The Journal
Understanding Tinnitus: Why It Happens and Why It Becomes So Distressing
Tinnitus is more than a ringing in your ears. Learn what causes tinnitus, why it becomes so distressing for some people, what treatments are supported by research, and how many people eventually stop noticing it.
What is CBT for Tinnitus?
CBT helps reduce this alarm response over time. Most people who successfully adapt to tinnitus don’t reach a point where they literally never hear it. Instead, the sound gradually becomes less important, less emotionally charged, and less likely to capture attention automatically. In many cases, people find that they can hear the sound when they listen for it, but it no longer dominates their attention or emotional life.