Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound is present. It's commonly described as ringing in the ears, but can also sound like buzzing, hissing, whooshing, or humming. Tinnitus affects approximately 15-20% of people and is especially common in older adults. While there's no medical cure, sound therapy and habituation programs can significantly reduce its impact.

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be caused by exposure to loud noises, age-related hearing loss, earwax blockage, ear bone changes, or underlying conditions like Meniere's disease. Stress, anxiety, and certain medications can also trigger or worsen tinnitus. In many cases, the exact cause is unknown, but effective treatments exist regardless of the cause.

How to stop tinnitus immediately?

While tinnitus can't be stopped instantly, you can get immediate relief by masking the sound with external audio like white noise, nature sounds, or soft music. The StillWell app provides 84+ therapeutic sounds designed specifically for tinnitus relief. For long-term improvement, consistent daily sound therapy over 8-12 weeks trains your brain to filter out the tinnitus signal.

How to stop ringing in ears?

To reduce ringing in your ears, try sound therapy with white noise, pink noise, or nature sounds. Avoid silence, which makes tinnitus more noticeable. The most effective long-term approach is habituation therapy—a structured program that trains your brain to ignore the ringing. StillWell's 12-week program guides you through this process with personalised sounds matched to your specific tinnitus.

What is tinnitus retraining therapy?

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is a clinical approach that combines sound therapy with counselling to help your brain reclassify tinnitus as a neutral signal. StillWell is based on the same habituation principles as TRT, offering a structured 12-week program with therapeutic sounds and educational content to help your brain learn to filter out tinnitus naturally.

What sounds help with tinnitus?

Different sounds work for different types of tinnitus. StillWell offers 84+ therapeutic sounds across 9 categories including noise colours (white, pink, brown noise), nature sounds, binaural beats, solfeggio frequencies, ACRN therapy tones, and sleep blends. The app matches sounds to your specific tinnitus type for maximum relief.

Is sound therapy for tinnitus scientifically proven?

Yes, sound therapy for tinnitus is supported by peer-reviewed research. Cochrane systematic reviews and VA/DoD clinical practice guidelines show that structured sound therapy programs achieve 74-84% improvement rates in tinnitus distress when followed consistently over 8-12 weeks.

Can tinnitus go away on its own?

Temporary tinnitus from loud noise exposure often fades within hours or days. However, chronic tinnitus lasting more than 3 months rarely disappears completely on its own. The good news is that with proper treatment like sound therapy and habituation training, most people experience significant improvement—many report barely noticing their tinnitus after completing a structured program.

Is StillWell free to download?

StillWell is free to download and includes access to Week 1 of The StillWell Program. A premium subscription unlocks all 12 weeks, the full sound library of 84+ sounds, and advanced features like progress tracking and personalised recommendations.

Can Tinnitus Be Cured? Treatment Options Explained

Q: Can tinnitus be cured?

While there's currently no medical cure for most types of tinnitus, it can be effectively managed. Sound therapy and habituation training help 74-84% of people significantly reduce their tinnitus distress. Many people report their tinnitus 'fading into the background' after consistent treatment, even though the sound may technically still be present.

One of the most common questions from people with tinnitus is whether it can be cured. The honest answer is nuanced: while there's currently no universal medical cure for most types of tinnitus, effective treatments exist that can dramatically reduce its impact—to the point where many people barely notice it anymore.

The Current State of Tinnitus Treatment

Why There's No "Cure"

Tinnitus isn't a disease itself—it's a symptom arising from changes in the auditory system. These changes can occur in:

The inner ear (cochlea)
The auditory nerve
The brain's auditory processing centres

Because tinnitus can stem from many different causes and locations in the auditory pathway, a single cure that works for everyone remains elusive. Additionally, the phantom sounds of tinnitus are generated within the brain itself, making them difficult to target directly.

What Research Shows

Despite the lack of a universal cure, research consistently demonstrates that tinnitus can be effectively managed:

74-84% of people experience significant improvement with sound therapy
Habituation is achievable — Your brain can learn to filter out tinnitus
Quality of life improves — Even when the sound persists, distress decreases
Neuroplasticity offers hope — The brain can physically rewire its response

When Tinnitus Can Be "Cured"

In some cases, addressing the underlying cause can eliminate tinnitus:

Treatable Causes

Earwax impaction — Removal often resolves the tinnitus
Medication-induced tinnitus — May improve when medication is changed
Ear infections — Treatment can eliminate accompanying tinnitus
Blood pressure issues — Managing hypertension may reduce pulsatile tinnitus
TMJ disorders — Treatment can relieve associated tinnitus

Temporary Tinnitus

Tinnitus following loud noise exposure (like a concert) often fades within hours to days. This temporary form frequently resolves on its own without treatment.

Effective Management Approaches

For the majority of tinnitus cases, management rather than cure is the realistic goal—and this management can be remarkably effective.

Sound Therapy

Sound therapy remains the gold standard for tinnitus management. It works through:

Masking — External sounds reduce the perceived loudness of tinnitus
Habituation — Your brain learns to classify tinnitus as unimportant
Distraction — Focus shifts away from the internal sound
Relaxation — Calming sounds reduce stress, which often worsens tinnitus

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps change your emotional and psychological response to tinnitus. It doesn't eliminate the sound but reduces the distress it causes. Studies show CBT can significantly improve quality of life for tinnitus sufferers.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

TRT combines sound therapy with counselling to help your brain reclassify tinnitus as a neutral signal. The StillWell Program is based on these same habituation principles.

Hearing Aids

For those with hearing loss alongside tinnitus, hearing aids can help by:

Amplifying external sounds
Reducing the contrast with tinnitus
Improving overall auditory input

The Promise of Future Treatments

Research continues on potential breakthrough treatments:

Bimodal stimulation — Combining sound with tongue or skin stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation — Non-invasive brain stimulation
Gene therapy — For hearing loss-related tinnitus
Pharmaceutical approaches — Targeting specific neural pathways

While these show promise, none are yet widely available or proven effective for all types of tinnitus.

Redefining "Relief"

Perhaps the most important shift is redefining what success looks like. Many people who've achieved habituation report:

Going hours or days without noticing their tinnitus
No longer having an emotional reaction when they do notice it
Restored ability to concentrate, sleep, and enjoy life
Saying their tinnitus "faded into the background"

This isn't technically a "cure"—the sound may still be detectable if they listen for it. But functionally, their tinnitus no longer impacts their lives. For practical purposes, that's what relief looks like.

Your Path Forward

If you're hoping for a magic pill that eliminates tinnitus overnight, you'll likely be disappointed. But if you're willing to invest in a structured approach over 8-12 weeks, significant improvement is achievable for most people.

The StillWell Program offers:

84+ therapeutic sounds matched to your specific tinnitus
12-week habituation program based on proven principles
Educational content helping you understand your condition
Progress tracking so you can see your improvement
Works offline for use anywhere, anytime

Your brain created the perception of tinnitus. With the right approach and consistent effort, it can learn to filter it out—not through a cure, but through the remarkable process of habituation. That's not settling for less; it's leveraging your brain's own incredible adaptability to reclaim your peace and quiet.