Those of us who have been diagnosed as suffering tinnitus know that it can be a worry. And if people who should know better tell us there is nothing can be done our worry can turn into a more deep concern and in the worst cases make us feel generally anxious and depressed. We begin to believe meaningful tinnitus relief is not possible.

So let us kick this off with a clear-cut statement that even if you cannot find a permanent cure for tinnitus there is sound evidence that you can very quickly find a way to reduce the perception of the noises to a level that you can live with. Furthermore you can improve this by working on your own treatment therapy and introducing your own bespoke tinnitus relief program.

If your tinnitus has been recently diagnosed you will probably have been given some basic advice about what to change in your life and how to plan your tinnitus treatment. This should include avoiding loud noises that may trigger your tinnitus, and to start experimenting with maskers.

Triggers are situations that bring on your tinnitus noises. This might be something as simple as a loud high pitched voice on TV. I could name you a weather girl on our local TV station who is on top of my own list.

Maskers are manufactured noises that take over the tinnitus noise. Very often turning on a cooling fan or tuning a radio between stations to pick up the static will act as a masker so that is perhaps the first method of tinnitus treatment you should try. No need at this stage to spend money on sophisticated masking equipment if you can get the tinnitus relief for free. It is worth mentioning that whilst masking is an effective short term therapy it is not recognized as providing longer term tinnitus relief. Look to other means such as diet, lifestyle and natural remedies for a more lasting treatment.

Some recent researchers have established that a particular anti-anxiety medicine, Alprozolam (Xanax) prescribed to treat anxiety has had a direct effect of reducing the perceived loudness of the tinnitus on patients suffering with tinnitus. Though I understand there is no suggestion that it should be used as a method of tinnitus relief for patients not suffering an anxiety syndrome.

As a further assurance if you are feeling anxious or depressed about your tinnitus please remember that the vast majority of patients learn to live with their condition. Most of us find a means of tinnitus relief that gives us control and the ability to manage the tinnitus so that we are not aware it is there. And that needs to be the description of your tinnitus cure – managing your tinnitus so that you are not aware it is there.