Most people just hate taking one bitter pill after another or any other form of unpleasant medication.  Hence, persons bothered by the condition medically called tinnitus or in layman’s terms ringing of the ears, would be pleased to know that there is a more palatable way of dealing with their problem.

This type of treatment is based on the premise that tinnitus is not a disease but a mere compensatory reaction of the auditory system to some external stimuli.  This school of thought in tinnitus treatment follows the research finding of a neuroscientist, Jawel Jasterboff, that demonstrates that tinnitus is not a “ear thing” but a “brain thing”, and conditioning or retraining the brain will provide relief on ear ringing.

One exponent of this retraining method is noiserelief.com in a process it calls auditory habituation.  This method relies on individuals with ear-ringing problems to listen to digitally recorded “white noise” played either in mp3 or cd format.  The sound level of this white noise is recorded below the level of the ear noise experienced by the tinnitus-inflicted person so that the annoyance would become   less pronounced.  Reputedly, this sound recording is based on the Jasterboff model and electro-acoustic research.

Lots of patience, however, is needed for this type of relieving ringing in the ears, as the auditory habituation process will purportedly take 6 to 18 months to take effect. The website also advises that counselling in tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) should be undertaken with a certified TRT specialist to complement the auditory habituation treatment.

The TRT based on the Jasterboff model of tinnitus began in the mid-1980s in the UK. The first TRT center in the US was established in Baltimore in 1990.  It picked up in popularity so much so that a number of medical practitioners adopted TRT for their patients with ear ringing problems.  This type of treatment requires a considerable amount of time for one-on-one counselling of the TRT specialist with an individual patient.

An aspiring TRT specialist needs to take an intensive three-day course to master the complexities this tinnitus treatment method.  A number of physicians and audiologist in the US have already taken this TRT, a listing of which is available in the tinnitus.org website. An association of TRT specialists has already been established for further professionalizing of the tinnitus retraining therapists, one indication that this type of treatment of ear ringing has gained medical credence.

A paperback on TRT published by the Cambridge University should also be of interest to those interested in overcoming tinnitus- Titled Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model by Pawel Jasterboff and Jonathan Hazell.  In this book, the authors detail the research literature justifying their claim on the effectiveness of TRT, a practice that is now in the armamentarium of many psychologists, audiologists, ENTs and medical counsellors.  While the book is intended for these professionals, it also appears as a sound reference material for those undergoing or would like to undergo the therapy. A glossary in this book, plus marginal notes, should enable a layman to learn if indeed TRT is a more pleasant pathway to be tinnitus-free.

            Tinnitus is a condition where a person perceives whistling, ringing in the ears, humming or many other kinds of sounds that seem to come from the ear or even the head. Usually, only the person with tinnitus can hear the noise. Actually, tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom of another illness. In most cases, tinnitus is not a serious problem, but it is such a big nuisance to a patient’s daily life. Tinnitus can occur either in the outer, middle or the inner ear or even in the brain. If a person gets inside an enclosed, quiet room, external noise disappears and he hears the tinnitus sounds. He does not hear them when outside noise covers them. Any other thing like earwax, or other matter that entered the external ear also blocks the outside noise and will make him more aware of the tinnitus sounds in his head. Other causes of tinnitus are fluid infections or disease in the ear bones or the ear drum.

            Another very common cause of tinnitus is when the inner ear’s hearing nerve is damaged due to age. As people age, their hearing becomes impaired which may be followed by tinnitus. Exposure to very loud sounds like firearms, fireworks or high intensity music can also damage the hearing and cause tinnitus. Aspirin can also cause tinnitus, especially if taken in overdose. Tinnitus can also be a symptom of the dreaded diseases like aneuryson or brain tumor. Fortunately, the occurrence of these cases is very rare.

            To be able to determine the precise cause or origin of the tinnitus, it is essential for the patient to have a thorough physical examination and a series of tests. The doctor also needs the patient’s medical history. The doctor must also know if the tinnitus is either pulsating or constant or if it is recurrent or intermittent. It will help to know if it is associated with loss of hearing or loss of balance (an illness known as vertigo).

Patients with persistent signs of tinnitus are usually given a hearing test called audiogram. All these will contribute for a more precise diagnosis. There are several tests that a patient suffering from persistent tinnitus needs to undergo in order to rule out possible tumors that may occur on the hearing or the balance nerve. Though tumors are very uncommon, they may still cause tinnitus. Such tests are the ABR (auditory brain stem response), CT scan (computer tomography), MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging), and a computerized test of the hearing nerves and brain pathways.

            After a careful and thorough evaluation, causes can be identified by the attending doctor. Once they have decided on the cause of the tinnitus, they can now recommend tinnitus treatment for the patient. In many cases, tinnitus cannot be treated. It may resolve by itself or stay permanently with the patient. Some doctors recommend the medication called “niacin” as tinnitus treatment. However, there is no guarantee that niacin can help get rid of tinnitus.

            If you are a sufferer of the irritating tinnitus, take the mentioned precautionary steps and measures to ensure yourself of a tinnitus-free life.

