Mindfulness Practices: A Potential Success for Treating Tinnitus When Other Methods Prove Ineffective
Hear Those Buzzing Noises? Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Could be Your Savior
Dealing with tinnitus, that consistent ringing or buzzing in your ears even when there's no external sound, can be quite a struggle, especially for the 50 million Americans who grapple with it. But have no fear, a new treatment on the block might offer some relief—mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).
While there's currently no cure for tinnitus, there are various approaches to manage this condition. From exercise to improve circulation to various mental techniques that help diminish the perception of the noise, there's quite a range available. One such technique that's been around for a while but is gaining more attention is MBCT.
A recent study by Liz Marks, a lecturer from the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, and Dr. Laurence McKenna, a clinical psychologist at the Royal National Throat Nose & Ear Hospital, shed more light on the benefits of MBCT in managing tinnitus. Their findings were published in the journal Ear and Hearing.
The team examined 182 tinnitus patients in a "real-world" tinnitus clinic utilizing an 8-week MBCT program. The study found "significant improvements" across the board, with 50% experiencing a reliable reduction in tinnitus-related distress and 41.2% reporting a reduction in psychological distress.
Interestingly, these findings reinforce those of a previous study by the same researchers which compared the effectiveness of MBCT with traditional relaxation techniques used in the treatment of tinnitus.
Marks explained the difference between MBCT and traditional relaxation techniques, stating, "MBCT turns traditional tinnitus treatment on its head—so rather than trying to avoid or mask the noise, it teaches people to stop the battle with tinnitus."
Instead of pushing the sound away, MBCT trains people to stay present in the moment and accept the experience. Unlike traditional relaxation techniques that aim at reducing physiological arousal and stress, MBCT integrates mindfulness and cognitive strategies to change the patient's relationship with their tinnitus.
In the previous trial, 75 patients participated, receiving either MBCT or relaxation therapy. The study revealed that both treatments led to a reduction in tinnitus severity, psychological distress, anxiety, and depression for patients. However, the MBCT treatment led to significantly greater reductions in tinnitus severity than the relaxation treatment, and this improvement lasted for longer.
While MBCT might not be suitable for everyone, Marks is confident of its potential, stating, "The growing research base has demonstrated how it can offer an exciting new treatment to people who may have found that traditional treatment has not been able to help them yet."
- The influx of interest in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) can be attributed to its potential as a new treatment for managing tinnitus, a medical-condition that affects 50 million Americans.
- The health-and-wellness community is abuzz with the findings from a recent study published in the journal Ear and Hearing, which indicates that MBCT, when compared to traditional relaxation techniques, has shown significant improvements in managing tinnitus-related distress and psychological distress.
- As mental-health becomes a growing concern, therapies-and-treatments such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) are gaining recognition for their ability to change the patient's relationship with their tinnitus, moving away from traditional methods that focus on masking or avoiding the noise.
