. Impaired concentration, distractibility, hyper-vigilance, and sleep disturbance are also common side effects of tinnitus.

How does tinnitus affect relationships?

Tinnitus can affect relationships by causing fear and vulnerability in those suffering from its symptoms. Because of the immense stress and anxiety that is felt when a person first starts to experience tinnitus, their energy levels become severely depleted — which leaves them with less energy and attention to focus on their spouse or partner. Often, people with tinnitus do not choose to share what they are going through, feeling as though their partner would not understand or want to hear them complain. This feeling can increase withdrawal and social isolation in the person experiencing the effects of tinnitus. A lack of understanding of tinnitus itself or of how to help those with tinnitus can put additional strain on a relationship.

Is there a cure for tinnitus?

While there is no medical cure for tinnitus, habituation can help teach your brain to turn down the perceived volume of unimportant noises, and allow you to focus on the sounds that matter. Habituation is basically training the brain to make choices about what sensory information is most important to be prioritized to consciousness.

Can therapy help people with tinnitus?

Yes — the most effective form of therapy for those suffering from tinnitus is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT. The goal of CBT for tinnitus is to increase the understanding of what is causing the distress, and to decrease the emotional reaction, and negative thoughts related to tinnitus. CBT for tinnitus can also work parallel to any other treatment from a medical doctor or ENT. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be done in-person as well as through telehealth sessions, which are both equally effective for treating tinnitus distress. 

To find out more about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for tinnitus, click here. 

The Grove now offers telehealth sessions for CBT with Dr. Diane Allen. To schedule a telehealth appointment or to set up a free phone consultation, call us at (469) 428-7161.