Johns Hopkins Health Alert
Are Your Ears Ringing?
Tinnitus is often described as “ringing in the ears” (the term is derived from tinnire, Latin for “to ring”). But tinnitus can take many different forms, including humming, whistling, hissing, machinelike noises, and even roaring. While there is no cure for tinnitus, many treatments are available, and new ones are being developed.
The cause of tinnitus is frequently in the inner ear. Lloyd Minor, M.D., Director of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins, explains, “Tinnitus often accompanies age-associated hearing loss, so we presume that it’s caused by damage to inner ear structures and hair cells in the cochlea, especially if the person is or was routinely exposed to loud noises. However, when a patient has tinnitus without hearing loss, we think it may have a central cause -- that the tinnitus is coming from the brain.”
An audiogram (hearing test) indicates the extent of hearing loss and helps determine if centrally located tinnitus is the more likely cause. A careful medical history also is important to find out if a coexisting medical condition or medication could be at work. Thyroid disorders and high blood pressure, for instance, and at least 200 medications, including common pain relievers, may cause tinnitus.
The search for tinnitus relief: A good first step is to cut out caffeine. “Many people who give up caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and soda and foods like chocolate find that their tinnitus symptoms improve,” says Dr. Minor. Giving up smoking and alcohol also may help.
Probably the most common treatment is to mask the internal noise with external noise. Dr. Minor notes, “Oftentimes people are only bothered by tinnitus when it’s quiet -- at bedtime, for instance. No masking device has been shown to help a large number of patients better manage their tinnitus. But people’s experiences with tinnitus and its treatment can vary widely. If a patient finds that a masking device helps, I wouldn’t discourage its use.”
The latest efforts: Early studies of a new therapy called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which sends an electric current into the brain, are encouraging, and clinical trials are under way. Some tinnitus patients have benefited from electrical cortical stimulation (ECS), which makes use of pacemaker-like implants to deliver electric impulses. Electric neurostimulation is noninvasive and also has few side effects. But more research is needed, and currently TMS and ECS aren’t available outside clinical trials.
Posted in Healthy Living on March 3, 2010
Reviewed January 2011
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
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My 42 year-old daughter suffers and total deafness in one ear from tinnitus due to what the doctor said was a hereditary condition - deterioration of an internal portion of her ear. Had an operation and was able to hear normally for a few months. The operation consisted of rebuilding the missing part of her internal ear. She is bipolar as well and has lived with both conditions for years. Working is pretty much out of the question, so I have maintained her most of her life. She hears the shreeking, squealing constant barrage of noise 24-7. Not easy for her to live with nor for me.Are there any newer treatments for tinnitus?
Posted by: ocw1 | December 2, 2010 2:05 PM
I am a tinnitus sufferer. I have been living with this condition for several years now, and have consulted my doctor about it. He has referred me to a specialist in this field. At this point in time, I would be willing to try just about anything to end the constant ringing in my ears.This condition has impaired my hearing to the point of me constantly having to ask people to repeat themselves, which makes me seem to be the type of person that does not really have an interest in what they are saying. If anyone has any tips on how I can at the very least lessen the effects of this, please feel free to contact me @ donw49@gmail.com. Thanks so very much.
Posted by: donw49 | February 3, 2011 7:31 AM
Where does one begin about tinnitus. I went for a stress test and was injected with radioactive isotopes. When I left, I had tinnitus. I believe some aspect of that test is what caused the tinnitus. I was on the parking lot and thought it was my car screeching as I warmed it up, so i went straight to the mechanic who heard nothing. As I walked towards my apartment I realized it was something that only I was hearing and it has been hell since then. That was about 3 years ago. I had just turned 56 years old. I have ringing in my ears from the time I wake up (bathroom trips included) to the time I go to precious precious sleep ( my only real relief). I do get a little relief once in a while if I'm concentrating very hard on something but the relief is so short lived that it seems it's non existant. I am so sad most of the time and I can't seem to get my weight under control. I believe that is because sometimes when I'm eating or distracted I get sparadic relief and I reach for that minute. I am truly just existing most of the time and I really can't imagine how how I will exist like this if this is what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life ( and then there is that struggle of knowing there are people much worse off). I have been everywhere and the doctors seem to have the attitude of "it is what it is". I get that, but, I don't think some of them get the hell that is tinnitus. Only by God's grace am i dealing with this. Sometimes people tell me "I have tinnitus too" and although I appreciate what they're going through, one really can't truly understand the horror of this condition unless one wakes up to it and goes to sleep to it ( and I don't sound like it but I do thank God for blessed sleep). Anyway if there is any way that I could be part of a trial or anything that had any kind of hope of giving me any relief I would jump at the opportunity. So if you are reading this and have any information about a tinnitus research or a study that I might be able to take part of, please share the information with me. May there be mercy for my fellow sufferers, also. Be Blessed.
Overwhelmed
Posted by: OVERWHELMED | March 7, 2011 10:48 PM
I have severe tinnitus which my doctor suggested having surgery done. I have reviewed other web sites and would like to see all of the information on causes and treatments at on site
Posted by: themotivator | January 19, 2012 1:56 PM
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I have tinnitus, but it is off-again-on-again. What is the cause of that?
Posted by: allmymarbles | March 6, 2010 2:51 PM