Tinnitus Sucks!

A researcher at the University of Texas at Dallas has been given $1.7 million from the National Institutes of Health to conduct research to see if nerve stimulation can be a viable cure for tinnitus. Simply, tinnitus is defined as ringing in the ears, and it affects about 10% of people over the age of 65. For some people it’s just a mild problem and for others it can be absolutely devastating and painful. The doctor who has been given the money from the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Kilgore, will be researching over the next two years to see whether Vagus Nerve Stimulation will be able to teach the brain to ignore the signals that are telling it to make the ears ring. There have been some other tests that have actually shown that Vagus nerve stimulation can totally reverse tinnitus.

The vagus nerve is also called cranial nerve X or the pneumogastric nerve. It is the 10th out of 12 cranial nerves, and conveys sensory information about the body to the central nervous system. In the past, epilepsy, depression, headaches, and other conditions have been treated with vagus nerve stimulation, which involves using a device that’s implanted about the size of pacemaker.

Dr. Kilgore’s research will be done with a company called MicroTransponder which is a biomedical startup that is trying to produce a less invasive way to use the vagus nerve. Right now the only way to stimulate it is to implant the stimulator surgically.

Right now there really is no cure for tinnitus and the only way to relieve it is to try various treatments. Since it affects about 50 million people in the United States alone, a cure for tinnitus would definitely be very welcome!

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is a condition of the jaw that  is often characterized by

clicking or popping noises, as well as soreness & stiffness when opening and closing the mouth. It is estimated that close to half of the patients who have TMJ disorder list ringing in their ears as one of their symptoms.

TMJ and tinnitus often occurs with nausea, vomiting & hearing loss. Tinnitus is sometimes the only symptom of TMJ disorder, or it can occur along with other symptoms such as: jaw and neck pain, clicking sounds, teeth grinding or clenching, headache and shoulder pain.

Where is the Temporomandibular Joint?

Very simply, it is the jaw joint. You will find the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) where the jawbone meets the temple. It is very close to the ear. If the joint is not working properly it can lead to problems like TMJ and tinnitus.

Research

Research has shown that ear and sinus symptoms can be related to a TMJoint that is not functioning correctly and that there is a direct blood and nerve flow from the ears to the TMJ.  Headaches, fatigue and tension in the jaw muscles have been found to be higher in tinnitus patients and approximately one third of patients report that jaw movement influences their tinnitus.

TMJ and tinnitus can be difficult to deal with but there are treatments that help. My tinnitus was caused by TMJ disorder and I was able to effectively stop the ringing in my ears… if you want to read my tinnitus story click here.

My tinnitus story is probably a lot like yours… I had a high pitched ringing in my ears for several months, and I had tried EVERYTHING short of surgery to try and get rid of it!

I had tried expensive medications, and even saw an ear nose and throat doctor. But one night when I was up late searching for some more ideas, I came across a program that I thought looked interesting.

I bought it, and sure enough, I learned how to stop my ringing ears… for good! I haven’t had one incident of the ringing since I learned what to do.

I am a really organized person, so I appreciated the fact that the product was easy to organize and read.
If you want to try the same product, check it out here. I hope you are on your way to a tinnitus free life very soon!

Many people prefer natural tinnitus treatments over traditional medicine since it is less expensive and less invasive. It is important to remember first that it is a symptom, not a disease. Tinnitus may also be symptomatic of a more serious disorder. Therefore natural treatment for tinnitus will depend on the underlying cause. There are many natural things that can be done to minimize the bothersome affects.

Natural Tinnitus Treatment Options

• Vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with tinnitus in some studies. Liver, clams, trout, salmon, breakfast cereals, and other foods are high in B12. Vitamin B12 is available in supplement form (usually a pill that you put underneath your tongue), in an injection at the doctor’s office, and also in a newer gel formulation that is delivered in your nose.
• Herbs and supplements: Ginkgo Biloba has been effective for many patients, as well as Golden Seal, Niacin, and Zinc.
• Maskers – these are small electronic devices that use sound to make the sounds/ringing/roaring/etc less noticeable. While they do not make the ringing in your ears go away, they can make it seem softer.
• Hearing aids – hearing loss is a very common cause of tinnitus. The use of a hearing aid can allow the person to better hear the sounds around them and take focus away from the unwanted sounds.
• Relaxation techniques – some of these include doing yoga, practicing meditation, and getting hypnosis or biofeedback. Biofeedback for tinnitus can help relieve stress patterns that may worsen the perception of tinnitus.
• Protect hearing from getting worse by avoiding loud noises and wearing protection.
• Dental treatment – jaw joint disorders, such as TMJ disorder may make tinnitus worse. Non-invasive natural treatments that alleviate jaw problems may help, though it is very important to stick with conservative therapies (ie: no surgery or treatments that permanently change the bite).
• Retraining therapy – a combination of counseling and maskers may help you learn how to better cope. Maskers can make the tinnitus less noticeable, and you can learn to stop thinking about the tinnitus (which can make it worse). This type of treatment can take time to work.
• Counseling – Depression is common. Joining a support group or talking with a counselor can be helpful. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also be an  effective natural tinnitus treatment.
• Homeopathic treatments are a type of natural tinnitus treatment. Some patients have recommended kali iodatum, salicylic acidum, carbonium sulphuratum which are homeopathic remedies that can be found at your local natural foods store.
• Diet changes – avoidance of caffeine, nicotine, and salt have helped some patients.

What if Natural Tinnitus Treatment Isn’t Helpful (or you need quicker results)?

I understand… let’s face it… Tinnitus SUCKS!

If natural tinnitus treatment like the above is not helpful, or you would like an easy treatment plan that is guaranteed to work, you may want to consider this step-by-step treatment plan that has been clinically proven for many sufferers. It helped me a lot and my tinnitus is gone now! I chose the plan myself because I do not have health insurance and don’t like taking medications… The natural tinnitus treatment in the guide was much cheaper than even visiting my internist, so I definitely felt it was a good investment.

When you are wondering, “What is tinnitus?!?!”, or “What is this sound in my ear?”, we think that a lot of the information out there can be difficult to understand… as a patient, I want to understand what is going on without having to break out the medical dictionary! We hope this definition of tinnitus and easy to understand tinnitus information will help you!

It is pronounced Tin-NIGHT-us or TIN-ih-tus.

Patients with tinnitus experience phantom sounds within the ear. It been described as a high pitched whining, electric, buzzing, hissing, humming, or whistling sound, or as ticking, clicking, roaring, tunes, songs, beeping, or even a pure steady tone like you might hear in a hearing test.

It has also been described as a “wooshing” sound, like wind or waves. Tinnitus may involve one or both ears, and may also be affected by movement of eyes, shoulders, head, or jaw. It can be intermittent or constant.

The most common cause is hearing loss. Ear wax buildup, infection or anything that affects hearing can make it worse.

Tinnitus can result from exposure to excessive loud noise, Multiple Sclerosis, whiplash injury, TMJ disorder (clicking types), head injuries, depression, anxiety, overuse of some drugs such as aspirin and NSAIDS, a withdrawal symptom from benzodiazepines, antibiotics such as gentamicin, erythromycin, and vancomycin, as well as some chemotherapy drugs.

However, don’t panic!  Many patients find that their tinnitus is not caused by serious illness, and that they can feel better with this easy to execute plan.

We understand how difficult it is to deal with… you just want to know WHAT is tinnitus and HOW can I turn this sound OFF? Don’t worry… things can get better!