Tinnitus relief can be obtained by utilizing Emotional Freedom Techniques (a.k.a. EFT). Some people find that stress aggravates their tinnitus symptoms. Therefore, alleviating stress by performing EFT will help clear up the tinnitus as well.
Acupuncturists have outlined energy pathways of the body, known as meridians. EFT requires a person to tap each one of ten points along these meridians. In addition to tapping, the person recites specific statements related to his emotions responsible for creating the stress.
Gary Craig founded the EFT method. When he was only 13 years old, he realized that his thoughts had a tremendous impact on the quality of his life. He concluded that the source of all negative emotions is a breakdown in the energy system, and then developed the EFT method based on this belief. The energy system referenced consists of the energy meridians used by acupuncturists. A single disturbance in one energy meridian allows feelings of hurt, shame and anxiety to develop. These negative emotions all contribute to stress, which can exacerbate a person’s tinnitus symptoms.
Through Emotional Freedom Techniques, a person is able to heal themselves, by clearing their minds of negative feelings, and thus help relieve the various noises of tinnitus.
This is how it works: You think about a negative memory or feeling. As you think about it, you formulate a statement relating to this. An example of a statement would be, “I am upset that my wife left me.” Then, you measure the strength of this memory or feeling based on a scale of 0 to 10.
The next step is to formulate a statement of acceptance. “Even though my wife left me, I fully accept myself.”
You tap three times on all the 10 EFT points while repeating this affirmation. These points include the beginning of eyebrow, chin, collar bone, top of head, under the eye, and others.
Following this procedure, you rate the intensity of this feeling a second time. Then, you repeat all these steps until the negative emotion is completely out of your system.
Since anxiety can exacerbate the symptoms of tinnitus, it follows that people with tinnitus should find Emotional Freedom Techniques helpful in obtaining tinnitus relief.
Managing tinnitus requires understanding what it is and what causes it.
Tinnitus is the sound of ringing of the ears, when no external stimulus is present. This sound may also be heard as a whistling, buzzing, hissing or whooshing.
For some people, the sounds created by tinnitus come and go after a short period of time. For others, they are a constant annoyance. The pitch may be high or low, and it can occur in one ear or both.
A doctor may be able to hear the tinnitus in some cases, but not all. It depends on the source of the tinnitus.
Tinnitus is caused by damage to the hair-like cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear. It can also be caused by damage to cells along the auditory nerve. This nerve connects the ear to the brain. Damage to these cells may come with age or be the result of injury from loud noises.
A person with too much cholesterol in the blood may have an increased blood flow to the ear. In such a case, a person’s tinnitus would take on the rhythm of the heartbeat. This is known as pulsatile tinnitus.
Some people have problems with their bite, or TMJ, which is pain in the temporomandibular joint, or jaw. These people have a higher incidence of tinnitus. For these individuals, stress can make their tinnitus worse.
A visit to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (ENT) is advisable to determine if there is anything serious (such as an acoustic neuroma, a benign tumor that requires surgery). The ENT should also administer a hearing test to see if you have a loss of hearing that needs to be addressed.
If the ENT does not find anything wrong, he may suggest relaxation techniques that can possibly help relieve tinnitus.
Certain foods and medications can exacerbate the symptoms of tinnitus. Keeping a daily log can help you pinpoint the trigger. You should include the type of sound you hear, what you ate and what you did immediately prior, as well as any medications you took. Pay close attention to aspirin, antibiotics and antidepressants.
Following the above suggestions can help you keep your tinnitus under control.
Tinnitus is the condition when a person hears phantom noises that don’t exist. There are many causes of tinnitus. They include ear infections, medications and congenital hearing loss. However, the most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss as a result of loud noises.
How loud does a noise have to be in order to cause hearing loss and tinnitus?
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states that noises louder than 85 decibels can cause hearing damage. Furthermore, the longer a person is exposed to this noise, the more likely a person is to suffer hearing loss and tinnitus.
A single bark of a dog from four feet away is as loud as 95 decibels, louder than the
85 decibel limit recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). If your dog is closer to you than four feet away, that number could be much higher.
Two dogs together barking would be 3 decibels higher which would total 98 decibels.
The extent to which a loud noise would be dangerous is how much noise over what period of time. A person who is exposed to a barking dog for several hours may suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus.
There are two types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss is physical damage to the ear, such as broken ear bones. Surgery is the best option for this type of damage.
With regard to sensorineural hearing loss, the nerve in the inner ear is damaged. Unfortunately, the only solution is a hearing aid.
Tinnitus is yet another result of nerve damage to the ear. This is a phantom noise that a person hears even when no auditory stimulus is present.
There are two types of tinnitus: objective and subjective. The advantage of objective tinnitus is that it can be measured by an ENT. With subjective tinnitus, however, the severity is based solely on the claim made by the patient.
If you think you may have a loss of hearing, you should be checked by an audiologist. If you hear sounds inside your head, you should make a visit to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (ENT).
If you are a dog owner, and your dog barks loudly, ask your audiologist or Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (ENT) what you can do to prevent further damage to your ears.
There are different remedies that may help relieve tinnitus.
The sound of tinnitus is akin to an air conditioner in some people. The constant buzzing or humming may interfere with a person’s sleep and cause anxiety or depression. The brain may also create sounds of tinnitus that mimic other noises – such as hissing or ringing.
What should a person suffering from tinnitus do?
First, a person with tinnitus should cut down on caffeine. Caffeine restricts blood flow to the ear, which in turn causes nerve damage.
Second, cutting down on salt intake is also beneficial. Too much salt can lead to fluid retention in the inner ear.
Third, Gingko biloba extract improves circulation in the body, including the inner ear. This will help prevent further nerve damage.
Fourth, make sure you take a magnesium supplement. People who are deficient in this mineral are more susceptible to nerve damage of the inner ear.
Finally, take a vitamin B12 supplement. This vitamin is crucial for proper functioning of the maze of tubes and nerves that comprise the inner ear.
A change in diet, as mentioned above, can help relieve the annoying symptoms of tinnitus.
Many people with tinnitus have found that excessive caffeine may trigger or even aggravate their symptoms of tinnitus. Tinnitus, usually defined as a “ringing of the ears,” is when a person hears phantom noises that may sound like humming, hissing, buzzing or clicking.
Sometimes, the cause of the tinnitus may be an underlying medical condition, such as an ear infection, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders or hearing damage. Tinnitus may also be brought on by drugs, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, birth control pills, chemotherapy, and products that contain caffeine.
Products that contain caffeine include different types of colas, coffees, teas and chocolate. It is also found in seemingly innocuous medications, such as Excedrin Migraine.
Cigarettes and other tobacco-related products contain nicotine, which is similar to caffeine with regard to triggering tinnitus in certain individuals.
Someone who is experiencing tinnitus may choose to cut back on caffeinated products and medications – in addition to restricting tobacco usage – before attempting other remedies to deal with the tinnitus.
If you have cut back on all of the possible products mentioned above and your tinnitus still persists, it is recommended that you visit an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (a.k.a. ENT).
