December 13, 2010
'White-Noise' Therapy Alone Not Enough to Curb Tinnitus
Tinnitus -- what many think of as "ringing in the ears" -- is the perception of sound without any real acoustic stimulation. Sound masking therapy, a common component of tinnitus treatment, is of uncertain benefit when used on its own, a new evidence review finds.
Tinnitus sufferers might hear one sound or multiple ones; they can hear them continuously or intermittently. The sounds are imperceptible to others. For most people, the phantom sounds -- hissing, whooshing and others -- hardly matter.
But for a small minority, tinnitus causes severe problems, such as anxiety, insomnia and even major depression sometimes leading to suicide.
Posted @ 5:14 AM
October 8, 2010
Tinnitus in the Elderly Is Prevalent and Impacts Quality of Life
Tinnitus is common among elderly Nigerians and associated with treatable health conditions like otitis media, rhinosinusitis, head injury and hypertension, according to new research published in the October 2010 issue of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery.
Nearly 36 million Americans, however, suffer from tinnitus or head noises. It may be an intermittent sound or an annoying continuous sound in one or both ears. In Nigeria, tinnitus affects between 10.1% and 33% of the population, with about 3 to 4% consulting a doctor on at least one occasion in their lifetime. Its effect makes it a significant contributor to morbidity in the elderly.
Posted @ 10:32 AM
April 13, 2010
Do claims for tinnitus supplements ring true?
For millions of people, the quietest room is never quiet enough. Even when surrounded by silence, they can hear a ringing or buzzing in their ears that drives them to distraction. The sound is called tinnitus, and sufferers — often people with hearing trouble thanks to advanced age or loud sounds — are willing to go to great lengths to stop the noise.
Some plead with their doctors to cut their hearing nerves completely, but even this drastic measure won't help. The few patients who have had the procedure could still hear their tinnitus — and nothing else.
Tinnitus can sometimes be treated with electronic masking devices that help obscure the sound. And some patients find relief from cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of counseling that can encourage people to think about things other than their tinnitus.
Posted @ 9:36 AM
December 18, 2009
Early treatment hope for tinnitus
Research has raised the possibility of successfully treating the ear-ringing disorder tinnitus soon after its onset.
Some forms of the condition are associated with spontaneous nerve activity in the brain.
A team from the University of Western Australia showed this activity is, for a time, dependent on nerve signals generated in the inner ear.
Posted @ 2:45 AM
September 23, 2009
What can I do about this ringing in my ears?
Q: For years, I have had a constant ringing in both ears. It is around 6,000 hertz, as determined by numerous ear tests, and is at an intensity that, at times, actually hurts. It is equal in both ears, and occasionally there will be an additional ringing at a different frequency on top of the constant one. Also, I will get a clicking sound at times, primarily on the right.
Not one doctor has suggested any sort of treatment except to give me a hearing aid to mask the ringing. They have said it might be something related to the auditory nerve but can’t determine treatment. The only question they have asked is whether I have had any head trauma or been subjected to loud noises for a prolonged time. The answer is no.
Posted @ 4:18 AM
September 12, 2008
Tinnitus in a computer model
Scientists from Berlin study how hearing loss can lead to tinnitus. Tinnitus, i.e. the perception of phantom sounds in the absence of an acoustic stimulus, can be caused by hearing loss. Under which circumstances does this occur? Which mechanisms are involved? Roland Schaette and Richard Kempter from the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience and the Humboldt University in Berlin found answers to these questions using computer simulations.
Tinnitus arises in the auditory pathway of the central nervous system. In animal studies, tinnitus-like activity of neurons - so-called hyperactivity - has been found in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), the first processing stage for acoustic information in the brain.
Posted @ 10:02 AM
July 8, 2008
Tinnitus Patients Have a Friend in Zebrafish
Professor Ernest Moore hasn't named the zebrafish in his Northwestern University laboratory, where he researches drugs for tinnitus (ringing of the ears). But if he did, he says, he would name his favorite one Rose, after one of his mentors.
"Professor Rose not only trained me in audiology, but taught me not to expect hearing problems to get a lot of attention or funding," recalled Moore. "When you have hearing problems, you're not bleeding. You look just fine. It is a widespread but hidden problem."
Moore should know. He has tinnitus himself, he says, thanks to his childhood hunting expeditions and his years in the military leading to too many guns fired too close to his ears.
Posted @ 9:05 AM
July 1, 2008
New Device May Alleviate Tinnitus
Judy Brivchik of Lancaster doesn't have a day of silence. As a tinnitus sufferer, the chirping sound of crickets in her ears is constant; she can't escape it.
She has tried conventional and drug-therapy methods to deal with the disease which, according to the American Tinnitus Foundation, affects more than 50 million Americans.
The sounds tinnitus sufferers hear range from ringing to a low hum to a shrill tone — constantly for some; for others, just when things are quiet and they are not distracted by other things. Its causes are just as varied. Some develop tinnitus after being exposed to a loud noise, for others it could be the result of a medical condition and yet for others, there is no reason. Stress and fatigue can worsen the condition.
