And although many just suffer through the noise because the medical field has not been able to find a reason or cure, recent advancements do offer some hope, according to Dr. Kamal A. Elliot of A & E Audiology, with offices in Lititz and Willow Street.

The Neuromonics Oasis device, similar to an MP3 player, has offered relief to many who have tried it. Combined with therapy, this device works to desensitize the brain to the noise by listening to the music on the machine for up to three hours a day for six months, Elliot said.

The music played on the device contains neural stimuli which are recognized by the limbic system, Dr. Kim Schaeffer of Neuromonics said. Schaeffer was at A & E Audiology last week as a part of a "Neuromonics day" to work with tinnitus patients.

The device works with the limbic system of the brain, which is involved with sensory perception, motor function and olfaction, or the sense of smell. When the Neuromonics device is successful, it stops the limbic system from focusing on the noise that results from tinnitus, yet it may not totally erase the sound.

It does this by retraining the limbic system to not focus on the tinnitus. The system focuses on the music and the stimuli instead. The second step of the therapy is to remove the stimuli and the limbic system recognizes the music as pleasant and does not recognize the negative tinnitus sound.

"It may decrease it to the point that (the noise caused by tinnitus) is not all you hear," Elliot said. Every case is different, therefore each machine is customized to each patient after an evaluation.

David Hatt of Downingtown has been working with Elliot since February to relieve his tinnitus symptoms. Hatt's tinnitus is a result of exposure to a loud explosion last summer. His condition worsened until he "questioned if he wanted to go on living like this."

Hatt experienced constant whistling in his ears, he said, and he found it hard to concentrate on everyday tasks. He experienced many sleepless nights with no reprieve, and the whistle would change in pitch or go back and forth between his ears.

"I would be exhausted, which would make the tinnitus worse," Hatt said.

"It's a vicious cycle," Elliot said. "You get no rest because you constantly hear noise. And the fatigue can make the tinnitus worse, so you continue to get no rest."

As a result of hearing loss and tinnitus, Hatt has a hard time hearing high-frequency sounds.

Brian Leid of Mount Joy has suffered for years with a constant ringing in his ears.

"I just deal with it," Leid said. "Until insurance will cover it (Neuromonics), I can't afford it."

The Neuromonics device costs about $5,000, and many insurances do not cover the new treatment. However, according to Schaeffer. The company is hoping that changes.

Other treatments include drugs, biofeedback, acupuncture and magnetic therapy.

Leid's tinnitus is manageable except when he is in loud or crowded places.

"I can't hear anything when there is a lot of noise around me," Leid said. "It just becomes overwhelming and there is a constant, and loud, ringing. I can't concentrate on anything when that happens."

Other sufferers may hear buzzing, clicking or hissing. Brivchik, who has had tinnitus for 14 years, hears crickets and, on some days, " I sing along with my crickets," she said.

"I just came to accept the fact that I will always hear" the tinnitus noises, Brivchik said.

Elliot works with her clients to determine if there is a medical reason for their tinnitus.

"This is important, because there may be a treatment that would work better if the tinnitus is caused by a trauma or disease, and we refer them to the right medical practice," Elliot said.

And each sufferer is different, Elliot said. Whereas Leid is bothered by loud places, Brivchik finds relief at places with lots of background noise.

Brivchik, who is listed on the American Tinnitus Association's Web site (www.ata.org) as a support group coordinator, used to run a support group locally but the group disbanded five years ago.

"I still am here to listen to people and talk with them about the disease," Brivchik said. "As a sufferer, you learn a lot about it and can empathize with those who have it. Those who don't have it just don't get it."

In her experience with the disease, Brivchik has educated herself about tinnitus at its treatments and although there are many therapies, there is no cure, she said.

"Once you have this, nothing is ever the same again," Brivchik said.

Tips to prevent tinnitus

Noise-induced hearing loss not only can be one of the triggers of tinnitus, it also can worsen the disease, according to the American Tinnitus Association.

"iPods don't cause hearing loss. Motorcycles don't cause hearing loss. People cause hearing loss," Elliot said. "We are responsible for taking care of our hearing — turn down the volume or wear earplugs.

"Our ears are not designed to tolerate the levels of sounds that we hear now," Elliot said. "Our hearing is a gift; we take it for granted."

About 90 percent of tinnitus sufferers experience some hearing loss. For those who suffer from tinnitus, and for those who just want to keep their hearing healthy, here are some tips to know when loud is too loud:

• If you are standing 3 feet away from someone and cannot hear what he or she is saying, the noise level in the room could be damaging your ears.

• If you can hear the music from another person's earphones, their music is too loud.

• Anything louder than 85 decibels can be damaging to your ears. A ticking watch is 20 decibels, a washing machine is 70 decibels and a blow dryer is 100 decibels.

• Visit www.dangerousdecibels.org for an interactive demonstration about everyday sounds and noise risks.

• If you can't turn down the volume, put in earplugs. Take earplugs to loud concerts and fireworks shows.

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