Tinnitus can drive you crazy- unending ear ringing, hissing, buzzing or whooshing noises that just don’t stop is enough to send you to the madhouse. Tinnitus and depression often go hand in hand, especially if tinnitus symptoms keep you from getting enough sleep, performing job duties, or having a moment’s peace and quiet. In some cases, antidepressants may be the cause of tinnitus, creating a vicious circle of anxiety, sadness, and despair.
Tinnitus caused by Ototoxicity
Many factors may contribute to tinnitus symptoms, including noise-induced ear damage, chronic ear infections, Meniere’s disease, and age-related hearing loss. One of the most treatable causes of tinnitus is ototoxicity (ear poisoning) which occurs when certain chemicals cause a toxic reaction in your ears. Many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs may cause tinnitus ear ringing, including antidepressants for depression and anxiety.
Which drugs cause tinnitus?
Here are some of the most common medications that may cause ringing in the ears from tinnitus. Please do not stop taking a medication without first speaking to your doctor.
- Zoloft (Sertraline), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressants. About 1-10% of Zoloft users experience tinnitus symptoms.
- Celexa (Citalopram), also an SSRI antidepressant, causes tinnitus while weaning off the drug.
- Aminoglycoside antibiotics
- Anti-neoplastic (anti-cancer drugs)
- Loop diuretics
- Environmental chemicals like carbon monoxide, xylene, and mercury
- Lipitor (Atorvastatin), a cholesterol-reducing medication
- Zyrtec (Cetirizine), an antihistamine
- Nexium (Esomeprazole), a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used for acid reflux
- Prilosec (Omeprazole), also a proton pump inhibitor that may cause tinnitus
- Aspirin is a common cause of tinnitus ototoxicity
- Quinine
So, depression or tinnitus?
If weaning off drugs that cause tinnitus is the cure for ototoxicity, does that mean that you should stop taking Zoloft for anxiety? First, nobody considering weaning off antidepressants should attempt to do so without first consulting in a physician. It’s possible that your doctor will be able to prescribe a different antidepressant that doesn’t cause tinnitus. More importantly, you need to weigh your options.
Which notion bothers you most- the idea of suffering from ringing in the ears, possibly for the rest of your life, or having to cope with depression. If your depression causes you to contemplate suicide, then the answer should be clear. While long-term tinnitus may result in severe depression and, in rare cases, suicide attempts, the majority of tinnitus patients learn how to cope. Bottom line, if your doctor says to stay on the meds, take his advice.
Stress Less to Prevent Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
Alternative treatments for tinnitus
Given that many factors may be causing your tinnitus, it makes sense that there exist many possible cures. Some popular alternative treatments for tinnitus are becoming more mainstream, including:
- Acupuncture
- Hypnotherapy
- Natural supplements for tinnitus, such as ginkgo biloba, black cohosh, and zinc
We welcome your comments!
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Read more about tinnitus causes:
11 Signs and Symptoms of Tinnitus caused by Teeth Grinding
How Loud is Too Loud? Prevent Tinnitus Now
Thrill Rides and Scuba Diving: Summertime Activities that Cause Tinnitus
Sources:
Tinnitus- the constant ear ringing is enough to drive you mad. What causes tinnitus symptoms like buzzing ears, whooshing noises, ear pain, and never-ending ringing noises in the background? Surprisingly, there are dozens of factors that contribute to tinnitus disorder- things like drug ototoxicity, loud noises, health conditions, and lifestyle habits.
Here are 21 most common causes of tinnitus:
1) Smoking: Smoking cigarettes isn’t only bad for your lungs, your heart, your throat, your pancreas…well, you get the picture. Studies prove that cigarette smoke- both inhaled and secondary- is harmful for your ears. Toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke have been linked with chronic ear infections and…you guessed it…tinnitus.
2) Your iPod: Really! Anybody who spends his leisure time with a pair of iPod earbuds stuck in his head is inadvertently giving himself ear damage. Unless you wear a ear-safe noise cancelling headphones, you are exposing your delicate eardrums to dangerously high noise decibels that will ultimately lead to ear ringing caused by tinnitus.
3) Earwax: Doctors say that earwax is a good thing, that it protects your eardrums from foreign matter. This is true. However, it is possible to have too much of a good thing, and this is certainly true in the case of earwax. Some people just naturally produce more earwax than their bodies need. Over time, as earwax builds up, you are left with a solid mass of waxy residue that clogs up your ears- biological earplugs, if you will. If you think this might be the cause of your tinnitus, then a simple trip to the pharmacist should suffice. Buy an ear-cleaning kit, and see if that helps.
