What Are the Treatments for Ear Ringing?

Many people occasionally hear ringing or tinnitus in their ears, especially after leaving a dance club or shooting a gun without ear protection. Usually the ringing disappears within a day or so. Unfortunately, for some people the ringing doesn't go away. In fact, it can get louder or change pitch.

If your tinnitus becomes very annoying or disturbing it is time to seek out treatment.

Causes

• Ear ringing is a symptom of an underlying medical problem. So finding the cause and treating the problem can relieve you of your tinnitus

  Most people who have damaged ears experience tinnitus and hearing loss. The leading causes of ear damage are noise exposure and the aging ear (presbycusis).

  Other ear conditions that cause tinnitus and hearing loss are impacted earwax, middle ear infection (otitis media), inflammation of the inner ear (labyrinthitis), and Meniere's disease.

  There are a number of medical conditions which cause tinnitus. These include high blood pressure, cardiovascular disorders, and temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.

  Some medications have a side effect of tinnitus. Aspirin, quinine, certain anti-depressants, as well as certain "mycin" antibiotics and platinum-based chemotherapy drugs cause tinnitus.

Medical Treatment

• See your family doctor or ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT) to find the medical problem that causes your ear ringing. Successful treatment of your high blood pressure, ear infection, or change in medication often reduces or eliminates the tinnitus.

  You should talk to your doctor if you started a new medication or the dosage was changed and you notice ringing in your ears. He may prescribe a different drug or adjust the dosage.

  Your dentist or orthodontist can treat your TMJ dysfunction if you have jaw pain from grinding your teeth at night, clenching your jaw, or if your bite is misaligned. Successful treatment can improve your tinnitus.

Medication for Tinnitus

• There are no medications for the treatment of tinnitus. However, some medication like antihistamines, as well as certain anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants and anticonvulsants have a side effect of tinnitus relief.

  Speak to your primary care physician (PCP) or ENT specialist about trying these drugs

Hearing Aids for Tinnitus

• Hearing aids have been proven to be very helpful to treat your tinnitus when you have a hearing loss. The amplification not only improves your hearing but also restores the everyday sounds that naturally cover up your tinnitus.

  Consult with your audiologist about this treatment.

Biofeedback Therapy

• Many people experience an increase in ear ringing or tinnitus when life becomes more stressful.

  You can reduce your tinnitus by managing your body's involuntary reaction to stress with biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback teaches you to control your heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and skin temperature.

Cognitive Therapy

• Cognitive therapy is a counseling method to help control your emotional reactions to tinnitus. Your counselor will individualize a program to recognize your negative thought patterns and behaviors then work with you to change them.

  Cognitive therapy is most effective when combined with sound therapy or other tinnitus treatment methods.

Sound Therapy

• Sound therapy involves the use of sound generating machines to play filtered noise, music, or sounds of nature. Filtered noise covers or masks your tinnitus while music or nature sounds, such as a babbling brook, to enhance relaxation, thereby reducing your stress and tinnitus.

  Sound generators can also be used whenever you are bothered by your tinnitus, but two treatment programs, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment, combine counseling with sound therapy in a structured format.

Alternative Treatments

• You may find tinnitus relief from Ginkgo Biloba and other herbal supplements, minerals such as zinc or magnesium, vitamins such as vitamin B, and homeopathic remedies. Some people get relief from hypnosis, acupuncture, magnets, and cranio-sacral therapy.

  Speak to your physician before trying these treatments, especially if you currently take medication and are being treated for other medical conditions. He will advise you of any possible interactions between the alternative treatments and ongoing medical treatment.