Tinnitus is a sensation of a noise within the ear that is often experienced as a “ringing” or static tone that doesn’t go away. The condition of Tinnitus isn’t a disease, but is thought to be a symptom of another health problem. The hearing loss that comes with Tinnitus may have many causes, including a long exposure to loud noises (like music from a rock band or noise from machinery) or simply age-related deterioration in the hearing. Tinnitus can also be caused by a blockage inside the ear from earwax or dust.
Treating The Condition That Underlies Tinnitus
Today medical professions are finding different ways to treat Tinnitus, by treating the various conditions that can underly it. For some sufferers, the solution might be as simple as removing built-up earwax. For others, changing medications can solve the problem.
Electronic Noise Suppression Devices To Solve Ringing in the Ears
New technologies have emerged to treat Tinnitus as more is discovered about the condition. “White noise” is the name coined for the rhythmic sounds that exist in nature, like rainfall, wind or the sound of the ocean. There are now machines available that mimic this sound, and these machines tend to neutralize the impact of Tinnitus for many sufferers. Even household fans or air conditioners can create a kind of white noise that can ease symptoms for some patients.
Another breakthrough in Tinnitus treatment is an earpiece that is similar to a hearing aid, and that creates a white noise effect inside the ear. Another approach to treatment is to create a tone that’s similar to the one experienced by the Tinnitus sufferer and to use it in the implant. This approach is called “retraining,” and is found to help diffuse the experience of Tinnitus in some patients. It’s been noted that this kind of treatment is often used along with psychological therapy.
Treating Depression to Treat Tinnitus
Another breakthrough in the treatment of Tinnitus is the realization that it is often related to depression. An article by Chris Weller in www.MedicalDaily.com reports on the connection between this sensation of “ringing” in the ears and psychological depression. It’s been found that the syndrome affects war veterans and is even more common among this group than Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
Realizing that the two conditions are linked has helped medical professionals find more avenues for treating it. Patients who experienced a severe sensation of ringing in the ears along with insomnia have been successfully treated with sleeping pills and anti-depressant medications like Effexor. Under this form of treatment, as the insomnia eases, so does the depression, and then, finally the Tinnitus.
What’s interesting is that medical professionals are not finding that Tinnitus leads to depression, but that the two syndromes are linked. Depression seems to have a causal link to Tinnitus, so both conditions must be examined in order for an effective treatment to be found.
Exploring The Link to Depression
As the link between depression and Tinnitus is explored further, more treatments are being found. One theory is that the Tinnitus is somehow related to a reduction in serotonin, which may be what is causing the ringing as well as insomnia. Doctors note that more studies are needed, but this link is shedding new light on the condition.
Cognitive Therapy For Tinnitus
One other psychological approach towards the treatment of Tinnitus is Cognitive Therapy. This type of counseling actually works by guiding the patient to embrace their Tinnitus, embracing the “chaos” inside their ear, and in that way diffusing it. This approach can be difficult for some patients initially, but it has shown to be effective over time.
There’s no question that living with Tinnitus is difficult, yet the many strategies being developed to treat the condition offer new hope for sufferers everywhere.