What can be done to help people who are bothered by chronic tinnitus?
I agree with Duckro et al(2) who wrote: “As with chronic pain, the treatment of chronic tinnitus is more accurately described in terms of management rather than cure.” The goal of tinnitus management is not necessarily to mask or remove the patient’s physical perception of tinnitus sounds. Instead, we help patients learn to pay less attention to their tinnitus so that it bothers them less of the time. The realistic goal of an effective tinnitus management program is to help patients understand and gain control over their tinnitus, rather than it having control over them. Ultimately we hope to help patients progress to the point where tinnitus is no longer a negative factor in their lives. We want them to move from the “severely debilitated” group of tinnitus sufferers to the “not bothered by tinnitus” group and to enjoy their lives as much as possible. There is usually no cure for chronic tinnitus that has been present for a year or more. One day, medical science will probably develop