4) Q-Tips: Warning- Do not, under any circumstances, insert cotton swabs into your ears! Sure, it feels good, but the damage you may cause to your ears is irreversible. Plus, it may worsen your tinnitus. The same message goes for other foreign objects like twigs, rocks, knives, pencils, fingernails, toothpicks, ear candles, cuticle cutters, and letter openers.
5) Firearms: Are you an avid hunter? Do you enjoy going to rock concerts just for the fireworks and the loud music? If so, then you are among the most likely to suffer from tinnitus. It only takes one loud explosion to cause serious trauma to your inner ear cochlea, the part of your ear responsible for transmitting and receiving sound messages. So, before you go to the shooting range to fire off a couple rounds, make sure to wear noise-blocking earplugs.
6) Occupational noise: If you work in any of the following fields, then you are regularly exposed to dangerous noise decibels that may cause tinnitus:
The army or air force- The police force
- Movie sets
- Airline pilot
- Machinist
- Welder
- Construction worker
- Fed-ex delivery
- Truck driver
- Wedding singer
- And the list goes on…
7) Anxiety: Stress is a common contributor to tinnitus, believe it or not. Many people who suffer from anxiety disorder, panic attacks, depression, or just high stress levels are prone to ear ringing caused by tinnitus.
8) Anxiety medications: Well, here’s a “Catch 22.” Anxiety causes tinnitus, and so do popular drugs for anxiety, such as Zoloft (Sertraline). This is where you get to choose which condition is the most intolerable- chronic anxiety or chronic ear ringing.
9) Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disorder that causes severe chronic pain where no sign of injury or inflammation is evident. Fibromyalgia patients also suffer from tinnitus, in addition to gastrointestinal disorders, intense fatigue, and vitamin deficiency.
10) Thyroid disorder: Scientists have noted a high occurrence of tinnitus symptoms in people who have either hypothyroidism (underproduction of thyroid hormone) or hyperthyroidism (overproduction of thyroid hormone).
11) Hypertension: High blood pressure is another common cause of tinnitus.
12) Heart disease: Tinnitus is one of the many symptoms experienced by people who suffer from cardiovascular disease.
13) Antibiotics: In addition to lowering your immunity to infectious diseases, frequent use of antibiotics may result in chronic tinnitus.
14) Diuretics: If you take diuretics on a regular basis, then you should stay on the lookout for mysterious ear ringing, buzzing, chirping, whooshing, or clicking sounds in your ears caused by tinnitus.
15) Quinine: Used for treating malaria and other illnesses, quinine may cause tinnitus ear ringing.
16) Aspirin: Excess and prolonged usage of aspirin tablets is a common cause of tinnitus.
Ear bones
17) TMJ disorder: Temporomandibular joint disorder affects the workings of your jawbones, at the point where they meet by your temples. Any defect that occurs in this area interferes with the smooth functioning of your jaws, and causes symptoms like headaches, nighttime jaw clenching, facial pain, and tinnitus ear ringing.
18) Head and neck injuries: If you have suffered any kind of trauma to your head or neck, then you might experience tinnitus symptoms.
19) Tumor: A head or neck tumor may also cause tinnitus.
20) Lyme disease: Often misdiagnosed, Lyme disease symptoms are similar to fibromyalgia. Lyme disease spread by tick bites may cause tinnitus.
21) Getting older: Sad, but true. Tinnitus is one of the many symptoms that people experience as they age. A large majority of tinnitus sufferers and hearing loss patients are senior citizens. Tinnitus is not a cause of hearing loss, but a symptom that may accompany early onset hearing loss. For some, investing in a hearing aid is a worthwhile remedy for tinnitus and hearing loss.
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We welcome your comments below!
Read more about tinnitus causes:
11 Signs and Symptoms of Tinnitus caused by Teeth Grinding
How Loud is Too Loud? Prevent Tinnitus Now
These 4 Vitamins are Tops for Treating Tinnitus
Sources:
ATA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions- American Tinnitus Association
Don’t Let Tinnitus Ear Noise keep you up
Tinnitus ear ringing makes it hard for tinnitus sufferers to concentrate and have conversation, in addition to causing sleep disturbances such as insomnia.