Posted @ 8:11 AM
May 18, 2008
Graduate offers hope to tinnitus sufferers
Paul Waldon knows quite a bit about overcoming adversity.
The Manukau Institute of Technology Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) graduate overcome a broken neck and damaged hearing to achieve his degree and undertake research for a solution for other tinnitus sufferers.
Mr Waldon fell off scaffolding in 2001 he severely damaged his cervical spine. His doctor gave him two options: continue scaffolding and have another operation in five years time or find a job that doesn’t involve heavy lifting.
Posted @ 1:32 AM
March 13, 2008
Inner noise of tinnitus is maddening
Dear Dr. Donohue: I hope you can help me with a problem I have had for a year. I have a buzzing sound in my ear. My family doctor had me on antibiotics, but they didn't work. My dentist made me a new set of dentures, but that didn't work. The buzzing can drive me crazy. I have had a CT scan and an MRI. I have seen an ear, nose and throat doctor and have had a hearing test, but have not gotten any suggestions for what to do.
What can I do to rectify this problem?
Posted @ 8:51 AM
February 6, 2008
Ringing in Your Ears? It Might Be in Your Jaw
People dismiss tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears, as being all in their heads. Maybe it is, but it's not a figment of the imagination, it's in the muscles and bones of our jaws. While it is possible it's just a psychosomatic (i.e. imaginary) effect, you may be experiencing a potentially debilitating condition called TMJ or temporomandibular joint syndrome.
TMJS? TMD? MPD?
Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJS), temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), and mysofacial pain dysfunction (MPD) are three different names for one set of symptoms. These symptoms of TMJ/TMD include:
Posted @ 2:37 AM
January 16, 2008
The Brain Activity Behind Tinnitus Uncovered
Tinnitus - hearing phantom sounds - affects millions of people, but because the physiological mechanisms behind the condition are largely unknown, treatment options are limited. Now research published in the online open access journal BMC Biology shows how a method that temporarily (usually for several seconds) reduces tinnitus in some patients links the condition to brain activity.
Nina Kahlbrock of the University of Konstanz, Germany and Nathan Weisz of INSERM in Lyon, France investigated the relationship between the tinnitus sensation and spontaneous brain activity. Two techniques called tinnitus masking and residual inhibition involve using a sound that temporarily reduces tinnitus (masking). The effect sometimes continues after the masking sound has stopped (residual inhibition or RI). The researchers used RI to reduce eight sufferers' tinnitus intensity, in an effect lasting approximately 30 seconds, coupled with source-space projected magnetencephalographic (MEG) data to track their brain activity.
Posted @ 7:18 AM
December 28, 2007
Silencing The Noisy Mind
The clamor that Sampson Parsons heard inside his head every waking hour for 15 years sounded like a metal spoon banging against a cookie sheet.
"It was gruesome," said Parsons, 35. "I was waiting to die. If I gave it enough thought, I couldn't prove I was not in hell."
Medically, what he was experiencing was a terrible case of a common condition known as tinnitus, hearing sounds such as hissing or whistling when there is no external source for the noise.
The phantom noises were so dreadfully real and relentless that when he learned of a highly experimental treatment that entailed removing part of the skull, he eagerly signed up. And others have done the same.
Posted @ 8:53 AM
November 28, 2007
Music Therapy Shows Promise for Tinnitus Sufferers
Timothy Brown, a 55-year-old industrial electrician, didn't pay much attention to the ringing in his ears he heard occasionally last winter. But, come March, when the high-pitched noise turned nonstop and showed no sign of going away, he suddenly could think of nothing else.
"[After] the first few days, I went to the family doctor thinking it was an ear infection," he said. That was ruled out.
"It wasn't a problem, but it lingered two or three weeks and then it became traumatic," Mr. Brown said.
His sleep was disrupted; he could no longer tolerate the level of sound generated when his big family of siblings got together.
Posted @ 7:12 AM
November 1, 2007
Ears Ringing? Cells In Developing Ear May Explain Tinnitus
Brain scientists at Johns Hopkins have discovered how cells in the developing ear make their own noise, long before the ear is able to detect sound around them. The finding, reported in Nature, helps to explain how the developing auditory system generates brain activity in the absence of sound. It also may explain why people sometimes experience tinnitus and hear sounds that seem to come from nowhere.
The research team made their discovery while studying the properties of non-nerve cells in the ears of young rats. These so-called support cells were thought to be silent bystanders not directly involved in nerve communication. However, to the researchers' surprise, these cells showed robust electrical activity, similar to nerve cells. Further, this activity occurred spontaneously, without sound or any external stimulus.
Posted @ 4:02 AM
October 27, 2007
Not Enough Being Done To Treat Tinnitus
Cliff Weale of Iver in Buckinghamshire has suffered from the same ‘high pitched rushing sound’ for ten years. Like many other sufferers of tinnitus, he says it has affected everything in his life and feels that little is done to alleviate the problem. Cliff can only hope that one day there will be enough research funding to end the nightmare once and for all.
