Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

Seems weird, but researchers are finding a relationship between tinnitus and a poor sense of smell. A 2023 report in Frontiers in Public Health  concludes that "subjective smell dysfunction and poor smell test results were significantly associated with tinnitus complaints."  An earlier study published in 2018 by PLOS One also "found the relationship between olfactory dysfunction and tinnitus," noting that "the occurrence of olfactory dysfunction may increase according to the increase in the severity of tinnitus." So, if you've never had a good sense of smell, does that mean you'll get tinnitus? Not necessarily; the research to date does not suggest that having no sense of smell predisposes a person to tinnitus. While there may be some cases where tinnitus and anosmia (lack of sense of smell) occur together, the two conditions are not directly related. Anosmia is typically caused by issues in the olfactory system, such as nasal congestion, sinus pr

Hearing aids can reduce the noise of tinnitus; they don't cure the condition.  If you've got hearing loss that is genetic or caused by damage to the inner ear, your brain is basically trying to fill the sound gap. It comes up with those noises we all associate with tinnitus. The more profound your hearing loss, the louder your tinnitus can be. Hearing aids help by expanding your audiological range, so that your brain doesn't have to compensate so much.  There are other ways in which hearing aids can help with tinnitus: Amplification and Sound Enrichment Hearing aids can provide relief for tinnitus by amplifying external sounds, diverting attention away from the internal tinnitus sounds. By improving overall hearing, hearing aids can make environmental sounds, such as conversations, music, or nature sounds, more audible and enjoyable. This amplification helps mask or drown out the tinnitus, making it less noticeable and bothersome. Customized Sound Therapy Many modern hearin

The FDA has approved ketamine for two uses: for anesthesia and for depression that does not respond to regular antidepressants. Ketamine has not been approved for the treatment of tinnitus. What Is Ketamine? A dissociative anesthetic successfully used for more than 50 years, ketamine in low doses can also treat mental illness  —  specifically, depression. It's long been known to help prevent suicidal tendencies, especially because it acts so fast. In a 2015 article at Futurity, Christina Sumners wrote: "Ketamine acts quickly. Instead of the two or more weeks of a standard antidepressant, such as Prozac, Zoloft, or Effexor, ketamine acts within minutes to hours — which is vitally important in preventing suicide." Does It Work? However, ketamine efficacy in treating tinnitus is not proven, and anecdotal reports are actually pretty discouraging. Some people report that their tinnitus gets louder (going back to baseline when the drug fades), or has no effect at all on their

Acupuncture is certainly an alternative solution that can alleviate the aggravation of tinnitus, if not actually reduce the sounds you're hearing. In this blog post, we'll explore the potential benefits of acupuncture for tinnitus and provide you with practical tips and suggestions to implement right away. Understanding Tinnitus Before delving into the potential benefits of acupuncture, let's briefly understand what tinnitus is. Tinnitus is not a disease itself but rather a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, earwax blockage, or even stress. It manifests as a perception of sound in the absence of any external source, often presenting as ringing, buzzing, hissing, or whistling noises. The Promise of Acupuncture Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body. It aims to balance the body's energy flow, known as Qi, and promote overa

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) was developed more than 30 years ago by neurophysiologist Pawel J. Jastreboff , Ph.D., Sc.D., MBA.  TRT uses a combination of counseling and sound therapy to help patients get used to their tinnitus . Low-level, steady noise generators that are worn in or behind the ear provide a background sound that helps reduce the perceived loudness of tinnitus. According to Jastreboff , when a person is habituated to their tinnitus, it means that they are no longer aware of the tinnitus noise — except when they focus their attention on it. And even when they focus on it, the tinnitus is not annoying or bothersome. "This therapy can be compared to the sound of raindrops falling on a roof being noticed when it first starts raining, but going unnoticed and put out of mind after some time," write the staff at Hear-It .  They say that the psychological part of TRT is made up of deep relaxation exercises and stress management to teach patients to ignore the ti

EMDR is short for "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing" and is said to help people come to terms with traumatic experiences. That may be true. Miley Cyrus is one celebrity who vouches for the eye movement therapy. After a year of treatment to reduce physical sensations associated with painful memories, she calls it helpful. But does it help with tinnitus? According to the EMDR International Association , "it is not uncommon for people who experience tinnitus to also experience PTSD symptoms." Additionally, "tinnitus is associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and sleep disturbance," explains EMDR therapist Leslie Pertz. "I have seen many people reduce the distress of tinnitus...and for some, they no longer even pay attention to tinnitus." The team at The Trauma Practice in the UK says "EMDR is a viable form of treatment for tinnitus because parallels have been drawn between individuals with chronic t

Alternative approaches to tinnitus relief has led to the investigation of oxytocin nasal spray as a potential solution. But what exactly is oxytocin? Is it dangerous? And what potential benefits does it offer? Let's dive in. Understanding Oxytocin Oxytocin is a naturally occurring hormone produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland in the brain. Often referred to as the "love hormone" or "cuddle hormone," oxytocin plays a crucial role in social bonding, trust, and emotional connection. It is involved in various physiological processes, including childbirth, lactation, and maternal-infant bonding. Is Oxytocin Dangerous? Potential Side Effects When used responsibly and under medical supervision, oxytocin is generally considered safe. However, it is important to note that using any medication or hormone treatment carries potential risks and side effects. Oxytocin nasal spray may cause temporary discomfort, such as mild headaches, dizziness, nas

