Tinnitus - A detailed explanation of the causes of tinnitus and a discussion about the most successful treatment methods.
What is Tinnitus
Tinnitus Treatment Methods
Successful Tinnitus Treatments
Will My Medical Insurance Pay For Tinnitus Treatment?
Alternative Tinnitus Treatment
Tinnitus Causes
Your Diet is Important
Tinnitus is Distracting
Determining the Cause of the Problem
Probable Causes Of Tinnitus
Different Forms of Tinnitus
Is Surgery an Option?
There are millions of people that are affected by the ailment known as tinnitus. However, to many of the individuals that suffer from this affliction, it is commonly understood to be ringing in the ears or a buzzing noise, generated in the body of the individual as opposed to an outside source.
Some people suffer from severe cases of this problem, but like with other ailments the degree to which individuals will suffer can vary greatly from individual to individual. Not all people that experience this will even report the issue. In a case study that looked at 1687 tinnitus sufferers, 24% of those cases were determined to be caused by noise exposure, which is a very common cause. Still, for 43% of those asked the response to the inquisition that there was no discernable cause for the condition.
In a recent poll if over 15,000 past and present clients, over 90% of them blamed cochlea damage (chiefly from exposure to loud noises) as the result or cause of their tinnitus.
Almost everyone will hear a noise in their ears that is not present outside their body at least once throughout the course of their lives. In most cases, this is not a big problem. Sometimes we notice it after we hear fireworks or firecrackers, or by listening to other loud noises, especially for long periods of time.
Despite this, there are still a number of people that will hear these types of internal noises without any obvious noises being present in the environment which the individual is present. Obviously, if the ear ringing is bothersome enough this would cause a fairly substantial irritation in the life of the individual that is hearing these noises.
This is because it is common for individuals, from time to time, to hear ringing in their ears or what they would describe as a buzzing noise that they hear. It is often a disturbance, but often little more than a quick annoyance that corrects itself after a short period of time. The millions of people that do end up seeking medical advise about the chirping, whooshing or ringing noises that they hear in their ear or ears, will find out that the degree of tinnitus that they are currently experiencing is not actually a disease all its own.
What is Tinnitus, What Causes It?
Tinnitus, the hearing problem that is distressing the individual, is actually an occurrence that is a symptom of another factor in the body that is being disrupted or malfunctioning. Tinnitus occurs not as its own medical anomaly, but rather as a symptom of another problem within the body of the person hearing these noises and starts searching for a tinnitus cure.
For example, there are a number of cases in which individuals that are bitten by a tick and through this acquire Lyme Disease will sometimes notice tinnitus as a side effect. Ticks that are carrying Lyme Disease are most often found in the Eastern United States, but they are not strictly limited to this area. There are a few reports of tick bites in other areas of the country on rare occasions.
Another health related cause of tinnitus would be growths and tumors within the body. An example of benign tumors that develop within the body are Acoustic Neuromas which press up against or otherwise invade the auditory nerves within the ear.
These growths are small and not dangerous to the individual's life span, but because of their location in the ear, many people will note the onset of tinnitus as a result of these growths. Glomous tumors can be removed through a delicate surgical procedure, but they are also known to be able to cause tinnitus. The confirmation of having glomous tumors within the body can be performed through a simple and often noninvasive CAT scan. These growths are known to cause pulsatile tinnitus, otherwise known as objective tinnitus which will be discussed more later on in this article.
Some people find that the tinnitus is the result of an age-related medical problem in their body while others get it as the result of an injury that has occurred in the ear or ears of the individual.
Other times, it will be a signal that there is something wrong within the individual's circulatory system which will need to be checked in order to determine what the real problem is within the body of the sufferer.
Medical checkups will likely help to determine what the cause of the problem is. Still, this does not guarantee that the problem can be reversed. The constant ringing in the ears is not something that can be cured through typical medical assistance and treatment. This is especially true when it comes to the individuals that have an ear injury or hearing loss that cannot be corrected.
For the most part, tinnitus is not a warning of something life threatening. In many cases, if the individual takes specific steps of treatment, they will be able to appreciate a decrease in the amount of aggravation and annoyance that the sufferer will deal with over time. Still, it has been determined that while there are some medical treatments for this problem that are intended to help those that suffer from tinnitus, they are conditional at best.
