Tinnitus, also known as tinnitus, is the "perception of sound even though there is no real external noise". These noises are most often perceived as ringing, but can be heard as buzzing, hissing, rustling, or whistling. Millions of people around the world suffer from it. In the United States alone, for example, over 45 million people, about 15% of the population, have symptoms related to tinnitus, while over 2 million have a very serious disorder. Tinnitus can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as ear injury or even hearing loss (sensorineural and age-related) and can be an extremely debilitating problem. Treating tinnitus naturally involves first diagnosing the disorder, then seeking hearing therapies, but also finding other methods.
Steps
Part 1 of 7: Diagnosis
Step 1. Understand what tinnitus is
It is a disturbance that can range from hearing very loud noises to others that are more subdued; it can be severe enough to interfere with normal hearing and can involve only one ear or both. You may hear ringing, buzzing, roaring, throbbing and hissing. There are basically two types of tinnitus: subjective and objective.
- Subjective tinnitus is the most common form. It can be caused by structural problems with the ears (in the outer, middle, and inner ears) or problems in the auditory nerve canals that run from the inner ear to the brain. This type of disorder requires the patient to be the only person who perceives the noise.
- Objective tinnitus is much rarer, but it can be detected by a doctor during an exam. This disorder can be caused by vascular problems, muscle twitching, or bone-related conditions in the inner ear.
Step 2. Determine Your Tinnitus Risk Factors
This is a problem that tends to affect men more often than women. Older people also tend to suffer from it more than younger people. Some of the main risk factors are:
- Age (the peak age of the first episode of tinnitus is between 60 and 69 years).
- Sex.
- Having done military service (exposure to loud explosions, gunshots, very noisy machinery).
- Doing work in a very noisy environment.
- Listening to loud music.
- Anyone exposed to any type of loud noise, whether at work or in their free time.
- A previous history of depression, anxiety and / or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Step 3. Get the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire
The tinnitus handicap questionnaire can be a good way to start. This form to fill out involves assessing your degree of hearing impairment, so that you can actually determine how much the disorder affects and affects your life. This can be a good first step in understanding how to deal with the problem.
Part 2 of 7: Talk to a Doctor
Step 1. Get a diagnostic test at your doctor's office
Your doctor will likely want to physically check your ears with an otoscope (an instrument with a light for examining the ears). You can also do a hearing test and potentially undergo some diagnostic imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan. In some cases, even multiple tests may be needed. In general, these are tests that are not invasive or painful, but they can cause some discomfort.
- You may be suffering from changes in the bones of the inner ear which may be genetic in origin. The inner ear contains three small bones: hammer (malleus), anvil (incus) and stapes, which are connected to each other and to the eardrum (tympanic membrane); they are also connected to the structures that transform sound vibrations into nerve impulses that we perceive as sounds. If these bones are unable to move freely due to otosclerosis, tinnitus can occur.
- Sometimes the cause of tinnitus is also due to the presence of excessive earwax.
Step 2. Talk to your doctor about age-related conditions
Unfortunately, many times, it is not possible to determine the exact cause of this disorder. Most often it can be simply due to aging, such as the following:
- Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis).
- Menopause: Tinnitus is one of the rarest symptoms of menopause and is actually more due to age rather than the menopausal transition phase. Often, the disorder disappears along with the other symptoms of this period. Know that hormone replacement therapy with synthetic progestins has been associated with increased tinnitus.
Step 3. Talk to your healthcare provider about your exposure to loud noise
If you work in a constantly noisy environment or have been exposed to loud noises, be sure to tell your doctor. This will help him diagnose your problem.
Step 4. Ask your doctor about blood vessel problems as well
Many blood circulation disorders can cause tinnitus. Talk to your doctor about the following conditions:
- Head and neck tumors that press on blood vessels and alter normal blood flow.
- Atherosclerosis or accumulation of cholesterol plaques on the inner walls of the arteries.
- High blood pressure (arterial hypertension).
- Anatomical changes in the carotid artery in the neck that can cause abnormalities in blood flow.
- Malformed capillaries (arteriovenous malformation).
Step 5. Ask your healthcare provider if medications can contribute to tinnitus
Many medicines can cause or aggravate this disorder. Among some of these medicines we find:
- Aspirin.
- Antibiotics, such as polymyxin B, erythromycin, vancomycin and vancomycin.
- Diuretics (draining pills) including bumetanide, ethacrynic acid and furosemide.
- Quinine.
- Some antidepressants.
- Chemotherapeutics, such as mechloretamine and vincristine.
Step 6. Find out about other possible causes
Tinnitus can be caused by many different ailments, so you need to get your doctor's advice if you have the following conditions:
- Ménière's syndrome: This is an inner ear disorder caused by an increase in the fluid pressure of the area.
- Disorders of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ).
- Head and neck injuries.
- Benign tumors, including acoustic neuromas: These usually cause only one-sided tinnitus.
