Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

There are certain foods and conditions that can trigger your tinnitus and make your symptoms worse. If you can identify and list things that trigger your tinnitus, you'll be able to better manage the condition. Foods are the easiest to target. For example, let's say caffeine tends to make the sounds in your head really loud, you may want to stay away from coffee, caffeinated tea and soda with caffeine. If your morning coffee is too hard to give up, try to cut back on other caffeine-rich foods like dark chocolate or switch to non-caffeinated herbal tea or caffeine-free white chocolate. You may be consuming caffeine without even knowing it. Lots of additives have caffeine, so if you see ginseng or taurine in the list of ingredients, that drink or food item does have caffeine. It may not be much, but it can add up and potentially make a difference to your tinnitus. Sugar is another culprit in the food arena. Many people see an increase in their tinnitus symptoms when they eat food...

Hearing aids aren't often discussed without some embarrassment. Needing hearing aids is akin to letting your hair go gray; an acknowledgment of aging. The Golden Bachelor, a reality dating show on ABC, stars stars 72-year-old Gerry Turner, a retired restauranter and widower, who is looking for love among 60- to 75-year-old contestants. And when Turner told USA Today that it's "important" for fans to know that hearing loss is often part of aging and nothing to be ashamed of, he did a great service for people who wear hearing aids. In the interview, Turner said "I don't want anyone to feel like they have a disadvantage or that they have something to be a little embarrassed about."  He added "that there's nothing wrong with showing the signs of age, and said he didn't feel awkward about using hearing aids." According to the National Institute for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIH), nearly 30 million American adults need heari...

The course of tinnitus can vary from person to person. While some individuals may find their tinnitus improving or resolving over time, others may experience it worsening or remaining constant.  It's important to note that tinnitus itself is a symptom rather than a specific condition, and it can have various underlying causes. Understanding the cause of tinnitus is crucial in predicting its course and potential changes over time. In cases where tinnitus is caused by a temporary factor, such as exposure to loud noise or certain medications, it may improve or even disappear once the underlying cause is addressed or removed. However, if tinnitus is associated with a chronic condition like age-related hearing loss, certain medical conditions, or nerve damage, it may be more persistent. There are management strategies available to help individuals cope with tinnitus, regardless of its course. These can include sound therapy, counseling, stress reduction techniques, and using hearing aid...

Tinnitus is not a disease in itself, but it can be a symptom of an underlying issue.  In this blog post, we'll explore what your doctor wishes you knew about tinnitus, including its causes, treatment options, and how you can manage it effectively. Understanding Tinnitus Tinnitus is not a standalone condition; rather, it's a signal that something isn't quite right in your auditory system. It can be caused by a range of factors, from exposure to loud noises to underlying health conditions like high blood pressure or earwax blockage. Understanding the root cause is crucial for effective management. Seek Professional Advice If you experience persistent tinnitus, the first step is to consult a healthcare professional. They can conduct a thorough examination and recommend appropriate tests to pinpoint the cause. Remember, self-diagnosing or relying on internet advice can often lead to unnecessary anxiety. Managing Stress Can Help Stress and anxiety can exacerbate tinnitus symptom...

People with tinnitus seek relief through various methods, including pharmaceuticals. While medication can offer temporary respite, it's essential to understand why relying solely on pharmaceuticals may not be the most sustainable solution for tinnitus sufferers.  Masking the Problem   One of the primary reasons meds may not provide a long-term solution for tinnitus is that they often mask the symptoms rather than address the underlying cause. Medications like benzodiazepines or certain antidepressants can help reduce anxiety or depression associated with tinnitus, but they do not target the root issue. Potential Side Effects Pharmaceuticals, like any form of medication, come with potential side effects. People with tinnitus may already experience heightened sensitivity to certain medications, potentially exacerbating their symptoms. Additionally, the long-term use of some drugs can lead to dependency and other health complications. Limited Effectiveness   While some medic...

Here are ten common mistakes people make when trying to get rid of their tinnitus: Ignoring Professional Advice : One of the biggest mistakes is not seeking help from a healthcare professional. They can provide accurate diagnosis and treatment options. Overlooking Underlying Health Issues : Tinnitus can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition like high blood pressure or ear infections. Ignoring these issues can make your tinnitus worse. Excessive Noise Exposure : Continued exposure to loud environments without protection can exacerbate tinnitus. It's crucial to wear ear protection in noisy settings. Skipping Hearing Tests : Some individuals assume they know the cause of their tinnitus and skip hearing tests. However, a comprehensive evaluation is necessary to determine the exact nature of the condition. Focusing on One Treatment Only : Relying solely on one treatment option, such as dietary changes or supplements, without considering a holistic approach can limit the effect...

While there is currently no scientifically proven cure for most cases of chronic tinnitus, there are several treatments that can help manage the condition. Here are some of the best tinnitus treatments based on the search results: Earwax removal : Start with the easiest. You may not even know that you have wax on your ear drum, but according to Mayo Clinic, by removing any  earwax blockage , you can decrease or completely eliminate your tinnitus symptoms immediately. Have any underlying conditions treated : If your doctor has diagnosed you with blood vessel conditions, they may be making your tinnitus worse. Whether treatment is medication, surgery, or something else, get it done to address the problem and hopefully reduce your tinnitus. Hearing aids : If your tinnitus is caused by noise-induced or age-related hearing loss, using hearing aids may help improve your symptoms.  White noise machines and/or masking devices : Fans or noise machines and in-ear devices produce a cont...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases the risk of tinnitus in two ways: it causes hearing loss either directly or indirectly.  According to an article by rheumatologist Judith Frank in Arthritis Health, inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis can damage the tiny joints in the ear and it can also lead to the development of a rheumatoid nodule inside the ear. Still, rheumatologist  Nilanjana Bose notes at WebMD that in order for your hearing to be affected, you must have advanced RA, have had it for a long time, and you don't keep up with inflammation control treatments. In other words, hearing issues are most typically experienced by older people who have had rheumatoid arthritis for some time. Another reason why RA increases the risk of tinnitus is that many of the drugs that help with rheumatoid arthritis can actually bring on tinnitus. These include aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; however, you likely won't experience chronic tinnitus if you limit...

Blame your brain. According to an article in AARP , "researchers say people experience tinnitus when their brains pick up on a phantom sound and try to identify it but can’t. So the brain continues to focus on that sound and tries to solve the puzzle." And, says Grant Searchfield, head of audiology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, "because the brain can’t make sense of it, the sound becomes the forefront of attention. It’s an unfortunate side effect of how the brain works." It's why sound therapy is such an important approach in treating tinnitus. If you have a sound in your environment that sounds like (or masks) your tinnitus, your brain can stop searching for the source of that phantom sound. Author and tinnitus coach at Rewiring Tinnitus Glenn Schweitzer says habituation can get you "to a place where your tinnitus stops bothering you entirely, where your brain just stops paying attention to it and it fades from your awareness." Once y...

The majority of people with tinnitus have what's know as the "somatic" form. That's when the noises you hear are generated or otherwise affected when you move your head or neck. In a Scientific American article, science journalist Anton Benz refers to a recent clinical trial, in which audiologist Susan Shore of the University of Michigan and colleagues used a new procedure to significantly alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus. Benz says the researchers developed a “bisensory” treatment.  It consists of an "in-ear headphone and two externally attached electrodes that delivered a combination of acoustic and electric stimuli to reduce activity in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN)." The way is works is that "precisely timed sounds alternated with weak electrical pulses that activate touch-sensitive nerves, aimed at steering damaged nerve cells back to normal activity," according to the University of Michigan's Fast Forward Medical Innovation page. ...