Tinnitus Treatment Methods
Most medical treatments for ear ringing are not what one would refer to as particularly successful, and most treatments will cause varying forms of side effects which most people can live without. These include such as dry mouth and constipation and many of the medications prescribed to treat the tinnitus actually aggravate the condition.
Most of these drugs are actually designed to correct other problems, and have been found to potentially help decrease the severity of tinnitus in some individuals under certain conditions, but the truth is that if the tinnitus is caused by age or noise exposure, then there is no conventional medicine to completely get rid of the noise or any other guarantee of a tinnitus recovery.
Clearly, that does not sound very promising. There are very few ways that individuals can determine whether or not a treatment would work for them short of trial and error. Paying for medication can get very expensive, even for those that do have insurance benefits. Depending on how long it takes for a person to go through the process of trying a tinnitus cure and giving it enough time to work if it is going to, a person can be purchasing different medicines and going to doctors quite often.
It is an established fact that the only successful treatments for tinnitus at this stage are homeopathic remedies for tinnitus and also natural formulas which are herb and vitamin based.
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Will My Medical Insurance Pay For Tinnitus Medication?
Not likely! There are not many medical insurance schemes that will pay for any form of ear ringing treatments. This presents a number of problems for most people. Most people have to pay co-pays for doctor's visits, assuming that they have insurance. Without insurance, most individuals have to pay even more for these visits. Then, depending on which course of action the physician has chosen, the individual will most likely be given a prescription.
When you consider that no medication has been developed to treat tinnitus, there is a big chance the medication will not work, and if the doctor is genuinely trying to help the patient, odds are they will explain that this is probably a trial and error situation. Not many doctors will even discuss alternative forms of treatment for a ringing in the ears such as homeopathy. Their conventional training has taught them that an ear injury or some other type of hearing loss problem cannot be corrected so they will often tell you that you have to "live with it" rather than suggesting an alternative or natural medication for tinnitus.
Most Doctors Will Not Endorse an Alternative Tinnitus Therapy Or Treatment
For many doctors, this is because they are trained and schooled to work with traditional medicines. In some cases, discussing less conventional forms of treatment feels like a slight against their education, regardless of whether or not the alternative treatment is more or less effective than the medication for the person would be.
This is not to say that the doctors are trying to stiff their patients and rake in easy money. On the contrary, they probably are trying as best they know how to help their patients. However, many have a mental block against learning about alternative forms of treatment for tinnitus, whether this is intentional or not.
In the end, the only person to suffer is the patient that is being denied information that could help treat them more effectively, both in terms of functionality and in terms of cost. Again, this is not always the fault of the doctor, but it is a good point in support of patients doing research on their own ailments and not relying solely on physicians.
Clearly, it is important to listen to doctor's advice, but doing personal research on a matter is also a good idea. It helps to ensure that you are educated when it comes to treating the problem.
Even if they do go to see a doctor who recommends only conventional treatment, it is possible to say that after some research, it was found that certain forms of alternate therapy such as homeopathic treatments for ringing ears were able to help individuals that experienced tinnitus. In many cases, this will open up a dialogue between the doctor and the patient that will allow the patient to inquire and learn about different forms of treatment.
For the most part, even if a doctor is well aware of the forms of alternate ear ringing therapies that do exist, they may still caution against it. However, at least then the individual has the information that they need and the choice to determine their own course of action when it comes to which tinnitus treatment.
Think of an alternative tinnitus treatment as an investment
That is what it comes down to. This type of tinnitus treatment is an investment. Almost any form of treatment or attempt at self betterment is an investment. If not eating into time and energy that otherwise could be spent at work or at a place of employment, then it will invariably eat into the money of the individual.
Between countless doctor visits, prescription costs, gas to get from place to place and emotional distress that the overall problem can cause, the individual can be running very low on money, energy and patience. If these things are not fixing the problem, that does not mean there is no hope to cure or improve the issue. It just means that perhaps the individual with tinnitus may not be investing in the proper forms of treatment for their individual case of tinnitus.