            Tinnitus is a hearing disorder characterized by the swooshing, buzzing or ringing in the ears.  Although it was not perceived to be a serious problem which may disappear in time, it has already plagues more than 36 million Americans.  A number that has already prompted into action many concerned people to not only know the cause and more especially the treatment for tinnitus.  In fact, the American Tinnitus Association has been funding many researches to get to the bottom of this disorder.  Currently, there are already many claims of cure for tinnitus and many of those are being offered online in the forms of an e-book , a DVD or a book.  

            One study made on tinnitus is its effect on the mental activity of a person.  The performance of 20 subjects with the tinnitus disorder and 20 healthy subjects were made and compared.  They went other different tests applying different auditory conditions and situations.  The final result suggests that there is indeed a link between masking sounds and on how tinnitus affects the mental or cognitive capacity of a person.  Therefore, it is very important that this disorder is prevented so that tinnitus treatment will no longer be necessary.

            To prevent it, it is first important to know what causes it.  Tinnitus can be classified into three, the ear sounds, the ringing in the ears and the buzzing in the ears.  Some of the causes under the first classification are earache, ear infection, auditory nerve tumor, anemia, heart murmur, exposure to extremely loud noise, ear wax, fluid in the ear, and some other diseases.  For the ringing in the ears, the causes are the intake of some drugs or chemicals that directly affected the ear like ativan withdrawal, Darvocet overdose, chemical poisoning of Benzene, Aniline or other chemicals.  The buzzing in the ears may be caused by some other types of illnesses like epilepsy, etc.

            Just as there are many causes, tinnitus also may have many treatments depending on the causes.  However, there are cases wherein tinnitus may not be treated and becomes something that a patient will have to carry all his life.  This fact makes it more important for people not affected by it to be doubly careful that they never get it.  One of the most common cause is being exposed to loud noise.  Rock concerts, the use of earphones when listening to music, loud noise in the workplace, etc., may cause damage to your ears.  It is vital that you be careful not to expose yourself to those problems.  Taking some medications may also be a cause for it so it is important that only prescribed drugs are taken and never self-medicate.  Remember, prevention is better than cure.

            As for the tinnitus treatments, the cause is also the main basis.  Treatment depending on the cause may range from as simple as cleaning the ears to a Gamma knife radiosurgery.  Other cures may be the taking of drugs or other nutrients to be prescribed by the doctor, electrical stimulation, surgery, psychological therapy, etc.  Tinnitus can be acquired by just about anybody.  Some of the famous (and infamous) people afflicted with this disorder are Adolf Hitler, Joan of Arc, Vincent Van Gogh, Michaelangelo, Steve Martin, David Letterman, Martin Luther, William Shatner and Barbara Streisand among others.

            The sense of hearing is one of the most important functions of the human body. The ears are among the most delicate and sensitive mechanisms. Let us give our ears utmost care and protection. Let us not give “tinnitus” a chance to invade our hearing system. What exactly is tinnitus?  Tinnitus is that pestering ringing in the ears, those high-pitched buzzing and whizzing sounds coming from “we do not know where”. There are so many different kinds of sounds and noises to bear with. With this irritating sounds, you are going to have difficulties in concentrating on the things you are doing, may it be at work, at home or even in school. You will feel annoyed because of the siren-like sounds brought about by tinnitus.

            Fortunately, tinnitus can be prevented. First, avoid putting objects into your ear. Do not use cotton swabs to clean your ear. This can cause wax impact in your ear drum. Monitor your blood pressure as well. Take the necessary maintenance medicine that your doctor will prescribe. It is important to take care of your blood pressure because high blood pressure can trigger tinnitus.

            There are several ways that you can do to protect yourself from extreme noises that cause tinnitus. You should make sure that your place of work follows health and safety regulations. Your hearing should be protected and if it is necessary, wear earplugs or earmuffs. Follow protective guidelines set by work management. If you are operating loud electrical appliances (like lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, etc.), protect your ears by wearing earplugs. This will reduce the noise. Do not watch televisions with very high volume. Do not express yourself too often to loud environments, like rock concerts, loud fireworks, etc. When taking medications, check for ototoxicity. This can accumulate during medications and increase the damage done by noise. When administering ototoxic medicines, close monitoring of a physician for the right dosage and intervals are important. Also, avoid aspirin.

            In order to lessen the intensity of tinnitus, a patient must watch and control his blood pressure and reduce salt intake. He must refrain from drinking nerve stimulants like cola drinks and coffee. Drinks with caffeine must be avoided. Tobacco containing nicotine is also not allowed to patients with tinnitus. Avoid anxiety as this may cause high blood pressure. Do not worry or think much about tinnitus. The more you concentrate on the sounds, the noisier it would become. You need enough rest and exercise. Using of earphones or headphones is strictly forbidden when you are suffering tinnitus. If you listen through earphones, especially in high volume, you may start developing tinnitus.

            Tinnitus is more annoying when the surroundings are quiet, especially at night during bedtime. You can remedy this by “masking” the noise. Put on some competing sounds like a radio or a fan. A ticking clock can also help cover the sounds made by tinnitus. Take the necessary measures to lessen the intensity of tinnitus. Do not let yourself be a victim of tinnitus. Prevent it today!