AVOID CAFFEINE, ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO IF THEY EXACERBATE (WORSEN) YOUR TINNITUS.

AVOID ASPIRIN AND NON-STERIOD ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDICATION IF POSSIBLE.

AN ENRICHED SOUND ENVIRONMENT IS IMPORTANT. AVOID SILENCE. USE A RADIO, FAN, TV OR SOUND MACHINE TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND SOUND.

UTILIZE EAR PLUS APPROPRIATELY:

• PLUGS AND/OR MUFFS FOR LOUD EXPOSURES SUCH AS GUNS, MOWERS MRI

• MUSICIAN'S EAR PLUG FOR LOUD CONCERTS OR MOVIES.

GET PLENTY OF REST.

AVOID STRESS IF POSSIBLE STRESS AND FATIGUE MAY WORSEN TINNITUS.

SEEK ORTHODONTIAL/DENTAL CARE IF YOU GRIND YOUR TEETH AT NIGHT OR HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH TMJ. BITE PLATES/SPLINTS ARE SOMETIMES INDICATED.

CONSIDER HEARING AIDS IF YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT HEARING LOSS

PRACTICE MUSCLE RELAXATION EACH DAY:

• TRY TO KEEP THE MUSCLES OF THE FOREHEAD, JAW, NECK AND SHOULDER RELAXED

• PRACTICE DEEP BREATHING TECHNIQUES

• LEARN NECK, FACE AND UPPER BODY STRETCHES

• NEUROMUSCULAR MASSAGE THERAPY MAY BE HELPFUL.

BE WELL INFORMED REGARDING TINNITUS BUT AVOID KEEPING DIARIES ON YOUR SYMPTOMS, AVOID EXCESSIVE TIME ON THE INTERNET.