Nine tips to help relieve your child’s tinnitus
27 June 2023
If your child has tinnitus, which is a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears, it can be frightening or confusing. It’s important to find ways of managing the symptoms that they can do either with you or on their own. Here are a few helpful tips that will relieve the symptoms or address their anxiety about it.
- Explain it: Tell them what’s happening in simple terms that won’t cause alarm. A good approach is to say the brain is hearing a sound that doesn’t have a matching sound outside. Reassure them that trying to train the brain not to listen to the sounds could help.
- Check their hearing: Arrange a hearing check in case they’re also experiencing hearing loss. If they are, hearing aids can help to address both the hearing loss and the tinnitus symptoms.
- Ask questions: Speak to a Hearing Australia professional for advice tailored to your child’s needs. An audiologist will offer simple solutions that are right for your child.
- Stress less: Practice relaxation exercises together to distract them and relieve anxiety or stress, which can make tinnitus worse.
- Involve others: Speak with their teacher in case its affecting concentration in class and let them know some practical solutions, like moving away from noisy areas. Have a chat with any other carers or relevant professionals to let them know what’s going on.
- Speak up: Let your child know it’s okay to speak up when their symptoms are bothering them. If they’re embarrassed about it, arrange a discreet way to signal you or a teacher without attracting too much attention.
- Get healthy: Foster healthy habits like eating a balanced diet and getting active. This can help to reduce the symptoms and distract them from the tinnitus sounds.
- Have fun: When your child is absorbed in activities, they’ll be less likely to notice the tinnitus. Happy hormones also help to keep them relaxed and alleviate anxiety.
- Don’t despair: Finally, rest assured that tinnitus can go away on its own and can be manageable.
