Factual Relief From Tinnitus

A constant ringing or hissing in your ears can be annoying to say the least. Known as tinnitus, it is a common problem for people of all ages. Although the causes are many, there is no cure as yet for tinnitus. However, there are medications and non-drug treatments that can provide sufficient relief to most sufferers.

An Overview of Tinnitus

• Over 50 million people in the United States suffer from tinnitus. Many describe the onset of the hearing disorder as an an occasional hissing in the ears that, over time, develops into a constant sound that is always in the background. This background noise is most evident when it is quiet, which is why some tinnitus sufferers leave a radio on or use other measures to offset the persistent sound.

  In medical terms, tinnitus is a sound that can be heard in the inner ear without the presence of an external source creating the sound. Those with tinnitus generally have a constant ringing, whooshing or whistling in the ears, although others have described the sound as a dull roar, chirping, buzzing or pulsating noise.

  The causes of tinnitus are many and are often the result of frequent exposure to loud noises, a hearing loss, an ear infection, eardrum rupture, an inner ear injury, long-term nicotine use or a tumor. Certain illnesses, such as high blood pressure, thyroid disease and multiple sclerosis are also contributing causes of tinnitus.

Treatment for Tinnitus

• For the majority of people, tinnitus becomes so intolerable that they need to seek relief from a medical professional. There are electronic devices, such as maskers and tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) sound generators, that are worn in the ear and emit a sound that reduces the tinnitus noise. Hearing aids are often recommended for those whose tinnitus stems from a hearing loss.

  Certain medications, among them anti-depressants, antihistamines, anti-anxiety and anti-convulsants, can also help to relieve tinnitus. Other techniques used to treat tinnitus are biofeedback, acupuncture, playing soothing sounds and yoga.

  Hearing health professionals also recommend that tinnitus sufferers limit their use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines, such as those containing ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen, and reduce their intake of salt, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. These substances tend to increase the intensity of tinnitus.

What Relief Works Best

• Not every recommended treatment for tinnitus is successful for all people. For example, some people find ginkgo biloba, zinc or niacin beneficial, while others do not. There are also many other tinnitus relief formulas and herbal supplements, but their effectiveness has not been scientifically proven.

  TRT is a new form of treatment that includes directive counseling along with sound generators. Through the counseling, tinnitus sufferers learn how to teach the brain not to "hear" the noise. However, studies have not yet been conducted to measure the effectiveness of this therapy.

  The American Tinnitus Association funds numerous research projects aimed at evaluating the best measures for tinnitus relief. Previous studies have found that certain drug therapies, including anti-anxiety drugs, anti-depressants, antihistamines, anesthetics and anti-convulsants, have provided relief in some tinnitus sufferers. However, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that these types of drugs should be used to specifically treat tinnitus.

  In general, which relief works best depends on the individual and the extent of the tinnitus. That's why it's best to try a different form of treatment until you find the one that best helps you manage your tinnitus.