- Hypothyroidism: low thyroid hormone levels.
Step 7. See your doctor if symptoms suddenly occur
If you experience symptoms of tinnitus after an upper respiratory infection (URI), suddenly and with no known cause, or you feel dizzy or hearing loss with tinnitus, make an appointment to see a doctor right away..
- First visit your doctor; he may advise you to refer to a specialist such as an otolaryngologist.
- Tinnitus can cause other problems, including fatigue, stress, insomnia, difficulty concentrating and memory, depression, and irritability. If you experience any of these discomforts, be sure to discuss it with your doctor.
Step 8. Consider seeking treatment to treat underlying conditions
The most suitable treatment depends mainly on the cause of the tinnitus, but you can consider the following:
- Removal of earwax.
- Treatments for basic ailments, such as treatments for hypertension and atherosclerosis.
- Changing medications: If your tinnitus is caused by a reaction to a specific medication, your doctor may consider changing it or adjusting the dose.
- Try medications specific to your ailment; Although there is no medicine designed to treat tinnitus, some are administered with some success. These include antidepressants and anxiolytics. However, these medications are also associated with a number of side effects, such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, heart problems, sleepiness and nausea.
Step 9. Ask for a hearing aid
This is a device that can prove very useful for some people. Your doctor may recommend that you get one after you have a visit to a qualified audiologist.
Some reliable sources believe that hearing loss causes fewer external sound stimuli reaching the brain. As a result, the brain undergoes neuroplastic changes in the way it processes different sound frequencies, and tinnitus is the product of these maladaptive neuroplastic changes. Essentially, this means that, with progressive hearing loss, the brain tries to adapt but, sometimes, if the adaptation doesn't work, the development of tinnitus ensues. In general, the frequencies affecting hearing loss are at a level higher than or equal to that of tinnitus itself
Part 3 of 7: Seeking Acoustic Therapies
Step 1. Put on a relaxing background sound
Mask noise in your ears by activating background music or other sounds. You can turn on a CD or play white noise of the sea, stream, rain, set soft music or any other sound that works for you and helps block and cover the noises in your ears.
Step 2. Listen for soothing sounds when you fall asleep
White noise or other calming sounds can also be used to facilitate sleep. This can be an important factor, as many people find it difficult to sleep when they suffer from tinnitus. During the night, the noise in the ears can become the only audible sound and can make it difficult to fall asleep. Background noise, on the other hand, provides a quiet sound and makes it easier for you to fall asleep.
Step 3. Try listening for brown or pink noise
The former consists of a set of randomly generated sounds and is generally perceived as much deeper sounds than white noise. Pink noise uses lower frequencies and this is also perceived as a deeper sound than white noise. Both of these noises are often recommended to aid sleep.
Search online for examples of pink and brown noise and choose the best one for your needs
Step 4. Avoid loud noises
One of the most common triggers is the presence of loud noises; try to avoid them as much as possible. Some people are not particularly harmed under these circumstances, but if you notice worsening or your tinnitus becomes worse after hearing loud noises, you know this can be a trigger for you.
Step 5. Learn about music therapy
A German study on music therapy associated with tinnitus has shown that music therapy used from the earliest episodes of tinnitus can prevent the disorder from turning into a chronic disease.
This is a technique that involves listening to your favorite music at an altered frequency to find the same ringing in your ears
Part 4 of 7: Seeking Alternative Treatments
Step 1. Contact a chiropractor
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems that can cause tinnitus can be successfully treated with a chiropractic approach. It is believed that TMJ problems can cause this disorder due to the proximity of muscles and ligaments that attach to the jaw and hearing bones.
- Chiropractic treatment consists of manual manipulation to realign the TMJ. The chiropractor may also manipulate the vertebrae in the neck to reduce tinnitus symptoms. The sessions are not painful, but they can cause some momentary discomfort.
- This treatment can also include the application of heat or ice and specific exercises.
- This practice can also help with Ménière's syndrome, another, albeit relatively rare, cause of tinnitus.
Step 2. Get examined by an acupuncturist
A recent review of studies on the positive outcomes of acupuncture in tinnitus treatment concluded that there is some cause for hope. Acupuncture techniques can vary based on the underlying cause of the disorder and may even involve the use of traditional Chinese herbs.
However, more studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving the situation of those suffering from tinnitus
Step 3. Ask your doctor for more details regarding aldosterone
It is a hormone found in the adrenal gland that regulates the level of sodium and potassium in the blood. One study found that a tinnitus patient with hearing loss had aldosterone deficiency; however, when the subject received the synthetic hormone identical to that produced by the human body, the hearing returned to normal and the tinnitus disappeared.
Step 4. Try custom sound frequency treatments
This is a relatively new technique that may be useful for some patients and consists of finding the frequency of the sound in your ears and masking it with other sounds specially designed for this purpose.
- An ENT or audiologist can advise you on these treatments.