Without knowing there are alternate forms of therapy that have good results in the treatment of tinnitus or at worst have proven to lower the levels of ear ringing, all this uncertainty and drama can lead to many sufferers of tinnitus to feel slightly discouraged and disheartened, to say nothing of the increased levels of stress and anxiety.
While the natural methods may be less traditional when it comes to medical practice, they are often found to be much more effective for treating the problem of tinnitus, and most of these treatments are very cost effective, which will help people protect their hearing and their budgets at the same time.
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More Tinnitus Causes
Before getting into the specifics that come with treating a ringing in their ears, it is important to note that sufferers could rarely have done much different to prevent the problem. One of the most unfortunate facts of the problem of a ringing in the ears is that there is no real way to protect one's self from the problem. Aside from maintaining normal protocol when it comes to keeping ears protected from explosions and other instances of potential hearing damage, there is little that the individual can do.
Foods to avoid
However, what some people may not realize is that any act that incorporates higher than average decibels of noise contributes to ear damage. This includes listening to you MP3 player or Apple iPod at high volume, hunting, fireworks, loud concerts, loud machines and vehicles, among other types of activities. Without taking protective measures while taking part in these activities, an individual is more likely to end up injuring themselves and inciting the problem of tinnitus within their own ear or ears.
Despite the fact that for the most part ear ringing is not a horrible disease or problem, it can be very distracting and uncomfortable for individuals that have not been yet able to devise a plan of treatment that allows them some relief from the ringing or other type of noise that is in their ear. Unlike with individuals that only occasionally and temporarily have this problem, with those that have chronic tinnitus there is very little, if any, relief from the noise that they are subjected to in their own ear or ears.
Determining the cause of the problem
When trying to determine whether or not one is suffering from tinnitus as opposed to some other problem, there are specific signs that the individual can determine whether or not they are experiencing that which is indicative of tinnitus. Obviously, there will be some sort of ringing, buzzing, hissing or other disruptive noise that the individual hears, but that which is not externally present within the environment. There may also be a loss of hearing on the part of the afflicted. The hearing loss may be temporary, and in most cases will come and go over time.
If the individual is able to hear a noise, those with ear ringing will notice that the specific noise will vary. Sometimes it may be a loud, shrill noise and in other instances it may be a low, whirring noise. For those that suffer most from ringing in the ears, it can interfere with their ability to concentrate and do work. Distraction from activities is not a symptom of ears ringing, so to speak, but rather a byproduct of the affliction for people that develop more serious cases of tinnitus.
One of the most common causes that increases the severity of tinnitus that an individual experiences is the build up of earwax. Build up of ear wax can not only help to amplify any internal noises, but it also works to reduce outside noises. That is how the wax in our ears can complicate the tinnitus that a person may be suffering. Some people will actually find that by cleaning their ears of excess ear wax, in a gentle manner, they will be able to decrease the tinnitus that is affecting them.
Probable Causes Of Tinnitus
If one has determined that they are unfortunately struck with tinnitus, they may begin to wonder exactly how this occurred. While we have already discussed some potential causes, it is also important to discuss on a more scientific level what the ear goes through when it comes to tinnitus. There are a vast number of auditory cells inside the ear. These cells maintain a specific electrical charge in the ear, and there are tiny, microscopic hairs that cover these auditory cells. In a healthy and normal ear, the hairs inside the ear and on these auditory cells will move in response to the vibrations, or the noises, that the ear hears. The sound waves moving up the ear canal are able to move the hairs, which in turn trigger the electric charge to strike through the thousands of auditory nerves that are in the ear and this travels to the brain, which works to decipher the sound out of these signals.
Obviously, when one experiences tinnitus, this is not the reaction that takes place between the sound and the ear or the brain. Instead, what occurs is that the delicate hairs in the ear can become bent or broken, which would clearly affect the ways in which they responded to vibrations. This is because they are moving in random and unpredictable ways, because the hairs are constantly feeling irritated. Unable to continuously hold the charge, as the healthy auditory cells do, the charge leaks and the brain deciphers these leaks as noises.