Tinnitus- the Hearing Disorder that Never Sleeps
People who suffer from hearing loss often have difficulty listening to music, hearing conversation at close range, making phone calls, and hearing important traffic signals. For many, relief comes in the form of a hearing aid or cochlear implant.
For tinnitus patients, the suffering can be nonstop. High-pitched, annoying ringing or buzzing sounds haunt their days, and often their nights, causing them to awaken in the middle of the night to tinnitus clicking or whooshing noises. For that reason, there is a high correlation between tinnitus and insomnia.
White Noise Sound Machines- The 5 Best Reviewed by Customers
Learn how to Fall asleep, even with Tinnitus
Insomnia caused by tinnitus can become a vicious circle of sleeplessness, unless you learn how to doze off quickly, and effortlessly.
Here are five important tips for getting your eight hours of sleep every night:
- Don’t go to asleep until you’re tired. This may seem redundant, but the key is to avoid lying around in bed and thinking about getting to sleep, thus turning your bedroom into a place associated with stress and frustration. Your bedroom should be a happy comfort zone, so don’t allow yourself to spend more than 10 or 15 minutes tossing and turning in your bed.
- Make your bed a “sleep only” zone. Some people like to watch TV in bed, or read a book, finish crossword puzzles, or check their email. This is a bad bedtime habit. Instead, read in a favorite chair stationed in a corner of your room, or retreat to the living room to watch television.
- Can’t sleep? Leave the room immediately. If after 10 minutes, you are still unable to fall asleep, then get up and go to another room. Do something relaxing, anything that usually puts you in a sleepy mood. Avoid worrying, or doing anything stressful, like paying bills or thinking of family problems. Also, avoid doing housework, or anything productive, lest you find yourself with an unwelcome midnight ritual.
- Don’t nap! For insomniacs, there is no such thing as a power nap. Even a ten-minute catnap in the middle of the day could easily turn into a 3-hour siesta that will leave you feeling groggy, headachy, and out of sorts.
- Set your alarm clock, and don’t snooze. Regardless of whether or not you slept well the night before, you should stick to a very strict sleep schedule. Wake up at the same time each morning, including weekends and holidays, and go to sleep the same time each night. Resist te urge to whack the snooze button. The first few days will be tiring, but eventually, you will be so tired at night that you won’t be able to stay awake a minute past bedtime.
Related reading:
Speaker Pillows for Tinnitus Therapy- 8 Comfy Music Pillows
14 Things to do Instead of Listening to Tinnitus Ear Ringing
Sources:
6 Easy Steps to Falling Asleep Fast
Tinnitus – insomnia and sleep problems- Better Health Channel
Learn how to Ignore Persistent Tinnitus Noise
50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus ear ringing, but only 12 million ever seek tinnitus treatment. Learn simple ways to ignore…and stop tinnitus noise.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a hearing disorder that causes you to hear “phantom” sounds that only you can hear. Sounds vary in pitch, frequency, and duration, and may fluctuate from one ear to the other. Tinnitus patients often use the following words to describe their tinnitus ear noises: ringing, whooshing, buzzing, chirping, clicking, crackling, screaming, roaring, crickets, hissing, beeping, and in rare cases, music. Free Digital Photos
What causes tinnitus?
Sometimes tinnitus results from damage to the cochlea of the inner ear; in such cases, hearing loss may 
follow. People who run a high risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss are individuals that regularly expose themselves to dangerously high noise decibels, such as explosions, loud music, construction site noise, job shop manufacturing, and engine noises. Alternatively, tinnitus may result from chronic ear infections, puncturing of the eardrum, and medications such as pain relievers and antidepressants. Free Digital Photos
7 Most Harmful Trickle-Down Effects of Noise Pollution
Is there any treatment for tinnitus?
While there is no actual cure for tinnitus, some treatments are helpful for alleviating most of the symptoms. Popular tinnitus therapies include tinnitus retraining, sleep pillows, hearing aids, and nutritional supplements. Overwhelmingly, though, most tinnitus patients eventually learn to “ignore” their tinnitus noises until they no longer notice them.
How do you ignore loud, persistent tinnitus ringing?
It’s not easy to ignore something that stays with you all day, as is the case for most people who suffer from chronic tinnitus. If tinnitus noises are interfering with your ability to relax, sleep, work, hold a conversation, or listen to music, then it’s imperative that you learn how to ignore the “elephant in the living room.” Easier said than done, but it is possible.