Cliff, 60, said, “The tinnitus is mostly in my left ear, but often in both ears, and is much worse at night. It becomes even more unbearable when I wake first thing or if I wake in the night, like someone trying to bore into my skull. Sleep seems to exacerbate my tinnitus.”
Posted @ 3:57 PM
October 15, 2007
Searching For The Brain Center Responsible For Tinnitus
For the more than 50 million Americans who experience the phantom sounds of tinnitus -- ringing in the ears that can range from annoying to debilitating -- certain well-trained rats may be their best hope for finding relief.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have studied the condition for more than 10 years and have developed these animal models, which can "tell" the researchers if they are experiencing tinnitus.
Posted @ 6:16 AM
October 9, 2007
Tinnitus may originate in the brain
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have discovered tinnitus -- phantom auditory sensations -- originate somewhere in brain, not in the ear.
Principal investigator Richard Salvi, director of the University of Buffalo Center for Hearing and Deafness, says tinnitus is caused by continued exposure to loud noise, normal aging and, to a much lesser extent, as a side effect of taking some anti-cancer drugs. Thirty percent of Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans suffer from the condition, Salvi said.
Posted @ 4:01 AM
August 22, 2007
That ringing in your ears can be caused by many things
Question: Is tinnitus -- or ringing in the ear -- a disease?
Answer: It's the most common ear symptom there is. It affects about 36 million people.
It's a symptom because it has a cause. Now the variety of things that can cause people to have noise in their ears is extensive. The most common is because the hearing nerve in the inner ear is not normal.
That can be due to age-related hearing loss or damage to the ears as a result of noise exposure. There's a host of other problems that can contribute to this -- ear infections, metabolic problems like high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, abnormalities of blood flow, medication, or certain kinds of inner ear tumors.
Posted @ 8:12 AM
June 27, 2007
80% of Patients Stop Discomfort from Tinnitus
It is estimated that between 10 and 17% of the population has suffered tinnitus at some time in their lives, according to a number of international studies.
Tinnitus is understood as the perception of noise in the ears or inside the head although there is no external source of sound, without any vibratory cochlear activity taking place (which occurs when an external noise is produced). Depending on the intensity of the symptom, the patient may have their everyday life affected. In extreme cases the discomforts may make working routines impossible or negatively affect normal daily life.
Posted @ 8:14 PM
January 10, 2007
How I struggled with tinnitus
First The Bill's Graham Cole struggled with the nightmare of tinnitus. Then the actor was told by his doctor: You will go totally deaf:
Late at night, actor Graham Cole was kept awake by a persistent, rhythmic and increasingly loud 'whooshing' sound in his ears. When his two young children were in the back of the car, their chatter was drowned out by the ever-present racket in his head.
Posted @ 6:10 AM
January 7, 2007
Sound advice about tinnitus treatments
Question | I have a constant buzzing in my ears, which is very bothersome, especially when I'm trying to sleep. What causes it? And what can I do about it?
Answer | A buzzing or ringing sound that you can hear but other people can't is known as tinnitus (pronounced tin-NIGHT-us or TIN-it-us). We've all experienced this annoying sensation one time or another, usually after hearing a very loud noise. For example, using a snowmobile or lawn mower or attending a loud concert might trigger a brief bout of tinnitus. Ringing is common, but some people also experience relentless buzzing, cricket-like chirping, hissing or humming. Whatever the sound, the distinguishing feature is that it doesn't have an external cause.
Posted @ 4:52 AM
December 12, 2006
Airbags cause tinnitus in kids
Car airbags could cause children the hearing condition tinnitus and breathing problems because of the piercing noise they make when they inflate and the chemicals they let out, experts have warned. Although they have been hugely successful in preventing deaths and injuries in accidents they are designed for adults and must be switched off if youngsters sit in the front.
Posted @ 6:00 AM
November 18, 2006
Mystery humming sound captured
A New Zealand scientist believes he's captured a recording of the mystery hum that has been heard by scores of people living and in and around the city of Auckland. Dr Tom Moir, a computer engineer at Massey University's Institute of Information and Mathematical Sciences, made the recording at a house in Auckland's North Shore suburb of Glenfield earlier this week.
Posted @ 3:19 AM
October 19, 2006
That ringing in your ears is not the phone
Well, let's see here. What shall we talk about today?
I've got a note here from a lady who says the other day she thought she heard on the radio that Ivan the Terrible, the ruler of Russia who lived in the 16th century, was really from America. She wants to know if that is right.
Posted @ 8:09 AM
October 2, 2006
Learning to ignore a nuisance
That may sound darn right rude but that’s all it is. A nuisance. Tinnitus is nothing but a nuisance, which interrupts your daily routine by driving you up the wall. Ever asked why it’s driving you up the wall?