- So what is it that damages ears in this manner? As we discussed, there are a number of regular activities that can cause damage to the ear if no precaution is taken. Still, there are certain other causes that will result in this type of damage.
- One of the causes would be an age related hearing loss process, which typically starts around age 60. This is referred to as presbycusis. Another cause would be a result of noise damage to one's ear or ears, which was already explored. This erosion of the hearing takes place over time in most instances.
- Loud machines such as tractors or tools such as chainsaws are a couple of the devices that can erode the hearing to the degree that the sensitive hairs on the auditory cells are damaged with tinnitus and hearing loss as the result.
Some of the causes of tinnitus are less known. These are the important causes to educate individuals on because they are more innocuous and inoffensive to the senses when compared to the previously stated causes. However, they are nonetheless dangerous when it comes to causing tinnitus.
In a few cases, discontinued use of the medication ceases the noises in the ear. Some of the medications include prolonged aspirin use and the extended use of certain antibiotics that have an affect on the cells inside of the ear. As expected, it is also important to note that damage or trauma to one's head or neck can also shift the bones in the ear. When these bones shift or stiffen, this can affect the middle or inner ear, which has an affect on one's hearing.
A specific type of tinnitus can also occur when there are certain problems in an individual's blood vessels. This is known as pulsatile tinnitus which is often the result of higher than normal cholesterol levels. One of the the problems that occur in this situation is known as Atherosclerosis. This is a problem that occurs within the body as it gets older. As the cholesterol gathers in blood vessels, and specifically those near the ear, the blood pressure can become more turbulent in its effort to force through some of the deposits. As a result, the beats are more excessive and the vibrations are easier for the ear to pick up. Hypertension, alcohol consumption and caffeine are some of the components that can increase the sound that is heard in the ear of this pulsing.
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Your diet is important
What may offer some tinnitus relief, is while it cannot be conclusively proven that the problem can be taken care of entirely by avoiding the ingestion of certain foods and drinks, there are some studies that prove there are certain materials that are more likely to trigger ringing in the ears in some people. Therefore, by being aware of this, some individuals may be able to take preventative measures or at the very least make themselves aware that tinnitus could be a side effect of an allergy to the particular item in question.
Some of the most common food and drink allergies that would result in ear ringing are as follows: red wine, cheese, alcoholic drinks that are made from grain, chocolate candies or drinks and some types of cheese. Less likely culprits, but still those that have been able to contribute to the condition include honey, soy, various soy products, bananas that are very ripe, anything with MSG in it, avocados and various types of citrus fruits that can be purchased at the grocery store.
One very controversial element in what may cause ear ringing would be the compound known as aspartame. Be very careful of Aspartame! Aspartame is the main ingredient in alternative sweeteners, such as Equal and Sweet 'N Low. This particular ingredient, aspartame, has been alleged to contribute to a number of different and potentially serious health problems, including vertigo and ringing in the ears.
While this cannot always be conclusively proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is something that people who suffer from ringing in the ears and who use those types of products may want to be made aware of, in the event that ceasing to use this product could help them in their fight against a ringing in the ears.
Another controversial point to mention is that some marijuana users may have noticed that this drug can make already existing cases of ear ringing worse over time as the usage continues.
Tinnitus is very distracting
The noise distraction caused by tinnitus can occur at any point in time for those that suffer from tinnitus. It can happen during the day or during the night, while the individual is watching television or while the individual is working. When a person is trying to accomplish any task that requires concentration, they can be disrupted by the noises they hear. This is probably most disturbing when it occurs at severe levels to an individual trying to do their job.
Clearly, no one wants to be sick and working. However, for individuals that are experiencing these types of ear ringing noises, it can be extremely distracting and impact all different areas of their lives.
- Try telling your boss you need some time off to sleep because your ringing ears have stopped you from sleeping for a week!
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When people work less, for the most part they will be financially required to cut back on spending. This can affect them personally, and to an extent their social life as well. If a person is not interacting with their peers in a work environment and interacting less in a social manner, this can cause a person to become depressed, which can complicate the situation considerably.
In order to make sure that this problem is taken care of as quickly as possible, people need to make sure that they are educated in order to make sure that they would be able to act in a manner that is most advantageous to them should they have a brush with tinnitus.
