DOC I NEED TINNITUS TREATMENT

Treatment depends on the type of hearing loss and degree of tinnitus.
A.Medicines and others
1.antianxiety or antidepressant medication

2.relaxation techniques help when stress is a factor.

3.Avoiding caffeine which may worsen symptoms.

4.Biofeedback may  diminish tinnitus in some patients.

5.Avoid aspirin  in large quantities

6.protection of hearing and avoiding loud noises

B.Non-invasive.
The treatment can be in the form of
1.hearing aid,
Hearing Aid  may have dual functions. It helps to improve hearing acuity, clearer speech understanding as well as to cover the tinnitus effect. However, it may be unsuitable for people with a reduced sound tolerance level, and sensitivity to loud, unpleasant sounds .

2.Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT),
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) has been widely used for many years.
The approach is to desensitize the tinnitus via a broadband tinnitus masker (such as the sound of a fan, radio, or white noise machine) along with a specific course of counselling to retrain the brain of sufferers until they are habituated to the tinnitus and it is no longer disturbing.

The therapy may be long-term and time-consuming.

3.Neuromonics tinnitus treatment -very successful in ‘desensitizing’ patients towards their tinnitus.
The sound stimulus is transmitted at specific intervals coordinated with embedded music  2-3 hours a day when the tinnitus is most disturbing.
The idea is to desensitize the brain’s limbic system until patients becomes used to it and get relief.
The treatment can occur while reading, relaxing, doing house chores, computer work or before going to bed. During the treatment process, patients are guided through an interactive and progressive programme of care with the audiologist, as they adjust to each stage of treatment. The audiologist will then assess the patients’ progress.

It is a 6 months program involving the following stages:
1.Pre-conditioning stage (first 2 months) – use of special shower sound to interact with the tinnitus.
2.Active stage (subsequent 4 months) – constant interaction with the tinnitus.

At the end of 6 months program, the sufferer enters the maintenance stage when he/ she can manage without clinical support.
Generally, the treatment involves stimulating the hearing pathways affected by tinnitus or hearing loss with a customized music therapy.

Over 90% reported:
a.A relief from their tinnitus
b.Ability to sleep well
c.A sense of control over their tinnitus
d.A decreased sound disturbance from tinnitus

4.Counselling & Educational Support
If the tinnitus is not serious, the patients can see a counsellor or a psychologist for direct counselling program, and educational support. The purpose is to provide :
a.advice and information about tinnitus;
b.explain what self-help strategies are available for patients and how they work;
c.current medical treatment and management,
d.availability of group support and facilities.

C.Surgery
Surgery of the acoustic nerve to block the tinnitus only for individuals who’re becoming or definitely deaf.

Other surgeries may be used when the tinnitus is caused by a tumor across the ear,  the tumor is usually eliminated.

Prognosis:
Depending on the type of tinnitus, symptoms will tend to recur over time.
Stress level, diet, and  noise exposure can worsen tinnitus.
Many people find their tinnitus annoying but can learn to adapt without difficulty.

Prevention:
1.Protect your hearing at work.
2.When around any noise that bothers your ears (a concert,  hunting), wear hearing protection or reduce noise levels.
3.Everyday noises such as blow drying the hair or using a lawnmower can require noise protection.Keep ear plugs or earmuffs handy for these activities.

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DOC I HAVE TINNITUS

Tinnitus is the symptom of perception of sound in the human ear or head in the absence of external sounds.
It is not a illness.
The sound is sometimes accompanied by hearing loss and dizziness in a syndrome known as Meniere’s diseas

It affects a large proportion of adult population.
Almost 12 percent of men who are 65 to 74 years of age are affected by tinnitus.
1.Construction site workers
2.MP3 player users
3.Rock concert goers
4.Gun and rifle users

The causes of Tinnitus are:
1.hearing loss is the most common cause.
Age or trauma to the ear (through noise, drugs, or chemicals)cause the damage of the portion of the ear for hearing (the cochlea) becomes damaged.
Because the cochlea do not send the normal signals to the brain, the brain becomes confused and essentially develops its own sound (the tinnitus) to make up for the lack of normal sound signals.

2.ear trauma is usually noticed in both ears, because both ears are usually exposed

3.the harmful effects of excessively loud noise from firearms, high intensity music, or other sources is a very common cause of tinnitus because of  hearing damage

4.ear infection or excess wax in the ear can affect  the ear.

5.drugs such as aspirin (if overused), aminoglycoside antibiotics and quinine may damage the hearing nerve.

6.brain tumor known as an acoustic neuroma which grow on the nerve that supplies hearing can cause tinnitus.
This tinnitus usually affects one ear unlike  the hearing loss  seen in both ears.

Signs & Symptoms
The sound that they perceive in the ear or head has been described as:
1.ringing,
2.whistling,
3.vacuuming,
4.hammering,
5.buzzing
6.humming sounds.

About 2% of tinnitus sufferers have:
1.Disturbed sleeping patterns.
2.Anxiety and depression.
3.Inability to relax and concentrate.
4.Sensitivity to loud sounds and noises.
5.A negative impact on work, family and social life.

An ENT doctor may be consulted for tinnitus:

1.When medical and/or surgical contraindications are not present.
2.family members are worried or concerned about the “non-stop” tinnitus.
3.Your sleep, concentration and general health is affected.

Exams and Tests
1.complete history and physical examination of the head and neck
2.A complete hearing test (audiogram)
3.auditory brainstem response
4.brain scan such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be required.
5.blood tests for hyperthyroidism may be taken.
6.spinal tap may be rarely performed to measure the fluid pressure in the skull and spinal cord.

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