Posted @ 10:15 AM
September 25, 2006
American Tinnitus Association names David Fagerlie as CEO
David Fagerlie has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the American Tinnitus Association, the nation's foremost organization committed to curing tinnitus.
"Medical research has made important progress toward curing tinnitus in the past 10 to 20 years, and our goal is to greatly increase fundraising to find a cure," said Scott Mitchell, Chair of the association's Board of Directors. "With David's leadership, we look forward to dramatically expanding our campaign to end tinnitus suffering for millions of people."
Posted @ 5:29 AM
August 18, 2006
Summer activities can increase hearing loss
People tend to spend more time outdoors in the summer, and their exposure to loud noise increases. Whether the noise is from powerboats, firecrackers, lawnmowers or motorcycles, a University of Cincinnati otolaryngologist encourages people to take precautions to protect their ears.
Posted @ 5:39 AM
July 6, 2006
Explaining tinnitus
Tinnitus is characterized by a persistent sound in one ear or both ears. It's usually a ringing sound, although many people hear a hissing, roaring or clicking. Symptoms can range from severe to only mildly distracting. The sound may be constant or it may come and go, and may vary from quiet to very loud.
Posted @ 12:45 AM
June 13, 2006
Ear buds are cool, but the price may be too steep
Ring. Ring. Ring. For most people, that's an incoming phone call. To me? That's life in my inner ear. A continuous, audible ring (or is it a whir?) pesters me every waking moment. The condition is called tinnitus. In the early 1980s, when I felt invincible, I didn't mind my temporary bouts with ringing in the ears, which followed about two hours of live rock and roll cacophony at an acoustically challenged venue. Van Halen at the old Hollywood Sportatorium (more than once) comes to mind.
Posted @ 5:27 AM
June 5, 2006
No cure now for ringing in the ears
Q: Is tinnitus (head noise/ringing in the ears) always caused by exposure to loud noise or are some individuals born or genetically predisposed to suffer from tinnitus?
A: Certainly noise exposure is the most common cause. It also can be caused by head trauma and some medications.
Posted @ 5:05 AM
Summer activities can increase hearing loss
People tend to spend more time outdoors in the summer, and their exposure to loud noise increases. Whether the noise is from powerboats, firecrackers, lawnmowers or motorcycles, a University of Cincinnati otolaryngologist encourages people to take precautions to protect their ears.
Posted @ 5:03 AM
June 1, 2006
Tinnitus - High alert
The occasional ringing in your ear may be an all-too-familiar sound. It's called tinnitus, and doctors say it affects an estimated 50 million Americans. There's no real cure, but there is a treatment for those who really need it.
Posted @ 4:37 PM
May 29, 2006
You can manage but not cure tinnitus
Dear Savvy Senior: I'm 56 years old and in pretty good health, but recently I've noticed a constant ringing in my ears that's very irritating. What can you tell me about this and is there anything I can do? - Ringing Randy
Posted @ 11:12 AM
May 24, 2006
Hoping for the sound of silence
A pensioner has said he is glad to have gone completely deaf because it has got rid of the irritating hearing condition tinnitus. John Speakman, 79, of Northfield Road, Blackburn lost all his hearing after suffering from tinnitus since his 20s.
Posted @ 11:02 AM
May 22, 2006
What causes ringing in the ears?
The medical term for ringing in the ears is tinnitus, which means noise in Latin. Tinnitus is not limited to ringing but may be perceived as whistling, buzzing, humming, hissing, roaring, chirping or other noise. The technical definition of tinnitus is therefore the perception of any of these sounds in the absence of an acoustic stimulus in the surrounding environment.
Posted @ 9:18 AM
There can be many causes of tinnitus
Q: I've had constant ringing in my ears for a few months now. My doctor says I have tinnitus. Can you tell me about this condition?
Posted @ 9:17 AM
New treatment for people with tinnitus - Promises better sleep
Wearing glasses that block the blue light that causes melatonin suppression allows it to flow. Putting them on for a few hours before bed time allows melatonin (the sleep hormone) to be present at bed time. This allows people to fall asleep quickly despite the annoying ringing in their ears.
Posted @ 9:16 AM
May 3, 2006
Struggling with tinnitus
The first hint I had that something was wrong with my hearing was during a long phone conversation. I unwittingly transferred the receiver from my usual left to right ear. Damn, there was a drastic drop in the pitch and the voice from the other end appeared faint and distant.
Posted @ 5:06 AM
March 28, 2006
Ear noises can be treated
Dear Dr. Donohue: I am 55 and have been diagnosed with tinnitus. The doctor said I would have to live with it. The ringing is always there and has gotten louder. Since my insurance does not cover nonmedical hearing problems, I am hesitant to go to a specialty medical center for exotic tests. Do you have any suggestions for tinnitus? -- J.E.