Here are some activities that may distract you from overwhelming tinnitus ear ringing:
- Listen to the radio, or to an environmental noise CD. Many tinnitus sufferers find relief through nature sounds such as rainfall, crickets, beach waves, and forest sounds. Read: White Noise Sound Machines- The 5 Best Reviewed by Customers
- Turn on the TV, or pop in a DVD, even if just for the background noise. For many tinnitus patients, nothing is more agonizing than (near-complete) silence.
- Turn on your computer, and surf the web for a while. Check out some helpful websites and blogs for tinnitus sufferers. Read: 40+ Best Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Sites
- Start a simple art project, such as painting, mosaics, or decoupage. Free Digital Photos
Read a good book, like a thriller, romance, or humor novel.- Exercise! Run around the block, dust off your elliptical machine, walk your dog, or do a few laps around the mall.
- Clean the house- nothing’s more soothing to a tinnitus sufferer than the steady hum of a vacuum cleaner.
- Organize your garage, or other work area. Free Digital Photos
- Take up woodworking, or sewing. The repetitive movements and background noises can be therapeutic for tinnitus patients.
Go for drive- your focus will be on the road and street sounds, not on your inner ear noises.- Do a crossword puzzle.
- Call friend on the phone- it will help for relieving stress, and break the tinnitus cycle.
- Turn on a fan; the gentle whooshing noise of a floor fan is one of the best sounds for “shushing” tinnitus ear ringing.
- Fold laundry- not only will it keep you busy, but the sound of the clothes dryer will silence annoying tinnitus ringing. Free Digital Photos
Sources:
Related reading:
Speaker Pillows for Tinnitus Therapy- 8 Comfy Music Pillows
Tinnitus Symptoms Making you Turn to Sleeping Pills? Read about Side Effects of Sleep Drugs
These 4 Vitamins are Tops for Treating Tinnitus
Fall Asleep Quickly; Sleep Well the Whole Night…Finally
If tinnitus ringing in the ears is keeping you up nights, then you might benefit from white noise. Environmental music “shushes” the buzzing in your ears, allowing you to sleep peacefully. Speaker pillows are a popular sleeping aid for tinnitus sufferers; just plug in your MP3 device, such as an iPod, and choose your favorite relaxation sounds for tinnitus therapy.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: the Sounds of Silence
Below are 8 effective, moderately priced music MP3 pillows that are available online:
1- SoftSpeaker Pillow Speaker, $19.95
By C. Crane, the SoftSpeaker Pillow Speaker is a tiny music speaker, about the size of your hand. Place it on top of your pillow, or underneath. The soft, plush pillowcase protects the speaker system, while providing you ultimate comfort. The SoftSpeaker comes with a one-year warranty.
The original Sound Pillow features two small removable speakers, concealed within a twin-sized hypoallergenic fiberfill, poly-cotton shell pillow. Plug the attached cable into an iPod, MP3 device, iPhone, CD player, sleep machine, or laptop, for convenient tinnitus treatment. Let one of their relaxation CD’s soothe you into a refreshing slumber. SoundPillow.com
Tinnitus Ear Ringing Keeping you up nights? Sleep it off with Melatonin
3- Sound Oasis Sleep Therapy Pillow, $49.99
Designed to accompany the Sound Oasis Sound Therapy Systems, the Sleep Therapy Pillow is also compatible with all MP3 devices, CD players, and television sets.
10 Ways to Mask Tinnitus inside your Home Without Hearing Aids
4- Boombox Speaker Cushion, $19.99
This novelty pillow is a great gift for a young tinnitus sufferer. Increasingly, teenagers and young adults are falling into the ranks of tinnitus patients, due to dangerously loud music, iPod in-ear headphones, and excessive Bluetooth use. Prop this boombox-shaped pillow by your bedside, attach iPod, and say goodbye to tinnitus whooshing sounds. ThinkGeek.com
5- Sleep Tunes Music Pillow, $59.99
The Sleep Tunes Music Pillow from Sharper Image features a comfortable memory-foam cushion. Sink into your pillow each night while listening to one of Sleep Tunes’ relaxing nature tracks, or choose from your own tinnitus environmental sounds playlist. The Sleep Tunes Music Pillow can be set to turn off after thirty or sixty minutes.
Trouble Sleeping? Redesign your Sleeping Space with Feng Shui
6- Memory Foam MP3 Neck Pillow, $19.93
If tinnitus noises bother you throughout the day, then you’ll appreciate this MP3 neck pillow, featuring soft, squishy memory foam. Take it with you to the office, on the road (passenger only), or on the plane for effective tinnitus therapy.
