Older adults are at a higher risk of experiencing a ringing in their ears which is often combined with a hearing loss. Tinnitus poses some unique factors when it manifests among the elderly. It is precisely why it is imperative that the ENT community and family physicians must educate themselves about multiple avenues of management and treatment that are at their disposal. If handled efficiently with a targeted approach of managing and treating tinnitus, especially among older adults, then, the quality of life can be enhanced and tinnitus patients can go on to live a rewarding life. Otherwise, it could have a debilitating effect on their health–physical, mental, and emotional.
Counseling
Counseling can go a long way in helping manage tinnitus symptoms. Those suffering from tinnitus can benefit from becoming more aware about their condition and getting educated about how to live with tinnitus. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy has also worked wonders especially among the elderly who might consider the ringing in their ears as a reaction to loud noise or might even suffer silently in fear people label them as senile.
Enriching the external sound
When a constant ringing sound disturbs your daily routine, your ENT might guide you towards sound enrichment techniques and machines such as hearing aids that can mask the sound in your ears or mix it with a soothing sound. The jarring ringing sensation or buzzing noise in the ear could be masked away and the tinnitus patient could notice improvements.
Research has shown that hearing aids provide a benefit to a significant number of people suffering from tinnitus.
Sound therapy
Sound therapy has made strides in alleviating tinnitus symptoms experienced by older adults. The aim of sound therapy is to carry out complete masking, partial masking, and other sound mixing techniques to distract them from the ringing sound, or suppress the volume of the ringing noise.
Habituation
Habituation is a way of becoming accustomed to or in fact ignoring a stimulus without exerting any conscious effort. In terms of psychology, this takes place when a body or person adapts to the repeated exposure to a particular stimulus.
Reducing stress
Stress can act as a trigger for tinnitus and can even exacerbate the symptoms. Managing the triggers of stress can not only help the individual reduce their blood pressure and alleviate anxiety but also reduce the ringing experience in the ears. Mindfulness-based stress reduction has proven to be helpful too!
Taking the right kind of supplements
Tinnitus can be managed among older adults by following a regular and relevant plan of the right supplements. All-natural supplements such as Tranquil Ear and Tranquil Ear P.M. provide essential nutrients that help in nourishing the inner ear cells with the goal of strengthening the ear.