Posted @ 7:19 AM
March 23, 2006
Hippocrates and ringing ears
I was lying in bed battling the flu bug and listening to a doctor on the radio talking about how far the science of medicine had advanced in such a short time. Medical science, according to the radio doctor, had come further in the last 50 years than it had in all the centuries going back to the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates himself. As the doctor continued his paean to the miracles of modern medicine, I lay there sniffing, coughing and thinking that in some areas medical science hadn't come all that far. I wonder what Hippocrates would think of our miracle medicine if he were to pay us a visit from the great beyond.
Posted @ 9:36 AM
Twelve million seek medical help for tinnitus
Tinnitus is a term derived from the Latin word "tinnire" meaning "to jingle." The word is often pronounced two different ways, TINnitus and tinNITEus. According to dictionaries, neither pronunciation is preferred, but the order of listing reflects the frequency of use. Regionally, one pronunciation may vary over the other.
Posted @ 5:14 AM
March 22, 2006
Tinnitus may interfere with tough mental tasks
People who suffer from chronic, moderate tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, may have more trouble performing demanding cognitive tasks than individuals without tinnitus, Australian investigators report. "Our results are good news in that there is no difference between groups on everyday, familiar tasks," co-investigator Dr. Catherine Stevens told Reuters Health.
Posted @ 5:04 AM
March 18, 2006
The sound of silence
I Initially dismissed the ringing in my ears as the hum coming from the fridge or the computer. But after pressing my ear against these appliances, I realised the sound was coming from within. The point I am trying to make is not that I need to consult an ENT specialist soon (which I do), but rather how quiet it can be in some neighbourhoods here, sometimes to the point where you can detect your own hearing disorders.
Posted @ 5:21 AM
March 15, 2006
Easing learning with chronic tinnitus
Chronic tinnitus may make it harder to master new tasks, but practice could help overcome that hurdle, researchers report. People with tinnitus hear ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, or other sounds without any known cause. Tinnitus can be fleeting or constant and vary in loudness.
Posted @ 5:08 AM
March 11, 2006
Chronic, moderate tinnitus interferes with cognitive abilities
Individuals with chronic, moderate tinnitus do more poorly on demanding working memory and attention tests than those without tinnitus, according to a recent study. However, on less complex tasks, no significant differences were found, suggesting that tinnitus has no effect on tasks that involve more involuntary, automatic responses.
Posted @ 5:02 PM
March 8, 2006
Making an audible difference
It's a choice seat to be right next to the UW pep band at a Badger game, but you can only safely be there, without ear protection, for about six seconds. Sound exposure at a Chicago blues bar is only slightly better. According to researchers, risks for hearing loss start after nine minutes. If you want to stay for hours, minimize the noise with some ear protection.
Posted @ 7:35 PM
February 24, 2006
Melatonin pills may help ease tinnitus
Melatonin supplements might curb tinnitus, possibly by improving sleep, a new study shows. Melatonin is a hormone made in the brain's pineal gland. Natural melatonin helps regulate cycles of sleep and wakefulness. Levels of natural melatonin tend to fade with age. Melatonin is also sold as a supplement.
Posted @ 5:16 PM
February 23, 2006
Captain Kirk nearly killed by tinnitus
Tinnitus is a disease that effects many people, including William Shatner. There are new treatment options available make it easier for sufferers to eliminate this condition. According to an All Headline News report, William Shatner once considered suicide as a desperate attempt to free himself from the pain of tinnitus. Tinnitus is a disorder characterized by hearing constant noises such as beeping, buzzing, or ringing.
Posted @ 5:43 PM
That persistent sound you hear
Trivia time. What do Barbra Streisand, Charles Darwin, Rosalyn Carter and Beethoven have in common? Well, in addition to Babs and the former first lady sharing a fondness for Democratic politicians, and that Chuck’s and Ludwig’s lifetimes overlapped by 18 years, they all suffer(ed) from tinnitus. Well, in addition to Babs and the former first lady sharing a fondness for Democratic politicians, and that Chuck’s and Ludwig’s lifetimes overlapped by 18 years, they all suffer(ed) from tinnitus.
Posted @ 5:41 PM
Melatonin associated with alleviating tinnitus symptoms
Approximately 15 million Americans have a severe form of tinnitus, the perceived sensation of a ringing, roaring, or humming sound without actual acoustic stimulation. Although several theories have been proposed to explain the mechanism of tinnitus, the exact cause for this condition remains unknown; suggested treatments for the condition have not worked well in alleviating the symptoms.
Posted @ 5:40 PM
February 20, 2006
Lives 'devastated' by tinnitus
Research into the effects of tinnitus - a buzzing or ringing in the ears - shows that it has a profound impact on all aspects of people's lives. The findings come from work carried out by two leading charities in the field of hearing loss.
Posted @ 6:18 PM
February 13, 2006
Tinnitus victim not responding to implant
Despair is replacing optimism for an Aurora nurse who had hoped a new procedure would stem the ringing in her ears that has made her life a cacophonous misery. Lynn Steinman, 56, has described the ringing as akin to "a kid's tin whistle blowing in your ear 24 hours a day."