- You can also find these treatments online, they are available for a fee through websites such as Audionotch (in English, French and Spanish) and Tinnitracks (in English, Dutch and German). These services include an initial test to know the specific frequency of your tinnitus, so that you can design a treatment protocol that is appropriate to your personal situation.
- Studies on these techniques are still limited, but they look promising.
Part 5 of 7: Taking Supplements
Step 1. Take CoQ10
The body uses CoQ10 - or coenzyme Q10 - for cell growth and maintenance; this molecule is also an antioxidant; you can also find CoQ10 in offal, such as the heart, liver and kidneys.
- One study found that such supplements may be useful for some patients with a low serum CoQ10 level.
- Try taking 100 mg three times a day.
Step 2. Try ginkgo biloba supplements
It is believed that this plant is able to increase blood flow to the brain and has often been used to treat tinnitus with various results, not always positive; this is probably because tinnitus has many known but unknown causes.
- A recent analysis concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of ginkgo biloba in the treatment of this disorder. Another recent report, by contrast, found that a standardized extract of this plant, EGb 761, is an effective solution. EGB 761 is a "standardized extract of ginkgo biloba leaves and has antioxidant properties capable of eliminating free radicals. It is a well-defined product and contains about 24% flavonic glycosides (especially quercetin, kaempferol and isoramnetin). and 6% terpene lactones (ginkgolides 2, 8-3, 4% A, B and C and bilobalides 2, 6-3, 2%) ".
- On the market, this specific supplement is sold as Tebonin Egb 761.
- Follow the instructions on the package if you decide to take it.
Step 3. Increase your zinc intake
Research has found that nearly half of tinnitus patients get better with 50 mg of zinc per day for 2 months. In reality, this is a rather high dose; the recommended daily rate for adult men is 11 mg, while for women it is 8 mg.
- Do not take zinc without first consulting a competent doctor.
- If you decide to take a high amount of zinc, still make sure you don't exceed 2 months.
- Balance your zinc intake with copper supplements. A high zinc intake is associated with copper deficiency, and since copper deficiency causes anemia, taking it helps avoid this further problem. Take 2 mg of copper per day.
Step 4. Try melatonin
It is a hormone that acts on the sleep cycle. One study found that 3 mg of melatonin taken in the evening is most effective in men without a history of depression and in those with tinnitus in both ears.
Part 6 of 7: Changing the Diet
Step 1. Avoid salty foods
Particularly salty foods are generally not recommended due to their correlation with high blood pressure, which can cause tinnitus.
Step 2. Follow a wholesome, healthy diet
A reasonable advice is to follow a wholemeal diet low in salt, sugar and saturated fat and to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables.
Step 3. Try cutting back on coffee, alcohol, and nicotine
Some of the most common triggers of tinnitus are these three elements; avoid taking them as much as possible. It is not yet known why these factors cause the disorder in several people. Since tinnitus is a symptom of a number of different possible problems, the reason is more to be attributed to individual and subjective issues.
- However, be aware that reducing these substances does not mean improving your tinnitus problem. In fact, one study showed that caffeine is not related to tinnitus at all. Another study found that alcohol can actually help relieve tinnitus in older adults.
- An important and simple thing you can do is to check what happens to you when you consume coffee, alcohol or nicotine; specifically check how your ailment reacts when you indulge in one of these substances. If your tinnitus worsens or becomes more difficult to manage, you can consider eliminating these triggers completely.
Part 7 of 7: Finding Support
Step 1. Try cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy)
CBT is a method that uses techniques such as cognitive restructuring and relaxation to change a person's response to tinnitus. TRT is a complementary technique that allows you to desensitize the ears to noise.
- The therapist will teach you several ways to deal with noise. This is a process known as habituation in CBT, in which one learns to ignore the tinnitus. The therapist will address your specific tinnitus, teach you a variety of relaxation techniques, and encourage you to take a realistic and effective attitude in treating your ailment.
- A recent analysis of the technique found that this does not affect the noise level, but the patient's response to the noise itself becomes positive; above all there was less depression, anxiety and higher levels of life satisfaction were found.
- Recent major research into therapeutic approaches to tinnitus has established that a combination of sound therapy (background noise) and CBT provided better overall results.
- Further research looked at nine high-quality studies evaluating the effectiveness of TRT and CBT. A variety of standardized and validated questionnaires were used in each of these studies; both therapies were found to be equally effective in relieving the symptoms of tinnitus.
Step 2. Join a support group
You may find it helpful to join a support group for this disorder, especially if you also have depression or anxiety associated with tinnitus.
The support group can help you find and develop the tools you need to manage your distress
Step 3. Talk to a mental health professional
Anxiety and depression can be associated with tinnitus and vice versa. If you experience these symptoms, be sure to seek professional help. Usually, depression and anxiety occur before the hearing disorder, but sometimes they can also occur after the onset of tinnitus. The sooner you can get treatment for tinnitus, anxiety and / or depression, the sooner you can start hearing and feeling better.