First, we need to ensure that it is in fact tinnitus that is plaguing the individual and not another type of problem that is differing or similar to tinnitus, but not the actual problem. Some problems appear to be similar to tinnitus, but they are not actually the specific tinnitus problem. This is why there are important questions a person can ask themselves in order to make sure that they are experiencing the symptoms of tinnitus. These are the signs that individuals would need to look for in order to begin inspecting their health problem.
There are two different forms of tinnitus.
When an individual goes to the doctor in order to discuss the problem, assuming that they are performing this type of action, the individual's physician will try to hear the problem as well. This is possible in cases such as Atherosclerosis. When this is heard by the doctor, it is referred to as objective tinnitus. It is referred to in this manner because there is a specific cause that others can identify as well. This is actually the more rare form of tinnitus. More people have the type of tinnitus that can not be hear by other individuals, including their physician. The physician is able to hear this type if tinnitus using a stethoscope and holding it against the individual around their ear and the side of their neck.
This type of tinnitus is usually indicative of some sort of structural problem within the individual and can be a sign of a more serious medical condition in the individual. Tinnitus, in this case, is like a symptom of a more developed problem within the individual's body. Generally, the noise that will accompany this type of tinnitus will be a rushing sound. In most instances, this is actually the individual's own pulse that they hear pulsing or rushing through their ear and other nearby circulatory system structures.
A second type of tinnitus.
If the sound can only be heard by the patient and the physician has been unable to identify the cause and the noise from an objective perspective, then it is known as a subjective form of tinnitus.
- Despite the fact that this is the more common form of tinnitus, it is much less understood.
When physicians can identify the problem in the body of the individual, as they can with objective tinnitus, clearly this makes understanding the issue that much easier. However, with subjective tinnitus, there is not one definitive cause of the problem. It cannot be traced to a direct problem in the body. Additionally, the ear ringing noises that the individual may hear will generally range from metallic buzzing, to ringing or popping. There are a great deal more of sounds that the individual may hear when it comes to subjective tinnitus as opposed to objective tinnitus.
At one point, a compilation was put together in the form of a survey and given to 1544 tinnitus sufferers. Of this total amount, 79% said that the noise that they heard was tonal, meaning that it was a specific noise that they heard and had a specific sound. On average, with a 1 being the quietest and a 10 being the loudest, the noise was categorized as a 7.5. The leftover 21% of those surveyed categorized the sound that they heard as a noise, which could have ranged from glass breaking to chainsaw sounds. Interestingly, these individuals had an average loudness of about 5.5. When it comes to determining where the noise is heard, the statistical breakdown is as follows. 56% of patients defined the sound as in both ears, while 24% declared that the noise was heard somewhere unidentifiable in their heads, 11% in their left ear and 9% heard the noises just in their right ears.
Tinnitus Treatment Options
Once the doctor performs their examination, they will sometimes suggest a form of treatment and other times tell you to live with it, that tinnitus has no cure etc. However, as we discussed, when left to traditional methods this is risky at best.
Surgery is one option that will only be viable for individuals in certain situations. This is very risky, not only because many surgeries are, but also because there is no guarantee that this type of approach will work. There are only some individuals that will be candidates for this type of procedure to begin with and none will really know until they spend time with a doctor.
Most people will understand that surgery as a treatment for tinnitus is not worth the investment that the individual will have to put in, in order to begin the trial and error period. Some people may think that this would be a worthwhile option, but the truth is that there are much more effective, and much less costly, forms of treating tinnitus in the instances in which the problem can be combated.
When tinnitus is a result of old age, there is very little that physicians can do at all. There is almost no chance of the individuals with this type of tinnitus to come back from the situation involving their ear.
While they may not be able to offer much after acknowledging that there is not medically traditional fool-proof method capable of ensuring that the problem is not one that can be dealt with through typical medical attempts. Instead, it is important to look at alternative forms of treatment such as homeopathy and their success rate versus the success rate of the more medically structures forms of treatment.
Still, there are other methods that can be examined to determine treatment. Some health problems cause the tinnitus, and if this is the case it could be that the physician is able to eliminate the tinnitus that the individual is experiencing through treating the particular problem.