Posted @ 8:54 AM
February 11, 2006
Burma's mission, 20 years later
Clint Conley, bassist and vocalist for ’80s underground heroes Mission of Burma, was late for our phone interview. All was forgiven, though, as he was not terribly late and apologized profusely. It’s not often that a musician has to delay an interview because he was at the library researching a script.
Posted @ 5:34 AM
February 9, 2006
When noise plagues you
Voluntarily pumping sound into one's ears has become commonplace among music lovers in this iPod nation. But imagine walking around with an irritating noise in your ears for 24 hours a day, without being able to shut it off. Such is the plight of people with tinnitus. It's often described as ringing in the ears, but tinnitus also can manifest as hissing, sizzling or cricketlike chirping, said Ingrid Edwards, an audiologist at The Heuser Hearing Institute in Louisville.
Posted @ 7:10 AM
February 6, 2006
Horrible ringing in ears
Q: I know someone who has developed a horrible ringing in her ears. Is this a side effect of medication? Is it reversible? - B.R., Town and Country
Posted @ 6:59 AM
February 4, 2006
Turn down the music
Although it's a great way to block out annoying noises around you, that hot new MP3 player could damage your hearing if you play your favorite tunes too loud and too long. That's the warning from an expert who notes that while these music listening devices aren't inherently unhealthy, they can cause hearing loss if used improperly.
Posted @ 7:55 AM
January 25, 2006
Finding the right headphones
As a decade-long sufferer of tinnitus and the father of a deaf child, I take ear health very seriously. It's something most people don't think about, but they should, especially the millions of people listening to Apple iPods and other headphone-based electronic devices at increasingly loud volume levels. You're damaging your hearing, and that's the kind of damage you can't reverse later.
Posted @ 1:37 PM
January 17, 2006
Pillow's secret speakers promise to surround you in sounds
A pillow that has two built-in secret speakers that you can connect to an MP3 player or portable Discman has been launched by the RNID in the UK. The pillow, which promises to "surround you in sound" is available from the organisations Solutions catalogue and is recommend by the RNID for listening to audio books or even Podcasts.
Posted @ 11:14 AM
What is the smallest bone in the body?
At about 3.3 millimeters in length, the stapes – or "stirrup" bone – is the smallest bone in the body. In the middle ear, the stapes, malleus (hammer) and incus (anvil) increase and transfer sound vibrations from the eardrum to the sensitive hair cells in the inner ear. About 1 percent of the population develops a symptomatic form of a condition called otosclerosis.
Posted @ 11:12 AM
January 9, 2006
Transcranial magnetic stimulation inhibits tinnitus
Subjective tinnitus, the perception of ringing or rushing sounds within the ear, is a common phenomenon disturbing millions of individuals worldwide. The causes of these debilitating disorders remain unclear; numerous investigations have revealed that chronic tinnitus is associated with increased activity in primary auditory cortex (PAC).
Posted @ 6:16 AM
January 7, 2006
Whistling ears? Just hear it go!
Do your ears whistle, ring and buzz? Don’t bother. Just listen and laugh that it can be cured! Yes, tinnitus can be cured, says Dr Prakash Kumar, India’s only doctor treating this problem.
Posted @ 7:50 PM
December 20, 2005
Buzzing in the ears signals another problem
For months, I have had constant buzzing in my ears. My doctor told me that I suffer from tinnitus and that I need to see a specialist. How did I develop this problem?
Posted @ 10:12 AM
December 19, 2005
As a matter of wax, it's good
Why do we get wax in our ears? asks Mel Kutzin, via e-mail. Suffering from a little waxy build-up? The bane of coffee tables may actually be a good thing, when it comes to ears.
Posted @ 8:44 AM
December 14, 2005
Clubbers urged to protect hearing
The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) fears changes to licensing laws will mean party-goers over the festive period will be exposed to loud music for longer periods of time and are in danger of causing permanent damage to their hearing.
Posted @ 8:07 AM
December 6, 2005
Woman hopes for sound of silence
Lynn Steinman has a new scar on her collarbone, another behind her ear, but a tentative smile on her face. The scars are a small price to pay, she says, for the chance to rid herself of the ringing in her ears that has plagued her life for more than a decade.
Posted @ 11:40 AM
November 24, 2005
Diet probably not the cause of tinnitus
Dear Dr. Blonz: Please tell me if anything related to diet can cause a ringing in my right ear. It is a low, steady ring that is more noticeable at night when everything is quiet. I don’t work around loud noises, nor have I worn ear buds blaring with loud music.
Posted @ 3:55 PM
November 12, 2005
Dealing with dizziness
Dear Annie: "Dizzy in New York," who suffers vertigo and ringing in the ears after eating citrus foods, may have migraine-associated vertigo and tinnitus. Such patients often have a history of headaches (which they may mistake as "sinus headaches"), but many have only inner ear symptoms.
