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The Tinnitus Problem

There are some 12 million tinnitus sufferers in the United States. Only about 8% of tinnitus cases are considered debilitating. The frequency of occurrence of tinnitus increases with age. As reported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, more than 11% of men aged 65-74 suffer tinnitus. Most people will experience unusual sounds in the ears or head noise at some point in their life. In most instances, it is not a serious problem. However, tinnitus sufferers will tell you that it can be so distracting and annoying that it keeps them from focusing, concentrating, being productive, getting a good night’s sleep and carrying on their normal daily functions. Western medicine has a number of treatments, but in general no cure. Most treatments are intended to provide symptomatic tinnitus relief. Natural therapies take a more holistic approach focusing on the root cause and creating a healthy lifestyle through exercise, nutrition, stress reduction, meditation and spiritual alignment. Many individuals that experience tinnitus have been able to manage the condition using natual tinnitus therapy.

The Definiton of Tinnitus

The definition of tinnitus, also known as “ringing in the ears”, is the perception of sound when no external sound is present. The symptoms of tinnitus are described as sensation of sounds similar to high pitched ringing, whistling, swishing, hissing, buzzing, roaring, clicking or chirping. This may affect one or both ears. The phantom sound(s) may range in pitch from high to low (tonal), may include overtones (multi-tonal) or may be more noise-like (atonal). The perceive sounds may be constant, intermittent or pulsed (called pulsatile tinnitus where the sound is in sync with the heart’s rhythm). The volume can be the most important factor in how tinnitus affects one’s life and can range from very faint and subtle to volumes that are debilitating. The onset of tinnitus may be sudden or may come on gradually, especially with age. Nonetheless, tinnitus can affect people of all ages.

The Causes of Tinnitus

Although not considered a disease per se, tinnitus is a symptomatic manifestation of other conditions within the hearing and central nervous systems. The exact mechanism(s) resulting in tinnitus is, in the majority of cases, unknown.  With that being said, there are several factors that are known to cause or worsen tinnitus particularly if it already exists. These include: allergic reactions, cardiovascular disease, certain drugs or medications, ear or sinus infections, head and neck trauma, jaw misalignment (e.g. TMJ, temporomandibular joint disorder), noise exposure, presbycusis (age related hearing loss), tumors or other growths,  thyroid conditions, wax build-up in the ear canal, stress.

Treatments for Tinnitus

The first step in defining a treatment for tinnitus is determining the underlying cause of the problem. In most instances, tinnitus is caused by some sort of trauma or damage to the hearing organ. However, the etiology (or cause) of tinnitus often remains unknown. It is important to explore whether tinnitus is being caused by another treatable condition. If this is the case, then treatment would focus on curing the underlying illness, thus eliminating the tinnitus symptom.  When tinnitus becomes unbearable or debilitating and no root cause can be found, there are a number of symptomatic treatment options available. These do not cure tinnitus, but do provide tinnitus relief. Here is a short list of some of those treatments.

  • Masking: Maskers are small devices (similar to a hearing aid) that create “white noise” that blocks out the internal sounds associated with tinnitus. Many tinnitus sufferers find that tinnitus gets worse at night especially while they are trying to sleep. In these cases, the sound of a radio, fan, or or other white noise machine is often able to provide relief.
  • Stress Reduction: Many individuals with tinnitus find an association between stress and the onset or severity of tinnitus. For these individuals, stress reduction and relaxation techniques have proved helpful.
  • Biofeedback Therapy: In some cases, tinnitus patients have been able to reduce or eliminate their tinnitus using biofeedback techniques.
  • Medication: Tinnitus individuals may find relief through the use of antianxiety or antidepressant medication. This underscores the importance of stress in contributing to tinnitus symptoms.
  • Prevention/Lifestyle Changes: Caffeine may worsen the symptoms of tinnitus, so it is advisable to keep coffee, tea and soda consumption to a minimum or that they be eliminated all together. Aspirin and aspirin products should be avoided as these only worsen the condition. Hearing loss is also associated with making  the symptoms of tinnitus worse. It is advisable to protect one’s hearing and to avoid loud noises.
  • Natural Therapies: Many tinnitus individuals find it possible to manage their tinnitus through a variety of natural and holistic approaches. These include lifestyle changes that prevent or reduce tinnitus; nutrition, nutritional supplements, exercise (especially yoga), detoxification, stress reduction and relaxation techniques, meditation, and spiritual atonement.

Finally, some tinnitus sufferers find it possible to learn to live with it. They adapt to tinnitus by first accepting it for what it is, and then learning not to focus on the noise. Its always there, but they usually don’t notice it.

 

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