Rellax App Introduced for Tinnitus Management

Editor’s note — September 24, 2026

This is a historical report, not current treatment guidance. NICE tinnitus guidance calls for assessment within 24 hours when tinnitus occurs with hearing loss that developed suddenly over three days or less within the past 30 days. The AAO-HNS adult sudden sensorineural hearing-loss guideline advises against routinely prescribing vasodilators or vasoactive substances for that specific condition; it does not say those medicines are prohibited for every person with tinnitus. Do not self-treat based on the historical approach described below; seek qualified clinical advice.

Audiologist and tinnitus-management advocate Dr Ryan Hill announced Rellax, a sound-therapy application for iOS and Android. The app is intended to help users manage tinnitus through personalized soundscapes, selected guidance from hearing professionals and everyday wellbeing tools. Rellax is presented as a management aid, not a cure.

How tinnitus can affect daily life

Tinnitus may be experienced as a persistent buzzing or high-pitched ringing sound and can interfere with sleep, concentration and quality of life. The Rellax announcement says users can tailor soundscapes intended to mask tinnitus and support relaxation. It describes a science-informed sound-therapy approach and an interface designed around individual needs; the announcement does not report comparative clinical-outcome data for the app.

Rellax features

• Personalized sound therapy: Users can create soundscapes intended to mask tinnitus and encourage relaxation.
• Expert advice: The app offers selected guidance and practical tips from Hill and other hearing professionals.
• Daily wellbeing tools: Users can track their progress and include relaxation methods.
• Cross-platform access: Rellax is available for iOS and Android.

“We hope Rellax offers a meaningful response to a common problem that can feel isolating and overwhelming,” Hill said. He described the app as combining science, technology and empathy to help people manage tinnitus and live more comfortably.

Possible causes of tinnitus

The accompanying background information lists vascular conditions associated with pulsatile tinnitus; hearing loss, including age-related loss; middle-ear obstruction or Eustachian-tube dysfunction; head and neck injury affecting nerves, blood flow or muscles; sinus pressure or barotrauma; medicines that may be toxic to the ear; and other systemic conditions. Its examples of the latter include thyroid disorders, diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, depression, anxiety and vestibular schwannoma. These are possible causes or associations, not a diagnosis for any individual.

Approaches to care

The background section advises identifying and addressing a known underlying cause. The historical article also describes an approach for unexplained tinnitus of less than three months that follows a sudden-hearing-loss protocol, including medicines aimed at improving inner-ear microcirculation. This is the old article's claim, not a current treatment recommendation. The account is historical and does not replace clinical assessment.

For tinnitus with no clear cause, persistent tinnitus despite treatment, or tinnitus that remains after its cause has been treated, the accompanying information lists habituation, cognitive approaches, relaxation and masking as possible components of combined care. It recommends psychological counseling or psychotherapy when severe psychological difficulties accompany tinnitus. Anyone with persistent or distressing symptoms should seek qualified clinical advice.

Original report: The Hearing Review.