Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

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I Don't Have a Sense of Smell. Will Aromatherapy Still Help Reduce My Tinnitus Symptoms?

Aromatherapy is often suggested as a low-stress relaxation technique to reduce tinnitus symptoms. But does aromatherapy work for people like me who don't have a sense of smell? Let's dig in: As you probably know, aromatherapy primarily relies on the sense of smell to achieve its effects. It involves the use of essential oils to stimulate the olfactory system, which then affects other parts of the brain related to mood and emotions. For people who don't have a sense of smell (a condition known as anosmia), the traditional benefits of aromatherapy through olfactory stimulation won't be experienced in the usual way. However, that doesn't mean all benefits are completely inaccessible. Some aspects of aromatherapy might still be helpful for individuals with anosmia: Topical Application Essential oils are often applied to the skin for their therapeutic properties, which can include anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and soothing effects. When mixed with a carrier oil and

Try These 7 Low-Stress Relaxation Techniques To Reduce Your Tinnitus Symptoms

Have you tried these low-stress relaxation techniques to reduce the intensity of your tinnitus symptoms? I wouldn't necessarily try everything at once -- it's easier to tell what's working when you try one at a time, and then add another. But you do you, and let me know what works best for you. I swear by deep breathing, but without a sense of smell, I don't think aromatherapy is my thing. Here are 7 low-stress relaxation techniques to reduce your tinnitus symptoms: 1. Deep Breathing Exercises Deep breathing is a simple yet effective way to reduce stress and distract your mind from tinnitus. Practice inhaling slowly through your nose, holding your breath for a few seconds, and then exhaling slowly through your mouth. Repeat this process for a few minutes daily or whenever your tinnitus feels overwhelming. 2. Progressive Muscle Relaxation This technique involves tensing each muscle group in your body tightly but not to the point of strain, and then slowly relaxing them.

Neuromodulation: Harnessing Technology to Silence Tinnitus

Living with tinnitus can be a daily struggle, a constant buzzing or ringing that disrupts even the quietest moments. For those of us who have dealt with this condition for years, the search for effective relief can feel like an endless journey. However, there's hope on the horizon in the form of neuromodulation – a groundbreaking technology offering new avenues for managing tinnitus. What is Neuromodulation? Neuromodulation, in simple terms, involves the use of electrical or magnetic stimulation to alter nerve activity. While the concept may sound futuristic, it's already making waves in the medical field, offering promising results for various neurological conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, and now, tinnitus. And What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)? One of the most exciting developments in neuromodulation for tinnitus relief is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This non-invasive technique involves delivering magnetic pulses to specific areas of th

Ketamine Can be Excellent for Depression. But Tinnitus?

The New York State Psychiatric Institute has been conducting a study, expected to be finished in 2025, testing the effect of ketamine on tinnitus. The human trial is based on previous studies that found "ketamine, which an antagonist at the NMDA receptor, increases GABA levels in the brain in participants with depression." Researchers theorize that many people with tinnitus also suffer from depression and anxiety. Since ketamine is known to reduce depression, which condition can unmask the symptoms of tinnitus, then perhaps relieving depression with ketamine can lessen the perception of tinnitus. The study's principal investigator, Diana Martinez, MD , Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, puts it this way: For many, tinnitus has an important affective component to it, with distress and co-morbid symptoms of depression and anxiety. The onset and severity of tinnitus can correlate with stressful events, and it has been posited that stress lo

Low-Impact Exercise Can Help Reduce Tinnitus Noise

Exercise can have positive effects on tinnitus, mainly because it's a stress-reliever and stress can worsen tinnitus symptoms. However, all exercise is not created equal. Certain types of exercise, particularly high-impact activities like running or sports involving jarring movements of the head, can actually worsen your tinnitus. According to the National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association , "the head jarring that typically occurs during high-impact aerobic workouts jars the otoconia, which are calcium crystals in our ears, out of place. The result is inner ear problems. If you have a lingering case of tinnitus, you may need to avoid or limit exercises that include jarring movements of the head like running, basketball, football, and soccer." Weightlifting too can worsen tinnitus. The NESTA team writes: "Straining while lifting weights and any other kind of heavy exertion causes pressure within the brain, known as intracranial pressure, which also puts pre

Tinnitus Treatment: Looks Like MRI Neurofeedback is Better than CBT

Research published Radiology shows that "patients with severe chronic tinnitus who underwent real-time functional MRI neurofeedback therapy showed reduced tinnitus burden 6 months after intervention compared with patients who received group cognitive behavioral therapy." That could be a game-change because right now, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the standard treatment. If this preliminary is right, then real-time functional MRI (fMRI) neurofeedback therapy may actually be more effective. So what exactly is functional magnetic resonance imaging? Neurofeedback therapy is a form of brain training that utilizes real-time feedback of brain activity as measured by fMRI scans to help individuals learn to regulate their brain function. Here's how it typically works: fMRI Scanning : The individual undergoing neurofeedback therapy lies inside an fMRI scanner. The scanner monitors changes in blood flow and oxygenation in different regions of the brain, providing real-time

Masking and Tinnitus: What Is It and Does It Help?

Tinnitus, often described as ringing or buzzing in the ears, affects millions of people worldwide. For some, it's a minor annoyance, but for others, it can significantly impact their quality of life. One potential treatment for tinnitus is masking. But what exactly is masking, and does it help? Let's delve into the details. Understanding Tinnitus Tinnitus is the perception of noise or ringing in the ears when no external sound is present. It can manifest as buzzing, ringing, hissing, or other sounds. Tinnitus can be temporary or chronic and may vary in intensity. While it's often associated with hearing loss, it can also occur in individuals with normal hearing. What is Masking? Masking is a technique used to manage tinnitus by introducing external sounds to "mask" or cover up the perception of the ringing or buzzing noises. These external sounds can range from white noise and nature sounds to music or specific tinnitus masking devices. How Does Masking Work? Mas

Does DBS Help With Tinnitus?

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising treatment to suppress tinnitus. Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that in multiple regions of the auditory pathway that DBS can have an alleviating effect on tinnitus, according to a study published in Audiology Research. “A small minority of tinnitus sufferers have a blood vessel or a tumor near the auditory nerve, but in 99% of the cases, there’s no physical reason in the ear that we know of,” explains Jana Devos , a research psychologist and doctoral student in neuroscience. She adds that sufferers going deaf can still hear their tinnitus. “We can see that sufferers have different brain activities; we’re just not sure of the mechanism and reason.” These findings are based on animal studies, and "the method for DBS is at least not fully translatable to humans." However, “DBS has already been used for the tremors of Parkinson’s disease but this is the first trial focusing on the auditory system,” Devos notes. People wit

How Can I Get a Good Night's Sleep With Tinnitus?

Some people with tinnitus find it really difficult to get to sleep because the noise in their head is so loud and disturbing. And if they wake up in the middle of the night for any reason, getting back to sleep can be a nightmare. What to do? Try these strategies and techniques that can help you manage tinnitus-related sleep disturbances and improve your overall sleep quality. Create a Relaxing Bedtime Routine : Establishing a calming bedtime routine can signal to your body that it's time to wind down and prepare for sleep. This routine may include activities such as taking a warm bath, practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation, or reading a book. Engaging in soothing activities before bed can help reduce stress and anxiety, making it easier to fall asleep despite the presence of tinnitus. Mask the Noise : Many people with tinnitus find relief by using white noise machines or sound generators to mask the ringing or buzzing sounds associated with their cond