Posted @ 2:31 PM
November 10, 2005
For some, ear ringing can't be silenced
At least since he was 4 or 5 years old, Chris Dibkey has heard the muted ringing of bells in his ears. Even his mother said, "Oh, that's normal" when he first complained of the toneless Muzak no one else could hear.
Posted @ 3:25 PM
Gulf War veteran to offer customized tinnitus care in Arizona
Spectral Visualization and Development (SVD) Inc. announces that Edward Maznio, of ABBOTT Hearing Centers has joined the growing network of professionals offering tinnitus services using Quiescence, a diagnostic and treatment tool.
Posted @ 3:23 PM
October 17, 2005
Ringing in the ears called growing peril
Let your ears tell the tale. That ringing may signal lifelong trouble. So here's a message, loud and clear. Turn down that iPod! Audiologists are hearing more and more about ringing in the ears, and ringing is a telltale sign of future chronic tinnitus.
Posted @ 3:58 PM
September 29, 2005
Treatment breakthrough for tinnitus sufferers now available in Montreal
Spectral Visualization and Development (SVD) Inc is excited to announce that Dr. Daniel Sommer, a Montreal psychologist, has joined the growing network of professionals offering tinnitus services using Quiescence. Healthcare professionals have been using Quiescence to provide customized tinnitus solutions worldwide since 2000.
Posted @ 2:18 AM
September 26, 2005
Drug helps alcoholism and tinnitus
Acamprosate (Campral), a drug approved by the FDA to treat alcohol dependence, is a good substitute to therapeutic arsenal for treating tinnitus, according to a recent study.
Posted @ 8:37 AM
September 23, 2005
Ringing in the ear may respond to alcoholism drug
A drug used to treat alcoholism can help people with tinnitus, the "ringing in the ears" that can make life miserable, Brazilian researchers report.
Posted @ 5:34 PM
Hearing loss, tinnitus focus of conference
An international symposium focusing on major developments in research, treatment and prevention of acquired hearing loss and tinnitus cohosted by the Center for Hearing and Deafness at UB and the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command will be held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Oct. 9-12.
Posted @ 5:28 PM
September 13, 2005
Tinnitus sufferers 'feel let down' by NHS treatment
Thousands of tinnitus sufferers in Scotland are being badly let down by the NHS, according to new research.
Posted @ 2:35 AM
August 19, 2005
Ringing in your ears, why your iPod could drive you mad
These days anyone who’s into music carries an iPod or another brand of MP3 player, such as the Creative Labs Zen MP3. They give music lovers the opportunity to carry their entire CD collection in their pocket.
Posted @ 10:00 AM
August 17, 2005
Cure for tinnitus?
Dear Dr. Donohue: I would like to see something in your column about tinnitus. Is there a cure for it? I know people who have it and are not able to work because of it. -- E.C.
Posted @ 11:58 AM
August 9, 2005
Inner noise usually can be calmed
Q: I know people who have tinnitus and are not able to work because of it. Is there a cure for it?
Posted @ 3:33 PM
August 1, 2005
Terror in your ear
At age 35, James was diagnosed of having diabetes. His doctor told him what to do and he followed them. Lately, however, he observed something is wrong with him again. Every time, he fell asleep in his favorite chair, he woke up suddenly with a horrible ringing in his ears that almost makes him deaf.
Posted @ 8:35 AM
July 25, 2005
'iPods could make you hallucinate'
Listening to an iPod could leave you with psychological problems, an expert warns. He says exposure to music is causing more cases of musical hallucination, where a song "plays" constantly in the head.
Posted @ 12:46 PM
Quinine can cause tinnitus
I have just developed a hissing sound in my ears. The onset was very rapid. The doctor diagnosed it as tinnitus, but would give me no reason for the problem. He said there wasn't anything I could do. I've noticed that some days it is less disturbing than others, but some nights it awakens me because it has become so loud.
Posted @ 12:44 PM
July 21, 2005
Kids' ear candles are a real talking point
An alternative therapies clinic has expanded its programme after so many parents wanted their children to benefit.
Posted @ 12:59 AM
June 20, 2005
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy & Tinnitus
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy can treat tinnitus, as clinical psychologists Danuta Orlowska and David Scott explain.
Posted @ 11:04 AM
June 7, 2005
What causes ringing in the ears and is it serious?
A "ringing" or a "buzzing" in the ear is called tinnitus. And according to Dr. Craig Shapiro, an otolaryngologist and reconstructive surgeon at Memorial Healthcare System, in most cases it does not suggest a serious illness.
Posted @ 4:11 AM
June 2, 2005
Tinnitus - more than just background noise
Tinnitus is the name for the perception of sound in one or both ears when no source of sound is present.
Posted @ 3:42 PM
May 31, 2005
Quieting the noise
Many people with tinnitus hear the classic ringing in the ears. For Jennifer Snell, it's more like a maddening cacophony of some of the world's most irritating noises.
Posted @ 2:19 AM
May 25, 2005
Ringing in your years?