7- Ellery Sound Asleep Comfort Pillow, $31.64
The Ellery Sound Asleep Comfort Pillow has a 100% cotton cover and hypoallergenic polyester fiberfill, for nighttime comfort. This MP3 pillow can also accommodate your smartphone, iPod, radio, and TV.
8- NECKii Pod Travel and Leisure Neck Pillow with Speakers, $24.99
This ergonomically designed travel pillow is compact enough to slip into your purse or carry-on bag, or to clip onto your beach tote. The Neckii Pod Travel and Leisure Neck Pillow features a retractable universal MP3 connector. Measures 10″ L x 4″ W, and the cotton-spandex removable cover is washable. Bed, Bath and Beyond
Related reading:
Tinnitus Symptoms Making you Turn to Sleeping Pills? Read about Side Effects of Sleep Drugs
Stop that Ringing in your Ears: Get Tinnitus Treatment Now
Five Amplified Telephones with Rave Reviews
If you suffer from tinnitus or hearing loss, then you know how aggravating it can be to try to have a phone conversation. Tinnitus symptoms like constant ear ringing, buzzing, or whooshing can make it almost impossible to hear what the other person is saying. And if you suffer from hearing loss, then your chances of even hearing the phone ring are poor, let alone deciphering the caller’s message.
What is an amplified telephone?
What you need is a special telephone for the hearing-impaired. Amplified telephones are available in all stores that sell electronics, including Amazon.com‘s online store. Hearing-impaired features may include:
- Amplified handset audio
- Adjustable volume
- Hearing-aid compatibility
- Visual ringer
- Speakerphone
- Ringer controls
- Hands-free technology
- Crystal-clear reception
- Large, over-sized buttons and handset
- Caller ID
Tips on choosing the best phone for your needs
The best way to decide which phone to buy is to determine which features you need. If arthritis is a factor, then a desktop phone with jumbo push buttons like the Clarity Photo Phone is a good option. If you want to combine sound quality with hands-free convenience, you might prefer the Plantronics telephone, which comes with a headset that you can wear over the head or over the ear.
Here are the top 5 bestselling and highest rated phones for the hearing-impaired, as listed on Amazon.com:
1) Uniden Big Button Cordless Phone
This is the number-one highest rated amplified phone listed on Amazon, and for good reason. It brags an audio boost of up to 20dB with adjustable audio tones. Every time you receive a call, this phone lights up, flashes, and trills extra loud. You won’t ever miss a call, and the buttons are large and easy to press. Available with digital answering system. $43.81
2) Plantronics S12 Corded Telephone Headset System
Plantronics is the leader of sleek, innovative audio electronics, and their telephone system for the hearing-impaired doesn’t disappoint. It features a comfortable, noise-cancelling headphone, do-not-disturb indicator light, excellent sound quality, and volume control. $69.99.
3) Uniden Big Button Desktop Corded Phone
For those who prefer a more grounded corded phone, the Uniden Big Button model with speakerphone is the best choice. Nothing fancy here, just good quality, including large button display, 60-number Caller ID, 10 phone book options, and 3 one-touch buttons.
4) Panasonic Corded Speakerphone
Panasonic quality in an amplified desktop phone: the corded model has a speakerphone with 8-level volume adjustments, ringer volume with 3 settings, handset audio with 4 settings, redial, and call waiting buttons.
5) Clarity Amplified Photo Phone
This is the Rolls-Royce of phones for the hard of hearing. The Clarity Amplified Photo Phone has all the features you want, and more: it’s hearing-aid compatible, easy to use, and has the potential to deliver audio up to 10 times louder than common telephones. The photo 1-touch buttons are its unique feature; paste a picture of your son, sister, caretaker, or good friend on one of the nine available speed-dial buttons; for now on, you can call them with just one tap of the finger.
Also read:
40+ Best Tinnitus and Hearing Loss Sites
Top 5 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Websites, Blogs and Forums for Tinnitus Sufferers and the Hearing-Impaired
Tinnitus ringing in the ears can drive anybody mad. Constant buzzing, shrieking, whooshing, or siren noises that nobody else can hear make it difficult to focus, relax, enjoy music, hear others or get any sleep at night. Tinnitus and hearing loss are both hearing disorders that often come as a pair, but not exclusively. Tinnitus symptoms may vary in frequency, pitch, volume and duration. Tinnitus sufferers experience symptoms in either one ear or both ears at the same time.
