To evaluate tinnitus, health care professionals will take a detailed medical history, followed by a physical examination, along with special tests to help narrow down what is causing the tinnitus. Health care professionals will want to know if the condition is constant or if it comes and goes. They will want to know if the condition is associated with any hearing loss or with any loss of balance. All of this information is needed in order to determine the cause of the problem.

In some severe cases, specialty tests such as auditory brain stem response (ABR), CT scans, MRI, or other types of advanced testing may be necessary. These tests are not given to everyone, so do not let the mention of them here frighten you off from being evaluated. The above tests are used to determine if tumors or nerve damage is the underlying cause of the tinnitus.

Once the underlying cause is known, treatment can begin. Treatment options for tinnitus vary from case to case. In many cases, no special treatment is needed at all. Tinnitus often goes away on its own without any treatment. This is often the case when someone experiences tinnitus after attending loud gatherings such as concerts or being exposed to loud noise such as a gunshot. It should also be noted that no treatment is given for those who have permanent tinnitus as there is no treatment for this type of hearing loss and tinnitus.

For some other individuals, using the drug gabapentin may help reduce the intensity of tinnitus. Brand names for this drug include Neurontin and Gabarone. These drugs were shown to reduce the level of annoyance, but not the actual noise level.

There are other treatment remedies for tinnitus as well and these may be as effective, if not more, than medications. Many studies suggest that decreasing caffeine and salt can help relieve the symptoms of tinnitus. Smoking is also known to increase the symptoms, quitting or slowing down on nicotine intake may also help reduce symptoms.

Some individuals have found relief by taking zinc supplements. Melatonin has been shown to help those with tinnitus, especially those who have trouble sleeping. Gingo Bilboa, on the other hand, has not been shown to be effective as tinnitus remedy.

For some individuals, relief from tinnitus can be achieved simply by having their ears cleaned as excessive build up of ear wax is known to cause tinnitus. Other people may find relief from over-the-counter treatments. If simple treatment options do not work for you, consider visiting a health care professional who can help determine the root cause of the tinnitus and advise you as to what treatment options will work best for you. Learn more now.

Dr. James Gall is a tinnitus specialist who has been helping people overcome the ringing in their ears since 1975. Over the last 35 years he’s helped over 100,000 tinnitus suffers determine the causes of their tinnitus and find the right tinnitus treatment for them. Learn more

The post Treatment for Tinnitus appeared first on General Article Directory.

When discussing the symptoms of tinnitus it is important to understand that the commonly referred to “ringing” in the ears is not always a symptom. In other words, some individuals may have tinnitus but rather than hearing the ringing noise they hear something else. This variance often causes confusion since most people believe that only “ringing” signifies true tinnitus. That is simply not the case.

Some of the other noises that people hear can include any of the following:

Humming sounds
Buzzing noise
Cracking or Sizzling sounds
Sound of running water that can vary in intensity
Repeating tones that are musical in nature
Intermittent whooshing sounds
Dull, heavy sounds

Less Common Tinnitus Symptoms

Dizziness or vertigo
Nausea
Loss of balance
Loss of hearing

Some individuals may also experience ghost sound. These are sounds that the person hears such as whistling or humming that no one else in the area can hear. These individuals may hear the noise in one ear or both. This condition, of course, can be very annoying to those who suffer from it.

It is also important to understand that many individuals who suffer from tinnitus only experience their symptoms at certain times. In other words, the noise is not constant. It may come and go and for no apparent reason. Also, the intensity level of the noise can vary from person to person. For some, the intensity is very loud, so much so that it causes them to be distracted or may even be loud enough to drown out other sounds that they should hear, such as people talking to them. Other individuals may only experience low intensity levels of noise.

What may surprise some people is that often the more quiet the person’s surroundings, the louder the tinnitus may become inside their heads. One would think the opposite would be true, but it has been shown that quiet surroundings can actually intensify the level of tinnitus the person may experience. Many health care professionals will actually use this as a symptom of tinnitus, meaning they will quiz the person as to what they hear (or do not hear) when they are in a quiet, still environment. Tinnitus can also affect professional level hearing tests that are conducted in sound-proof rooms as these surroundings are incredibly quiet. But as the level of tinnitus increases, the responses to the hearing test often decrease!

If you believe you are suffering from tinnitus, consult a health care professional who can diagnosis the ailment. There are many treatments available today, many of which are very affordable and easy to use. You do not have to live with tinnitus in most cases if you seek professional help. Learn more now.

Dr. James Gall is a tinnitus specialist who has been helping people overcome the ringing in their ears since 1975. Over the last 35 years he’s helped over 100,000 tinnitus suffers determine the causes of their tinnitus and find the right tinnitus treatment for them. Learn more

The post The Symptoms of Tinnitus appeared first on General Article Directory.

In simple terms, tinnitus is the sensation of hearing noise, often classified as a ringing, when there is no noise actually present. Some of the sounds that those hear, in addition to ringing, include a whistling sound, humming, or a dull sort of thrum. In all cases, there is no actual external cause or source of the noise. For some individuals, the sound may be constant and for others it may be intermittent, coming and going for no apparent reason.

Within the ear itself, the part that is associated with sound is called the cochlea. This is a complex organ made up of sensory hairs, internal fluid and nerve receptors, all of which can easily be damaged, thus causing a wide variety of symptoms. When the cochlea is damaged the brain receives improper input signals that create interference that forms sound feedback which we know as tinnitus.

As mentioned above, there are external causes for tinnitus, which are commonly referred to as environmental causes. It has been estimated that about one-half of tinnitus cases are caused by environmental issues. Some of the more common environment issues include:

For many individuals, where they work can cause tinnitus. Loud power tools and other types of loud equipment can cause temporary bouts of tinnitus. Attending a loud concert can do the same. If the exposure last long enough or is routine, the damage can become permanent.

Studies suggest that smoking can also lead to tinnitus. Nicotine has been shown to be an irritant that can bring on bouts of tinnitus.

Certain types of drugs and medications are also known to bring on tinnitus. The list is long and includes drugs as popular as aspirin. Some types of antibiotics and other prescription drugs are also known to cause tinnitus. Of these, quinine and chloroquine are two common drugs that cause tinnitus. Also, some diuretics and cancer medications can also cause tinnitus.

There are also some physical causes of tinnitus. Some of the most common include:

Changes that occur in the bones of the middle ear.

Ear wax that has built up.

Aging.
Illness, diseases, and certain types of injuries.

The good news is there are remedies for tinnitus that range from over the counter treatments to treatments performed by professional care givers. If you suffer from tinnitus, consult with a professional. They may have the solution that you need. You do not have to live with that ringing in your ears. You can Learn more if you take action to treat it now.

Dr. James Gall is a tinnitus specialist who has been helping people overcome the ringing in their ears since 1975. Over the last 35 years he’s helped over 100,000 tinnitus suffers determine the causes of their tinnitus and find the right tinnitus treatment for them. Learn more

The post What Causes Tinnitus appeared first on General Article Directory.