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Tinnitus: Basic Information

Tinnitus is a disorder that affects millions of individuals all around the world. Commonly people suffering from tinnitus, also known as ringing ears, find it hard to concentrate and lead a normal life. The reason for this is that in some cases the ringing of the ears is so loud that people suffering from tinnitus often develop some sort of sleeping disturbance, most commonly insomnia. In some cases tinnitus can be cured naturally without the need of any specific treatment, but for others treatment is the only way of ever curing it.


Nowadays there are many effective treatments available that are successful for certain cases, but may not work for others, it all depends on the nature of the tinnitus. Shown below is a list of some of the more commonly used tinnitus treatments used. Tinnitus retraining therapy

Tinnitus retraining therapy(TRT) is a treatment commonly known as, habituation therapy, whereby a patient uses a combination of tinnitus retraining and sound enrichment techniques to reduce the perception of the noises caused by the tinnitus. This method might take some time to master but because there is no official 100 percent effective way of treating tinnitus, many patients are whiling to give this method a try.

Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is different approach to tinnitus treatment. Basically what’s pretended is a change in the way the patients reacts to the tinnitus rather than trying to cure it.
The therapy requires that the patient together with the doctor indentify the negative impact of tinnitus.

Masking
Masking is a method utilized not to cure tinnitus but rather control its effects. A devise commonly resembling a hearing aid, that is designed to produce low-level sound, is introduced into the ear to eliminate the perception of noise.

Hearing Aids
Some patients with severe tinnitus may in some cases benefit from the use of a hearing aid. By using such a device, the sounds of speech are brought above background tinnitus noise, making it easier for the person to hear other people. Hearing aids could also be used as a means of introducing white noise for blocking chronic tinnitus when sleeping.

Medicines and vitamins
There are some vitamins and a wide range of medicines that can help cure tinnitus. Some of Vitamins include Niacin, Lecithin, Zinc and Magnesium. Medicines that could prove effective include Anti-Depressants, Tranquilizers, and Muscle Relaxants, Alprazolam (Xanax), Klonopin, Anti-Convulsants, Intravenous Lidocaine and Anti-Histamine. Before starting a treatment using any sort of pharmaceutical drugs it is always imperative that a specialized doctor be consulted first.

Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a therapy utilized to teach patients how to relax their muscles and automatic body functions. The main idea is to help people manage stress, which can worsen tinnitus, by changing the way the body responds to it. People using this method have reported that this method if done correctly can drastically decrease tinnitus noise.

Many other forms of treatment are available but because tinnitus can radically vary from person to person only an otolaryngologists can help decide which solution is best suited for each case.
 

Tinnitus dangers for the IPod generation

The walkman and portable CD players are yesterday’s news, the iPod generation has officially taken over. These new hip portable music players, commonly known has MP3 players, have taken the world by storm not only by changing the way people perceive their music but also in the way they hear it. With the popularization of the MP3 player, people started listening to music on the go, whilst driving, working, eating, walking, exercising, satisfying their music desires all day long, anywhere and everywhere.

The problem resides in the fact that today’s youth spend hours every day listening to loud music on their MP3 players, frequently without any intervals for long periods of time. But the question we should be asking ourselves is, can these very trendy MP3 players cause earring damage and tinnitus? Pete Townshend, guitarist for the very popular 60’s rock band “The Who” believes that his tinnitus and consequent hearing loss wasn’t a direct result of their incredibly loud live performances but rather from using headphones while in the recording studio. Although the band was notoriously known for their excessively loud concerts, Pete Townshend explained that what really hurt his earring were the many hours he spent in recording studios and from listening to tracks for recreational purposes all through headphones.

Many believe that digital MP3 players introduced even a greater risk of tinnitus because they are more powerful and can hold substantially larger quantities of music. The old cassette walkmans and portable CD players (Discman) where quite large when compared with a MP3 player and because they required Cassettes or CD to play music, users never used them for very long periods of time without intervals. Even the most modest MP3 player can hold hundreds of songs and because these gadgets have a powerful rechargeable battery users can listen to music non stop for hours on end.

Many Specialists have repeatedly warned MP3 users that listening to very loud music with earphones could cause catastrophic and irreversible hearing damage. Furthermore, prolonged use, even if at reasonable moderate volume, could also represent a threat because today’s modern earphones are normally introduced directly into the ear. The concern is so serious that experts have even gone has far as saying that MP3 players should be designed to prevent users from playing music above 90 decibels.

If you are a MP3 user there are a few things you could do to limit your risks of contracting tinnitus. First, always play your music at a moderate volume, remember that it doesn’t take much to damage your hearing. Even occasional users are at risk if music is played too loud. Do not use a MP3 for very long periods of time, according to experts these devices should never be used for longer than one hour per day.

Last of all, if you are a regular MP3 user and think you might have suffered some hearing loss or damage, stop using any type of earphones or listening to loud music and visit a Hearing Specialist.

How to live with tinnitus


It is not true that there is no treatment for tinnitus. Occasionally, the cause of tinnitus can be treated.
For instance, if the noise in the ears is caused by a middle ear infection, antibiotics may solve the problem.
Here is some simple advice which can help the patient cope with the constant noise of tinnitus:
  • Learn to relax. Relaxation techniques can be of great benefit.
  • Try to keep your mind occupied with work or hobbies.
  • Try not to think of your tinnitus.
  • Lower the intake of caffeine - so do not drink too much coffee, tea or cola.
  • Maintain a good sleeping pattern - do not sleep during the day.
  • Be aware of noise levels.

Reiki - A possible treatment for Tinnitus?

Reiki an alternative therapy is excellent for any condition, but is particularly suitable for tinnitus and it's causes. Reiki is the 'Universal Life-force Energy' and is increasingly becoming accepted as complementary to both conventional medicine and to other alternative therapies. Working with a trained healer, this energy can work directly on your mental blocks. During my own first treatment, I felt a 'chili bean' in my brain - a very small area of intense energy: my mental block literally being zapped away by the Reiki energy. The following day at work, issues that would have got me annoyed had no effect whatever! You can learn the basics of Reiki treatment in a weekend course and treat yourself.