Tinnitus - Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Tinnitus

When sound waves enter the ear, they travel down the ear canal and strike the eardrum, a skin-covered tympanic membrane. The drum is shaped like a broad flat cone approximately a half-inch across and less than one-fiftieth inch thick. Prolonged exposure to loud noises can harm the organ of the inner ear called corti, which converts vibrations to nerve impulses. Teenagers, for example, who listen to music at extremely loud levels often develop tinnitus, a condition in which they experience prolonged ringing or buzzing sounds in their ears. Their ability to enjoy music or any other sound in later years is often seriously impaired.

Nutritional Therapies.     Because the inner ear is supplied with blood, nutrient excesses or deficiencies can affect hearing. High levels of blood fats and cholesterol, for example, have been shown to cause poor circulation of blood in the ear, and restricting saturated fats in the diet has proved helpful. Vitamin A is highly concentrated in the inner ear, and vitamin A and B supplements have improved hearing, especially in cases of inner-ear circulation problems and ear infections, according to Kurt Butler and Lynn Rayner in The Best Medicine: The Complete Health and Preventive Medicine Handbook.

Botanical Medicines.     Ginkgo biloba increases circulation in and around the ear and, according to Dr. Kotsanis, is commonly used to treat tinnitus. He reports in Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide of successfully restoring full hearing to a teenage girl who had lost her hearing in one ear. Dr. Hoffman also reports in the same book that tinctures of black cohosh and ginkgo biloba in equal parts can restore hearing to tinnitus patients.

Homeopathic Remedies.     Several homeopathic remedies help treat tinnitus, including Salicylicum acidum , Chenopodium , and Cinchona officinalis . Dr. Milne of Las Vegas recommends that people suffering from the disorder see a homeopath who will prescribe a remedy dependent upon the type of noise which initially damaged the ear.

Exercise and Inner Ear Disorders.     Dr. Michael Weintraub, clinical professor of neurology at New York Medical College in Valhalla, reports in the April 6, 1994 edition of The New York Times that 20–25% of people who regularly do high-impact aerobics may eventually develop inner ear problems. Weintraub has found in preliminary clinical studies that 80% of those with symptoms suffered damage to the parts of the inner ear involved with balance. He warns that the repeated jarring of some forms of exercise such as aerobic dancing and running loosen tiny stone-like structures called otoliths, jamming them down among the hair cells that transmit information to the brain about the body's position in space. Once otoliths are unbalanced, they send the wrong signals to the brain which can result in a persistent, off-balance sensation, dizziness, a disoriented feeling, and difficulty in navigating. Many of those with symptoms experienced motion sickness and vertigo. According to Weintraub, 67% also had ringing in their ears (tinnitus), or a sensation of ear muffling or fullness. Eighty-seven percent of the aerobics instructors studied and 67% of enthusiasts also had high-frequency hearing loss. These symptoms indicate damage to the hair cells of the cochlea, the organ that transmits nerve impulses for sound to the brain To prevent problems, Weintraub urges aerobic exercisers to wear good shoes that absorb the impact of dancing, and to avoid using loud music. A switch to a less-jarring activity, such as low-impact or step aerobics, is also recommended.

Biofeedback.     According to the American Tinnitus Association, biofeedback is especially useful for tinnitus patients whose symptoms are aggravated by anxiety or tension. In one study, 40 of 51 patients with tinnitus reported significant improvement through biofeedback. All patients in the study were able to stop taking sedatives to relieve their symptoms, and their improvement lasted for a year or longer.

Relaxation Therapy.     Alice Feinstein's Symptoms: Their Causes & Cures suggests that relaxation and visualization therapies can relieve tinnitus. She details a program developed by Dr. Bill Reid of Beaverton, Oregon, who himself suffered from the disorder. His therapy involves putting patients in a relaxed “alpha state” and having them visualize a time before they developed tinnitus. The purpose of his therapy is to access a subconscious state where patients can feel the natural sounds they once were able to hear. Reid has patients choose words to remind themselves of this time when they didn't have tinnitus. By using words to access the memory, patients experience two to three minutes when they're not aware of their tinnitus. According to Reid, listening to visualization and imagery tapes and developing a positive attitude are the keys to successfully managing and reversing tinnitus.