Tinnitus: Does sound therapy work?

Author: Katy Waterman
Published: November 15, 2018
Last reviewed by: Leightons Clinical Team
Last reviewed: March 09, 2026

Tinnitus; a real pain in the... ear. If you've experienced it you'll understand the sensation or perception of sound without any external sound source. These tinnitus sounds can be heard in one ear, both ears, or even just somewhere in the head.

Learning to live with tinnitus can be hard, and as yet, there is no cure. But there are ways to manage it and make a substantial difference to your life:

  • Ear wax build-up - Tinnitus can be caused by a build-up of earwax. A wax removal service can help relieve your tinnitus symptoms.
  • Consider hearing aids - Many modern advanced hearing aids like the Oticon Intent or Starkey Omega include special tinnitus sound therapy features which can help distract or mask your tinnitus. Often where a hearing loss is present, the amplification provided by hearing aids alone can also alleviate the perception of tinnitus.
  • Explore therapy treatments - There are several treatments available designed to help habituation with a goal in making the tinnitus less intrusive. Main treatments include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), for emotional management, and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) to habituate the brain. Sound enrichment therapy, as well as stress reduction, relaxation techniques, lifestyle changes and counselling are also highly effective.

More about tinnitus sound therapy

Many sufferers report their tinnitus to be worse when in quiet rooms; as there’s no other sounds for the brain to focus on.

Sound therapy – also known as sound enrichment – creates an alternative or ‘distraction’ sound to reduce the awareness of the tinnitus. Sound enrichment is great for providing tinnitus relief because the brain filters out the tinnitus sounds as the alternative noise takes hold.

While sound therapy can’t cure tinnitus, it can help mask or reduce the condition. White noise is a good sound enrichment tool (incidentally, it’s also useful for helping babies fall asleep). Music services like Spotify and Apple Music provide a range of white noise, meditation, and relaxation tracks, while dedicated apps such as Calm, The Breathing App, ReSound Tinnitus Relief amongst others are freely available.

Natural remedies for tinnitus

Some people experience negative changes in their tinnitus as a result of consuming certain foods or drinks. Triggers could include caffeine, salt, or alcohol. Making a diary might help determine what triggers to avoid if reasonable.

Relaxation, good breathing techniques, and soothing music are also fantastic ways to assist in easing the effects of tinnitus. Taking time to introduction a practice such as yoga and meditation could potentially help you manage your tinnitus whilst improving your physical and mental wellbeing at the same time.

This is more than just hearsay! Studies suggest that a continuous yoga practice can help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. In addition, breathing exercise techniques have been found to be an effective, and supportive therapy method in the management of tinnitus patients.

Book your hearing test today

If you have any concerns about your hearing, or you’re overdue a test, our friendly team of audiologists are here to help. Call us at Leightons on 0800 40 20 20, pop into your nearest Leightons branch or book your hearing test online today.

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