Tinnitus causes are:
- Age-related hearing loss
- Gradual inner ear damage caused by loud noises
- Chronic ear infections
- Drug interactions
- Meniere’s disease
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
This Tinnitus Awareness Week, Learn how to Cope with Tinnitus Symptoms
Below is a handy set of links to over 40 websites and blogs to help patients of tinnitus or hearing loss. They provide useful tips, resources, forums, support groups, and hearing-related product information. (* The starred titles are “Must See” favorites.)
Forums:
*Daily Strength Tinnitus Support Group Over 114 pages of forum topics related to tinnitus. Daily Strength is a wonderful resource for all health-related information.
Naked Scientists Discussion Forum Don’t be put off by the title. This forum is one of many interesting and unique science topics covered on this site.
Blogs:
The Healing Music Organization Read about “phantom” tinnitus noises.
Hearing Exchange This blog by Paula Rosenthal is no longer updated, but it has lots of great blog posts and links that are aimed at helping young adults with hearing loss. Worth the look.
I Love Ellie Sweet blog written by the mom of a hearing-impaired girl.
Linda’s Helps for the Hard of Hearing Tips about dealing with cochlear implants from a patient’s perspective.
*Lipreading Mom Shanna Groves manages this inspiring blog about deaf motherhood, hearing aids, and deaf rights.
*SayWhatClub More than a blog, it’s really a global forum for the hearing impaired, chock-full of blog articles, resources and links.
Associations:
Action on Hearing Loss (UK) Lots of helpful tools for British citizens who suffer from hearing loss.
*American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) ASHA is an organization that focuses on raising awareness of communication rights for the hearing impaired.
**American Tinnitus Association (ATA) The American Tinnitus Association just celebrated their 40th anniversary, and for good reason. They are the leading resource on the web for tinnitus information, services and medical support.
Australian Tinnitus Association
*British Tinnitus Association Excellence resource for tinnitus sufferers who require services in the UK.
Collaborative for Communication Access via Captioning
Euro Tinnitus Association (English site)
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) The HLAA is a website devoted to helping the hearing-impaired find support.
International Federation of Hard of Hearing People (IFHOH)
Tinnitus Association of Canada
Helpful Sites:
ABILITY Jobs Ability aids disabled individuals in finding employment.
Acoustic Simulations Listen to a simulation of music through cochlear implants, in addition to other samples.
*Captionfish Locate movie theaters and blockbusters in your area that provide captioning for the hearing-impaired.
Handspeak Informative site for individuals wishing to learn American sign language.
*Hear It Hear-it has a wide selection of newsworthy articles related to tinnitus and hearing loss.
Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.)
*Listen Up Excellent landing base for hearing loss information, including hundreds of links, articles and resources.
Medline Plus Interactive Health Tutorial on Tinnitus The National Library of Medicine site features this virtual lesson on tinnitus.
Microsoft Guide for Individuals with Hearing Impairments Learn how to access hearing-impaired functional tools from Windows 7, Windows Vista, Internet Explorer 8, and Microsoft Office 10.
New York Times Health Guide: Tinnitus
Useful Services, Products and Gear:
Ability Hub Ability hub displays assistive technology devices for the disabled.
Cochlear Cochlear is the world leader in advanced hearing solutions website, including nucleus cochlear implants and the BAHA system.
*Dogs for the Deaf “Dogs for the Deaf” rescues dogs from animal shelters and trains them to aid deaf and autistic individuals.
Healthy Hearing Healthy Hearing is an inclusive site for information about buying hearing aids for tinnitus or hearing loss.
Hearing Pocket Hearing Pockets are comfortable alternatives to traditional cochlear implant harnessing for children. The 100% cotton shirts and onesies have a convenient pouch for storing cochlear implant devices.
Kidlfyx Kreations Creator of custom designed accessories for bone anchored hearing aids (BAHAs), including a sporty baseball cap and sweet headband. They also have a cute selection of earbud covers.
SleepPhones SleepPhones are soft headphones that are comfortable enough to wear to sleep and plug into any mp3 device. Excellent for accessing white noise tinnitus therapy, the fleece headbands are nonirritating and double as a sleeping mask.
Sound Oasis White noise is an effective therapy for hushing the annoying symptoms of tinnitus. Sound Oasis sells a variety of therapy systems for utilizing environmental background noise in curing tinnitus. White Noise Sound Machines- The 5 Best Reviewed by Customers
Tinnitus: Questions and Answers, Jack A. Vernon (Amazon Books) Frequently asked questions about tinnitus written by the author of “Tinnitus Today” magazine and founder of the Tinnitus Clinic.