"The ear is not separate from the rest of the body," says Christopher Spankovich , professor and vice chair of research and clinical audiologist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. "What we eat and our physical and mental health have important implications for hearing, tinnitus, and balance." In other words, diet can play a significant role in managing tinnitus symptoms. Some people believe that certain foods, particularly those high in sugar, worsens their tinnitus. Let's take a look at the potential mechanisms behind this claim. Inflammation and Blood Sugar Levels High sugar intake can lead to increased inflammation in the body, which may affect tinnitus symptoms. Studies have shown that elevated blood sugar levels can trigger inflammation, potentially affecting the delicate structures of the ear. Inflammation can disrupt normal auditory function, leading to heightened tinnitus symptoms. Sugar and Vascular Health Another potential link between sug

"Neuroplasticity is our body and brain's ability to change itself," writes vestibular audiologist Joey Remenyi . "To build new pathways and to reset internal systems. It is an important part of healing vertigo and tinnitus. When our system is in 'emergency' mode, it is less able to think clearly or rewire a new neural map." Tinnitus, the perception of sound without any external source, can be a frustrating and debilitating condition for many individuals. While it often manifests as a persistent ringing in the ears, it can also present as buzzing, hissing, or even musical sounds. Medical professionals have long sought effective treatments for tinnitus, and one avenue that shows promise is the concept of neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's remarkable ability to reorganize and rewire itself in response to new experiences, learning, and environmental changes. Far from being a fixed and rigid organ, the brain constantly adapts and resh

In his 2017 video, chiropractor Eric Berg describes his own version of a well-known finger thumping technique to reduce tinnitus . He explains that the technique involves stimulation of the eighth cranial nerve. This is the nerve that affects hearing. With this technique, Berg says, you'll be working on the back of the skull that matches the cranial nerve at the level of the brain stem where the nerve comes out. The finger drumming technique may help to desensitize ringing in the ears by creating a rhythmic finger drumming directly over the occipital ridge at the level of the brain stem. Here's the technique : Step 1: Rate the severity of the noise 1-10 (1 being no ringing and 10 being severe) Step 2: Do this technique 20 times. Step 3: Re-rate the severity and repeat technique. Step 4: Continue this technique daily until resolved. While it may seem weird to drum the back of your skull to help tinnitus, Berg says it's a lot like the principle of getting rid of chronic pain

Yes, drinking can cause your tinnitus to sound different — it might be louder or quieter. According to Dr. Julie Prutsman at Sound Relief Hearing Center, "drinking alcohol of any kind, whether it’s wine, beer, or liquor, can worsen tinnitus.  This is because "drinking alcohol causes your blood vessels to relax and expand," she explains. "When this occurs, blood flow increases throughout the body, including your ears, which can make your tinnitus worse. While alcohol-induced tinnitus is generally short-lived, excessive drinking over a long period of time can result in a permanent form of this hearing condition." Audiologist Ben Thompson puts it this way: "Alcohol is known to raise blood pressure which may temporarily increase perception of tinnitus. While this is usually temporary with light to moderate alcohol consumption, increased blood pressure can lead to changes to circulation in the inner ear."  According to American Addiction Centers , "

Over a decade ago, Tomasz P. Szynalski in Poland, developed mild tinnitus.  While the volume wasn't high (overpowered by the refrigerator, or the sound of water flowing in the bathroom), he could "often hear it over his PC (several very quiet fans + quiet 7200 rpm hard drive) or during a conversation in a quiet room when nobody is talking." Szynalski created a tinnitus frequency matching online tone generator .  "If you have pure-tone tinnitus this online frequency generator can help you determine its frequency," he writes.  "Knowing your tinnitus frequency can enable you to better target masking sounds and frequency discrimination training. When you find a frequency that seems to match your tinnitus, make sure you check frequencies one octave higher (frequency × 2) and one octave lower (frequency × ½), as it is easy to confuse tones that are one octave apart." He also created a pitch discrimination game called Plasticity . As with his online tone gen

Neuromodulation is a technique used to reduce tinnitus. There are different forms of neuromodulation, including: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation : TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. By targeting the auditory cortex, which is involved in processing sound, TMS can help modulate abnormal neural activity associated with tinnitus. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation : TENS involves delivering low-level electrical currents to the skin using electrodes. By stimulating the nerves in the vicinity of the ears or other relevant areas, TENS can help disrupt or normalize the neural signals associated with tinnitus. Direct Electrical Stimulation : DES involves surgically implanting electrodes near the auditory pathways. These electrodes deliver electrical impulses to specific regions of the brain, modulating the abnormal neural activity that contributes to tinnitus. Cochlear Implants : Although primarily used to treat hearing loss, cochlear implants can also