Tinnitus and Workplace Strategies for a Quiet Environment

Individuals tend to think of tinnitus as being solely connected to loud environments. However, that’s not the case – people with tinnitus can also find it difficult to be in quiet environments too, since this can make the sound of the ringing more pronounced. While you’ll be able to control the environment when you’re at home, at work may be a different story. The good news is that there are things you can do that will help to minimize the impact of your work environment on your tinnitus.

What are some effective strategies? Though remember that it’s also important to speak to a hearing health professional to get help for your symptom of an underlying condition.

Masking Machines

Does the silence of your work environment have a negative impact on your tinnitus? Then a solution is to make the environment slightly less silent. Investing in a sound machine can help to mask the sound of the ringing with a low hum, such as white noise. If you don’t work in an environment where you can play sounds, then consider wearing headphones – you may be able to find a tinnitus-based playlist that will help you manage your condition without being distracting.

Speak To Your Employer

Your employer will likely be happy to help make the work environment more conducive to people with tinnitus. However, they can’t help you if they don’t know that you have tinnitus. If you’re finding it difficult to fully concentrate on your work because of your tinnitus, then speak to your manager. They may have suggestions of their own on how you can work more effectively, or they may give you free license to do whatever you need to do to feel comfortable and work at your best.

Build in Downtime

If there’s nothing you can do about your work environment, and it’s not possible to make improvements that make managing your symptoms easier, then be sure to build in downtime. Spending time out of the office can give your mind the rest it needs. It can take a little bit of effort to go for a walk to a local park, but it is important to do so, especially as it’ll help promote all-around wellness.

Daily Stress Management

Studies have shown that heightened stress levels can have a negative impact on tinnitus. And of course, work can be pretty stressful. Regardless of what you do, you’ll likely have stressful periods from time to time. That’s why it’s extra important to build daily stress management into your routine. This may involve meditating, engaging in yoga or doing anything else you need to do to keep your stress levels in check.

Monitor and Adjust

You may not get the perfect solution for your work issue at the first time of asking. It’s recommended to monitor how you feel in the workplace and then make adjustments as and when necessary. Remember to keep an open dialog with your employer, so you can make changes that suit you while also maintaining your professionalism.