Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

Tinnitus is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. According to various estimates, approximately 10-15% of the general population experiences tinnitus to some degree. In the U.S., more than about 50 million people are affected. This percentage is higher in older adults and in individuals who have been exposed to loud noises. Tinnitus is also more prevalent in military personnel and veterans, who may have experienced noise-induced hearing loss from their service. Tinnitus can be caused by exposure to loud noises, but the exact decibel level that leads to tinnitus varies depending on a number of factors such as the duration of exposure, the individual's age, and existing hearing health. Loud and long noises are the worst In general, exposure to loud noises (such as concerts, power tools, and firearms) above 85 decibels (dB) can cause hearing damage and increase the risk of developing tinnitus.  The risk of tinnitus increases with longer exposure time and with h

Tinnitus is described as a ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming, or whistling sound in one or both ears, in the absence of an external sound source. The sound may be constant or intermittent and may vary in volume.  Some people describe tinnitus as high-pitched, while others describe it as a low roar or buzz.  Because the experience of tinnitus is unique to each person, it can be described in many different ways. Other descriptions of tinnitus include: Pulsing Chirping Clicking Sizzling What are the impacts of having tinnitus? Tinnitus can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life and can cause stress, anxiety, and depression. In severe cases, tinnitus can interfere with daily activities, sleep, and overall well-being.  With proper management and support, however, most people with tinnitus are able to cope with the condition and maintain their mental health. What should I do if I think I have tinnitus? If you think you have tinnitus, the first step is to see a healthca

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of any corresponding external sound. It is often described as a ringing, buzzing, or whistling sound in the ears. Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of factors, including exposure to loud noise, ear infections, certain medications, and age-related hearing loss. In some cases, tinnitus may be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition. While there is no cure for tinnitus, treatment options such as sound therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and medication may help to manage symptoms. Who gets tinnitus? Tinnitus can affect people of all ages, but it is more common in older adults and in people who have had prolonged exposure to loud noise. Other factors that can increase the risk of developing tinnitus include ear infections, certain medications, head or neck injuries, and age-related hearing loss. Additionally, people with certain underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, ma

Some common medications can actually heighten the ringing and whistling noises in your head and ears.  Tinnitus sufferers have found this out to their dismay, and warn others to be wary of large dosages (in excess of 600 mg) of Ibuprofen, for instance, and even to be careful when taking aspirin.  In fact, there are people who insist that certain medications don't just make the condition worse, but can actually cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and are also taking antibiotics or other medications (even over-the-counter meds) for any medical condition -- running the gamut from arthritis to clinical depression (Prozac's frequently cited) -- let your doctor know. You should also monitor yourself with a daily record of medicines taken and tinnitus levels. You might be surprised to learn that some items known to worsen tinnitus include toothpastes (especially for sensitive gums), antacid tablets, Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate and Pepcid. Click here for a comprehensive list o

The joint that keeps our jaws moving is called the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).  If this joint doesn't work quite right, thrown out of alignment through tension and unconscious teeth-grinding as you sleep , you may have something called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD or TMD). Your dentist should be the first stop on your list of medical professionals to visit if you're feeling jaw pain. What has your TMJ got to do with tinnitus?  Well, you may not have tinnitus at all if the noise in your head tends to come and go.  If the buzzing or ringing in your ears seems to start (or stop) depending on what you're doing at the time (like crunching an apple) or the position in which you're holding your head, for instance, you should get your jaw alignment looked at. One person who was suffering headaches (along with tinnitus) made the connection, and says that he eliminated at least 80 percent of the problem simply by avoiding crunchy and chewy foods and by being awa

A U.S.-based company called NeuroSystec has developed a new medicine (NST-001) to combat tinnitus. Overactive nerves thought to cause tinnitus are calmed by the drug, administered by using a drug pump implanted in the ear. Although tinnitus has many causes including damage from loud noise(s) as well as adverse side effects of ototoxic medications (including aspirin), the bottom line is the resulting release of a brain chemical (glutamate) causes nerve cells to become hyperactive . The affected nerves in the ear then send faulty messages to the brain, resulting in tinnitus. The new drug "is thought to block the production of excessive glutamate, in turn reducing this rogue nerve firing. Researchers claim it may even result in the elimination of tinnitus." There's been "a small pilot study on human volunteers in Germany, [and] the majority of patients given the drug reported a significant reduction of tinnitus." However, "when the treatment ended, the

At the age of just 24, Jack Wershler suddenly woke up with tinnitus, and it's been with him ever since. He had his hearing checked and was diagnosed with minor hearing loss which he now realizes is from years of listening to loud music in cars and concerts and on ipods.  Like most of us, he'd simply taken his hearing for granted. He wrote an article about his experience, which does not seem to be available online anymore. However, its lesson should not be lost.  E ducation on tinnitus should start (in an age-appropriate manner) at the elementary level. Although not everyone who has the condition got it through noise-induced damage, certainly a large majority of tinnitus sufferers do -- and they just didn't know any better. Noise-induced tinnitus is avoidable , and that's what we need to teach our children. Musician Tony Di Gregorio, who has tinnitus, was quoted in the article as saying that while it can be frustrating talking to people about tinnitus, he is trying

Researchers report that tinnitus sufferers who listened to custom-tailored music over the period of one year reported a significant improvement in their tinnitus — the ringing was not as loud — compared with others who listened to music that was notched at frequencies not corresponding to their ringing frequency. The music technique makes use of recent findings about a possible cause of tinnitus: that noise exposure actually rewires that part of the brain responsible for perceiving sound, and that behavioral training may reverse the problem. Patients simply chose their favorite music. Researchers modified the music by filtering out any frequencies in the music that was the same as the tinnitus noises. Patients then listened to this "notched" music for about 12 hours weekly over the period of one year. Read the full article here . Try Quietum Plus

Teens develop a 60-second cure for noise-induced tinnitus. Two Irish physics students have invented sound therapy for temporary tinnitus. Awarded runner-up prizes at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition this year, their project for the exhibition was to test their sound therapy (a 60-second low frequency tone administered through head phones) on 250 subjects who were experiencing temporary tinnitus. The therapy had a 99 percent success rate. Temporary noise-induced tinnitus is a type of tinnitus that is caused by exposure to loud noises. It usually goes away on its own within a few hours or days. The loud noise causes damage to the inner ear and causes a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ear. Since it goes away anyway by itself, what's the big deal about this sound therapy? It takes a much shorter time to alleviate symptoms -- and it may point to a "cure" for long-term sufferers. One of the inventors says: "After coming out of discos or listenin

Australian researchers think that some forms of tinnitus can be successfully treated if action is taken immediately upon diagnosis. Basically, if the overactive nerve activity associated with tinnitus is calmed before the pattern becomes established, the condition can be corrected.  Professor Don Robertson of the University of Western Australia says the nerve activity can be dampened in three ways: by surgery on the inner ear; by "cooling down" the ear; and by use of nerve-impulse blocking drugs. From the onset of increased nerve activity, it takes only about six weeks for the brain to begin making the whistling and roaring noises on its own, "independent of input from the ears." Researchers say further work was needed to find ways to exploit this potential window of opportunity. Robertson adds that "although a lot more research needs to be done at this stage, it is a very exciting prospect." Read the full article here . Try Quietum Plus