Hearing a ringing or buzzing noise that you can’t attribute to an external source is likely a sign that you’re experiencing tinnitus. Affecting approximately 10% of the U.S. adult population, tinnitus can have a significant impact on your life. A few adverse effects of tinnitus may include but are not limited to:
- Stress and anxiety
- Frustration
- Impaired workplace or personal relationships
- Poor concentration
- Irritability
- Poor sleep
Because the impact of tinnitus can be so significant, finding the right symptom management method is crucial.
What Is Notch Therapy?
Notch therapy is designed a little differently than other tinnitus-management options. Rather than masking the tinnitus with white noise, notch therapy teaches the brain how to ignore it completely. By targeting the specific frequency of your tinnitus, notch therapy turns down the amplification to make it easier for your brain to ignore.
What Are the Results?
One study including 29 patients with newly diagnosed chronic tinnitus sought to determine the efficacy of notch therapy. The study found that after one month, notched therapy could regulate the auditory center through lateral inhibition of tinnitus and reorganize the brain’s emotional control center. In short, notch therapy alleviated tinnitus not only through the auditory center but also by minimizing adverse emotional responses to the ringing.
While symptom management is not guaranteed, notch therapy may be an excellent option for tinnitus.
What Is the Real-Life Impact?
Tinnitus can ruin an evening out with friends or turn a simple coffee order at Café Flore into a frustrating experience. Managing your tinnitus symptoms may lead to lower stress, better sleep and concentration and reduce the likelihood that you will become irritated as a result of the internal ringing.
Tinnitus is a highly personal experience. What works for you might not work for others, and vice versa. The best way to determine which methods are most effective at managing your tinnitus is to speak to an audiology expert about your symptoms and experiences.
To learn more about your tinnitus treatment options, contact Gulf Coast Audiology today to schedule an appointment with one of our trusted specialists.