You’ll also like:
The A to Z of Tinnitus Remedies
Tinnitus symptoms are continuous ear ringing, buzzing or hissing in the inner ear that only the tinnitus sufferer can hear. Tinnitus sufferers may experience ringing in the ears all day, or it may come and go in phases. Tinnitus noises may also vary in pitch and volume, depending on the amount of inner ear damage to the cochlea, a network inside the ear that is crucial for good hearing. While there is no long-term cure for tinnitus, experts have agreed that certain vitamins can be beneficial for alleviating the effects of hearing loss and tinnitus.
Below is a list of the 4 best vitamins for tinnitus relief:
Vitamin A
The cochlea of the inner ear stores large amounts of vitamin A, and relies on sufficient stores in order to receive and interpret sound efficiently, according to Dr. George E. Shambaugh Jr, author of “Healing with Vitamins.” In his book, Dr. Shambaugh recommends vitamin A, in conjunction with vitamin E, as an effective tinnitus treatment. Good sources of vitamin A are orange fruits and vegetables, such as cantaloupe, yams, carrots and pumpkin. Tuna and spinach are also high in vitamin A.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is essential for a healthy nervous system. Vitamin B12 affects the way we touch, taste, see and hear, so it is not surprising that vitamin B12 deficiency leads to symptoms such as altered taste perception, visual disturbances, numbness or tingling, and chronic tinnitus. One Tel Aviv study, which focused on Israeli servicemen with tinnitus, found a high correlation between symptoms of tinnitus and vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in lean meats, fish, eggs and dairy products.
Magnesium
Magnesium is another essential vitamin, which is included in many tinnitus remedies. Nutritionists believe that a magnesium deficiency corrupts the ability of the cochlea to function properly by constricting vessels that lead to the inner ear. Magnesium occurs naturally in food sources such as brown rice, bananas, beans and oats.
Zinc
Zinc is another nutrient that is associated with tinnitus and hearing loss. A study featured in Otology and Neurotology determined that low levels of zinc may be a cause of tinnitus. The University of Michigan Health System reported in 1985 that 25% of tinnitus sufferers who had low zinc levels noticed a marked reduction in tinnitus symptoms when they increased their zinc intake. Foods that are highest in zinc include oysters, wheat germ, veal liver and sesame seeds.
Read more about tinnitus treatment and prevention:
5 Mistakes Tinnitus Sufferers Make
Gingko Biloba as a Treatment for Tinnitus
Stop that Ringing in your Ears: Get Tinnitus Treatment Now
Top 5 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/261616-vitamins-for-ringing-ears/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8639287
http://www.ehow.com/about_5468633_vitamins-tinnitus-relief.html
http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/zinc.php
Because Tinnitus Noise is One Thing…
If you suffer from tinnitus, then you know how difficult it is to get some quiet time. Tinnitus symptoms range from mild buzzing in one ear to screeching, deafening high-pitch ringing in both ears. If you’re able to get a full night’s sleep, then count yourself lucky; many chronic tinnitus patients are woken up frequently by phantom hissing or clicking noises resonating from the inner ear.
If you’re a tinnitus sufferer with a noisy neighbor in a thin-walled apartment complex, then your chances of enjoying a few moments of serenity are twice as unlikely; you might be able to ignore tinnitus ear ringing for a while, but try ignoring an apartment tenant with an electronic drum set, a 3-piece subwoofer speaker system, and no particular allegiance to noise ordinance laws. Short of soundproofing your own walls, your only chance of getting some peace and quiet is to ask your neighbor to keep the noise pollution down.
How Loud is Too Loud? Prevent Tinnitus Now
Here are 5 steps to getting your neighbor to turn down the volume:
1) Be open: Give your neighbor a call, introduce yourself, and explain to him that you can hear his drum solos, that it’s making it difficult for you to work, relax or sleep, and give him a chance to respond. You might also want to explain that you have tinnitus, a condition which amplifies certain sounds, hurts your ears, and makes it difficult for you to get enough sleep. Now might also be a good time to explain to him that many musicians also suffer from tinnitus, due to overexposure to loud musical jam sessions, such as the type he engages in frequently.