Successful Tinnitus Treatments
There are many people that have learned that when it comes to the treatment of tinnitus, there are actually no conventional methods that offer tinnitus relief and have subsequently found relief from the tinnitus and stress using natural homeopathic tinnitus treatments.
Some people may initially not be prepared for taking these routes because of the fact that they are seen as less conventional but these are the most successful options to date,
However, when a person begins to look at the success rate, the more cost effective profile, and the more easily determined success or failure of a particular approach, it becomes clear that the best approach that individuals with tinnitus can take is to look into less traditional forms of treatment. For most individuals suffering from tinnitus, this is really the only answer that they will find to have the best outcome.
A number of different approaches exist. Some of the less traditional forms of treatment have inconsistent rates of success as well, but there are a number of people that are aided by these approaches.
Despite the fact that these types of treatment have similar success rates to the medication approach, they are worth informing individuals about because of the fact that in many cases they are much more cost effective.
Even though they may not help everyone, they are possibilities and cost much less in many cases than the trial and error approach of trying different types of medication. In addition, individuals will likely know for themselves one way or the other whether or not the treatment worked within a shorter time frame, which again can save the individual a great deal of money in their search for treatment.
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First, we can look at acupuncture as a treatment for tinnitus. This is actually one of the oldest forms of treatment in certain cultures. The process is that in specific parts of the body, thin needles are placed in pressure points. By putting this kind of pressure on those points, the body releases specific chemicals and alterations to the circulatory or nervous systems that will allow the individual to experience relief.
Some times only one session is needed, and in other instances more than one session is needed in order to provide the individual with their desired degree of relief. Prices range from establishment to establishment and will also be dependent upon the length of the session. However, some establishments are as little as $25 for a 30 minute session.
For those that are fearful when it comes to needles, this may not be the best approach – but it is still important to know that the point of acupuncture is not the hurt the individual with the needles, but rather to have these small, thin needles apply pressure to necessary points in the body.
Most people do not even feel the needles that are used in these types of sessions. Again, the results of success will vary from individual to individual, but it is worth looking at because of the fact that it is typically more cost and time effective when compared to other types of more traditional treatment, should the individual want to look at these generally comparable types of possible relief for tinnitus.
Next, we can look at hypnosis as a form of possible treatment for the ringing in your ears. In almost all instances, this type of approach will cost more than the acupuncture. Many people will note that they only needed one session in order to feel relief from the situation, should they be lucky enough to have found something that will allow them relief from their affliction.
These sessions are performed in either group or individual gatherings, and the hypnosis will work with the individuals in order to make them subconsciously less susceptible to noticing or being bothered by the tinnitus. This offers relief, but it is important to note that because tinnitus cause by age or damage is irreversible with most medical approaches, the individual will likely not be cured, but rather will be less likely to be aware of the particular problem. For some people, this is enough and they are happy with the results if they were able to be affected by them. Like the acupuncture, results have varying degrees of success but this is a very cost, time and energy efficient form of treatment for those that are interested.
Cochlear implants are electrical devices that are put in the ear in order to help balance out the damage that has been done in the ear. Some people are helped by this approach and some are not. For the most part, this will depend on the individual that is using the cochlear implant and to what degree their ear is damaged. If the electrical damage inside the ear is in line with what the cochlear implant is able to affect, than the individual will be able to notice some relief from the situation. It is important to note that not all individuals will be able to fall into the range of those that are most in line to garner relief from this approach, but it may be worth trying for some people.
In line with this theory, electrical stimulation may help some individuals as well. The point is to help the charge in the ear to correct itself, despite the fact that the hairs are not able to become undamaged. Success rates will again depend on the damage that the individual has and the particular approach of the electrical stimulation that is being applied.
Some individuals will notice that, even without any type of treatment, it seems like their tinnitus improved over time. However, the truth is that for many people it is not the problem itself that is being corrected, but rather the individual's ability to learn to make adjustments to their own life and way of living in order to help them to better tolerate the problem.
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What Is Tinnitus | Treat Tinnitus | Tinnitus Ringing Noise | Homeopathic Tinnitus Treatment Remedies
