Coping with Ringing in Your Ears

Are there any new treatments you know of that can help with constant ear ringing syndrome known as tinnitus? I've had it for years but it has gotten worse the older I get.
Tinnitus is a common condition that affects around 45 million Americans, but it is usually more prevalent in the 60-and-older age group. Here's what you should know along with some tips and treatments that may help.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus (pronounced tin-NIGHT-us or TIN-a-tus) is the sensation of hearing a ringing, buzzing, roaring, hissing or whistling sound in one or both ears when no external sound is present. The sounds, which can vary in pitch and loudness, are usually worse when background noise is low, so you may be more aware of it at night when you're trying to fall asleep in a quiet room. For most people, tinnitus is merely annoying, but for many others it can be extremely disturbing.
Tinnitus itself is not a disease, but rather a symptom of some other underlying health condition. The best way to find out what's causing your tinnitus is to see an audiologist, or an otolaryngologist – a doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat diseases (commonly called and ENT). The various things that can cause tinnitus are:

• Age-related and noise-induced hearing loss – this is most common cause.
• Middle ear obstructions, which are usually caused by a build-up of earwax deep in the ear canal.
• The side effects of many different prescription and nonprescription medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, certain blood pressure medicines and diuretics, some antidepressants, cancer medicines and antibiotics.
• Various medical conditions such as high blood pressure, vascular disease, diabetes, allergies, thyroid problems, ear or sinus infections, Meniere's disease, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, otosclerosis, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a tumor, an injury to the head or neck, traumatic brain injury, depression, stress and more.

Treating the Causes

While there's currently no cure for tinnitus, there are some ways to treat it depending on the cause. For example, if your tinnitus is caused by a wax build-up in your ears or a medical condition (high blood pressure, thyroid problem, etc.), treating the problem may reduce or eliminate the noise. Or, if you think a medication you're taking may be causing the problem, switching to a different drug, or lowering the dosage, may provide some relief.

Other Treatments

Another treatment option for tinnitus that can help suppress or mask the sound so it's less bothersome is "sound therapy." This can be as simple as a fan or a white noise machine or something more sophisticated like a modified-sound or notched-music device like Neuromonics (neuromonics.com) or the Levo System (otoharmonics.com). These devices actually train your brain not to hear the tinnitus.
If you have hearing loss, hearing aids can help mask your tinnitus by improving your ability to hear actual sounds. There are even hearing aids today that come with integrated sound generation technology that delivers white noise or customized sounds to the patient on an ongoing basis. Your audiologist or ENT can help you with these options.
There are also certain medications that may help. While currently there's no FDA approved drugs specifically designed to treat tinnitus, some antianxiety drugs and antidepressants have been effective in reliving symptoms. Behavioral therapies, counseling and support groups can also be helpful.
Another thing you can do to help quiet the noise is to avoid things that can aggravate the problem like salt, artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohol, tonic water, tobacco and caffeine. It is also a good idea to protect yourself from loud noises by wearing earplugs.
For more information on tinnitus treatment options, visit the American Tinnitus Association at ata.org.
Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.