2) Confront him in person: So, the phone call didn’t work. Calmly knock on his door, remind him of the nice chat you had on the phone, and ask him, once again, to please turn down the volume of his speaker set. Or better yet, could he please put on a pair of headphones? Invite him to come into your apartment and see for himself just how soundproof the walls AREN’T.
3) Do your homework: Now it’s time to dig in deep and do some research on your city’s noise laws. Send him a formal letter, highlighting all the legal options you are entitled to, and point out that you would much rather not resort to police involvement. Make a reference to previous noise complaints on your behalf. Keep a copy of the dated letter for future reference.
4) Call the cops: If your neighbor continues to ignore your attempts to come to a peaceful resolution, then call the police. Explain to them that you tried on several occasions to get your neighbor to keep the noise level down, and that he refuses to oblige. They will likely take down your address and make a house call. Usually, one visit from a police officer is all it takes to show your neighbor that you will not tolerate the noise any longer. He may not like confronting you when you’re upset, but he’ll like it even less when you’ve got a man in blue on your arm.
5) File a noise complaint: You may have the most stubborn (or deaf) neighbor in history. Your only option now is to file an official complaint with your jurisdiction. Provide detailed accounts of all previous communications with said neighbor, including a copy of your initial letter of protest. Once the matter is handed to the authorities, they will contact you with a court date or attempt at mediation.
More noise-related reads:
White Noise Sound Machines- The 5 Best Reviewed by Customers
Top 5 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Gear Up to Prevent Hearing Loss: Five Things you Should Buy Now
Source:
http://www.ehow.com/how_8302909_ask-neighbor-turn-down-music.html#ixzz1NoLYHOmi
White Noise Makers Reduce Ear Ringing, Help You Sleep
If you suffer from tinnitus, then you probably have difficulty getting a good night’s sleep. Tinnitus symptoms such as ear ringing, buzzing, clicking and other phantom noises wake you up in the middle of the night, interrupt your REM cycle, and disturb your sleeping pattern. As a result, many tinnitus patients like you suffer from insomnia, nervousness, anxiety and depression, in addition to the hearing loss.
White noise sound machines are gaining popularity as an alternative to sleep medications. According to Consumer Reports, white noise generators are almost as effective at inducing restful sleep as sleep medications. (Tinnitus Symptoms Making you Turn to Sleeping Pills? Read about Side Effects of Sleep Drugs)
Tinnitus patients are often recommended by their physicians to use a white noise machine at bedtime. Even if you don’t have hearing problems, listening to the soothing sounds of whispering breezes, gentle raindrops or crackling bonfires can save time by helping you get to sleep earlier and quicker, making it easier for you to wake up every morning refreshed and ready for a new day.
Below is our list of the top 5 white noise machines, as rated by consumers for best price, performance, ease of use and customer satisfaction.
Brookstone Tranquil Moments Sound Therapy System, $129.95- Brookstone.com
Choose from 5 different nature sounds, in addition to 7 white noise programs which were developed by the Center of Neuroacoustic Research. Set duration for 30 minutes, 60 minutes or 90 minutes.
Sound Screen and SleepMate Electro-Mechanical Sound Conditioner, $59.95- Marpac.com
Both the Sound Screen and Sleep Mate models emit white noises described as “rushing air,” effectively masking out unwanted noises such as tinnitus ringing, allowing you to sleep better and longer.
Homedics SoundSpa SS-2000, $19.97- Walmart
With a considerable lower price tag than the Brookstone model, the Homedics SoundSpa is lightweight, compact and is programmed with 6 soundtracks, including ocean breeze, nighttime, rain shower, rain forest, waterfall rapids, and gentle heartbeat.
MarsonaTSC-330, $69.88 – Target
Built for portability, the Marsona TSC-300 is small enough to tuck into a carry-on bag. Two adjustable settings emit a constant stream of white noise, helping you sleep better in unfamiliar, thin-walled hotel bedrooms.
Ecotones Duet, $99.95- Amazon
The Ecotones Duet Adaptive Sound Therapy Relaxation Sleep Machine reacts to the level of environmental noise and automatically adjusts its volume accordingly. Ten programmed sound effects are incredibly realistic, mimicking the sounds of nature.
Need more helpful gadgets for reducing noise pollution?
Read our list of best 5 noise-cancelling headphones, plus more useful information on recognizing the symptoms of tinnitus (ringing in the ears), preventing hearing loss and reducing the level of ear buzzing.
Tinnitus Maskers: Relief is on the Way
Top 5 Noise Cancelling Headphones
