Ironically, the iPod is both a cause of tinnitus and potentially a way to help alleviate tinnitus sufferer’s symptoms.  For the average person with an iPod though, it is far more likely to be a cause than a way to alleviate the symptoms.  Some of the treatments that utilize an iPod to treat tinnitus are utilizing the most advanced research to help alleviate tinnitus symptoms. 

iPod’s Roles in Causing Tinnitus

The iPod and many other MP3 players cause tinnitus in two different ways.  First of all, they produce output that is the equivalent to a jet engine.  While not the blanket roar of the jet, the music piped through a set of headphones can easily hit decibel levels that can cause permanent hearing damage.  Hearing damage is the single most likely cause of tinnitus symptoms and iPods and MP3 players lack even basic protection to keep the output from exceeding the threshold for permanent hearing damage. 

The second and less talked about way that an iPod can potentially cause tinnitus is through infection.  The person who wears the ear bud style headphones, especially the most modern renditions that boast noise blocking silicone rubber ear pieces, can cause infection if left in for too long.  Bacteria love dark, moist environments and an ear sealed up with a silicon ear bud is a great environment for bacteria growth.  The bacteria begin taking hold and a middle or outer ear infection settles in which can cause tinnitus as well.  Most of the time, treating the infection will make the tinnitus go away; however, the root cause is often ignored. 

In both cases, using speakers for an iPod or MP3 player rather than earphones as much as possible will reduce or eliminate both of these potential iPod related tinnitus causes.  However, for many, earphones are the only option.  In this case, being sure to keep the volume as low as possible and using open ear headphones rather than ear buds will help in both preventing hearing loss as well as inhibiting infection potentials. 

iPods to Treat Tinnitus

The most common treatment for most tinnitus is to produce white noise or play music which masks the tinnitus sounds for the person suffering.  This allows them to function during the day and fall asleep without being distracted by the tinnitus noises.  An iPod can either play white noise MP3’s or there are programs that are designed to produce more random white noise rather than looping an MP3 of the same white noise.  

On top of this, there are special treatments that utilize an iPod to play specially modified songs that have tinnitus frequencies blocked.  This helps the brain turn off the sensitivity to those frequencies making the symptoms less or go away completely.