If you have a ringing in your ears that won't quit, you have a condition known as tinnitus.
Posted @ 12:26 PM
May 17, 2005
Sounds with no source may be sign of tinnitus
John Fite hears noises in his head. No, not voices - noises. There's a difference. Hearing voices is indicative of mental instability. Hearing noises, on the other hand, is called tinnitus, and can be debilitating in a very different way.
Posted @ 9:50 AM
April 29, 2005
When you're dizzy and your ears ring
Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that's among the most common causes of dizziness.
Posted @ 11:15 AM
April 21, 2005
Are there any new treatments for tinnitus?
From rock concerts to fireworks on the Fourth of July, exposure to loud noise can raise your risk of a common hearing disorder. A viewer wants to know whether there are any new treatments for this disease that affects more than 50 million Americans.
Posted @ 6:32 AM
April 19, 2005
Ringing in the ears
Every year, several readers write to complain that they have the same problem as Beethoven had: "My ears whistle and buzz constantly day and night. I am leading a wretched life."
Posted @ 4:13 PM
April 8, 2005
Health Tip: Ringing in the ears
Many people experience tinnitus (ringing in the ears) temporarily or intermittently, but some suffer from it all the time.
Posted @ 1:57 AM
March 28, 2005
Tinnitus - causes and symptoms
Tinnitus is a constant high pitched ringing or buzzing in the ears. Tinnitus can also sound like other sounds, such as a roaring, a hissing or a buzzing.
Posted @ 12:48 PM
March 22, 2005
Tinnitus affects 4.7M people, survey shows
Some 4.7 million people in the UK suffer from the buzzing, ringing or whistling noises heard by people with tinnitus, a survey revealed today.
Posted @ 4:22 PM
Twice as many suffer tinnitus
Almost twice as many people in Wales have the head noise complaint tinnitus than across the UK as a whole, research has found.
Posted @ 7:40 AM
March 16, 2005
RNID offers help for tinnitus sufferers
Sufferers of tinnitus in the North West can attend a free event in Londonderry next week.
Posted @ 8:59 AM
March 15, 2005
Tinnitus may lead to stress for sufferers
Q. What is the cause of tinnitus? Is there any treatment for it?
Posted @ 7:03 PM
February 28, 2005
Plugs for long hearing
Regular exposure to loud music can result in permanent hearing damage.
Posted @ 7:31 AM
February 23, 2005
New study offers hope for tinnitus sufferers
A new study undertaken at the School of Human Communications Disorders at Dalhousie University used a new software product called Quiescence to prove that a form of tinnitus treatment called residual inhibition is an effective means for offering relief to sufferers of this mostly incurable condition. The study results were greeted with optimism by leading tinnitus researchers, including leading tinnitus researcher Dr. Jack Vernon of the Oregon Health & Science University.
Posted @ 12:10 AM
February 21, 2005
Therapy at UMC treats 'ringing in the ears'
Tucsonan Jo Ann Ripley hears a buzzing in her head all day long that she describes as "a 90-decibel chain saw."
Posted @ 2:57 AM
February 18, 2005
Siren joke backfires on police
A NSW police division has been convicted of safety breaches after a practical joke with a police siren at a Waratah workshop, on the state's central coast, left an employee with permanent deafness in one ear.
Posted @ 12:22 AM
February 12, 2005
Tinnitus: Noise in the absence of sound
The cause of tinnitus is not certain. Exposure to loud noises can damage the delicate hair cells in the inner ear and lead to hearing loss. Sometimes that hearing loss is associated with a "ringing" sound in the ears. Wax build-up in the ear canal can also obstruct hearing and cause tinnitus.
Posted @ 3:00 AM
February 10, 2005
Tinnitus treatment
Long-time drummer Greg Sullivan has significant hearing loss. To make matters worse, he's one of 50 million Americans with tinnitus, "My tinnitus is ringing in the ears. I have it in both ears. It's louder in the left ear than it is in the right ear."
Posted @ 2:23 PM
February 9, 2005
Hearing relief for industrial workers
Relief from tinnitus – a condition which severely affects 1 in 50 Australians, and potentially many in the manufacturing, mining and construction industries – is now available by way of a clinically proven treatment that helps manage the condition.
Posted @ 12:13 AM
February 5, 2005
Tinnitus prevented with earplugs
In Norway where rock concerts are popular among the young people, 100,000 earplugs are to be distributed by the Norwegian Rock 'n' Roll Federation to prevent Tinnitus.
Posted @ 10:51 AM
January 27, 2005
Tinnitus treated with cannabis cookies
According to Patricia Tabram, a 66-year-old grandmother from Northumberland, she uses cannabis in her baked goods to guard against tinnitus as well as pains caused by a car crash.
Posted @ 3:31 PM
January 20, 2005
Tinnitus study at University of Iowa
Researchers in the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine are investigating the effectiveness of treatments for tinnitus, commonly referred to as ringing in the ears.
Posted @ 5:05 AM