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Tinnitus FAQ



Frequently Asked Questions about Tinnitus - ringing ears and other head noises

About the Tinnitus FAQ

Welcome to the Tinnitus FAQ. At the present time, there are many questions about tinnitus, but few definitive answers that apply to all sufferers. If you have any additional insights not covered in this document, please help your fellow tinnitus sufferers by contacting the FAQ Maintainer, Lee Leggore, at nomader@eskimo.com.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This document is not a substitute for advice from a competent health care provider specializing in tinnitus. Many of the underlying medical conditions can be serious, if not fatal, and several of the listed treatments may have dangerous side-effects. Contact one of the tinnitus organizations listed in this document if you are seeking a referral to a skilled physician. The Tinnitus FAQ may contain material contrary to opinions of the tinnitus research community.

About the Tinnitus FAQ Maintainer

I (Lee Leggore) began maintaining this FAQ in September of 1995. I was born 8/2/51. I have had Tinnitus and Hyperacusis since 1982. In 1985 I became a member and contact person with, "American Tinnitus Association".

In 1993, I became involved in computer science at, "Tacoma Community College", where I previosly earned a diploma in Management. Other than, "Basic First Aid and CPR", I am WITHOUT medical training. Everything in this FAQ is the contribution of many, many people, who submitted via private e-mail and indirectly via public postings to alt.support.tinnitus. While I will always try to answer questions via private e-mail, you will hopefully reach people with better expertise than I by posting publicly to the newsgroup: alt.support.tinnitus (Be advised/warned that this newsgroup has had obscene posting and you may be quite repulsed by them! Please! Do not respond to them!)

-1) What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be described as ringing ears and other head noises that ...
-2) What does tinnitus sound like?
Many sufferers in the online community report that their tinnitus ...
-3) How is tinnitus diagnosed?
The following flowchart from the Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 1992 (...
-4) What causes tinnitus?
In a database of 1687 tinnitus patients, no known cause was identified ...
-5) How can I avoid getting tinnitus?
Avoid the causes listed above. Really. The number one cause of tinnitus ...
-6) What are some ototoxic drugs?
All tinnitus sufferers should ask their physician and/or pharmacist ...
-7) What is Meniere's Disease?
Meniere's is a very serious disease of the inner ear, resulting in ...
-7.1) What are the symptoms of Meniere's Disease?
In my case it started with a constant fullness in my right ...
-7.2) What tests would a physician do to diagnose Meniere's Disease?
First was a hearing test. This was followed by an MRI to ...
-7.3) Are there any known environmental causes of Meniere's Disease, or is it one of those things that "just happens" to people?
One possible cause is Diabetes. Other than that no one that ...
-7.4) What are the common Meniere's Disease treatments? Anti-vertigo drugs? Surgical operations on the inner ear balance mechanisms?
The most common treatment for mild episodic Meniere's I ...
-7.5) In general, imagine yourself back when you first encountered Meniere's Disease. What kind of summary info would have been helpful to you?
Knowing that it can be treated with medication and there is ...
-7.6) Meniere's, Tinnitus, & Gentamicin, as explained by Jim Chinnis :
Originally, streptomycin was tried as a treatment for ...
-7.7) Endolymphatic hydrops is a condition similar to Meniere's that involves vertigo without hearing loss, as described by another contributor:
(see http://lab9924.wustl.edu/Intro4.htm) ...
-8) What is hyperacusis?
Hyperacusis is defined as a collapsed tolerance to normal ...
-8.1) What causes hyperacusis?
Unfortunately, because hyperacusis is so rare, little research has ...
-8.2) What can be done?
Currently all treatments for hyperacusis are experimental. The ...
-8.3) How rare is hyperacusis?
Although there may be as many as 1% of the population who are ...
-8.4) Where can I turn to for help?
Because so little is known about it, doctors either have no idea what ...
-9.1) Treating Tinnitus: niacin
Niacin supplements produce a temporary flushing effect that ...
-9.2) Treating Tinnitus: lecithin
The following anecdotal report advocates lecithin in combination ...
-9.3) Treating Tinnitus: gingko biloba
Gingko biloba leaves have been used therapeutically by the Chinese ...
-9.4) Treating Tinnitus: anti-depressants, tranquilizers, and muscle relaxants
Many tinnitus sufferers become depressed from having to deal with ...
-9.5) Treating Tinnitus: anti-convulsants
Carbamazepine (Tegretol, a dangerous drug!), phenytoin (Dilantin),...
-9.6) Treating Tinnitus: intravenous lidocaine
An initial injection of lidocaine followed by an IV drip may ...
-9.7) Treating Tinnitus: tocainide hydrochloride
This is an oral relative of lidocaine thought to act in a ...
-9.8) Treating Tinnitus: histamine
On p.32 of Conn's Current Therapy, 1994, W.B. Saunders Co., MDs ...
-9.9) Treating Tinnitus: anti-histamine
[Ed. note: Yes, I realize this is in contradiction with the ...
-9.10) Treating Tinnitus: meclizine
This is an over-the-counter (USA) anti-vertigo drug. While it ...
-9.11) Treating Tinnitus: DMSO
The following appeared in a recent article in Alternatives ...
-9.12) Treating Tinnitus: vinpocetine and vincamine
The following is an anecdotal report concerning vinpocetine, a ...
-9.13) Treating Tinnitus: hydergine
Another smart drug, for which Dean & Morgethaler say:...
-9.14) Treating Tinnitus: sodium fluoride
May be helpful when the tinnitus is due to cochlear otosclerosis....
-9.15) Treating Tinnitus: vasodilators
Vasodilators like niacin, gingko biloba, and prescription drugs ...
-9.16) Treating Tinnitus: zinc
The cochlea has the body's greatest concentration of zinc. ...
-9.17) Treating Tinnitus: diuretics
Diuretics may be prescribed when Meniere's Disease is present. ...
-9.18) Treating Tinnitus: homeopathic remedies
One contributor reports tinnitus relief from homeopathic cell salts:...
-9.19) Treating Tinnitus: betahistine hydrochloride (SERC)
The symptoms of Meniere's Disease can be ameliorated somewhat ...
-9.20) Treating Tinnitus: magnesium
Magnesium Prevents Hearing Loss:...
-9.21) Treating Tinnitus: caroverine
Some research on caroverine is being done in Austria:...
-9.22) Treating Tinnitus: carbogen
From: govaerts@uia.ua.ac.be (Paul.Govaerts)...
-10.1) other tinnitus treatments: surgery
For tinnitus caused by acoustic neuromas, vascular abnormalities, ...
-10.2) other tinnitus treatments: maintain a healthy diet & lifestyle
This means no tobacco, no alcohol, no caffeine, low fat, low sodium....
-10.3) other tinnitus treatments: biofeedback
Useful as a stress reduction tool, biofeedback may help some people....
-10.4) other tinnitus treatments: accupuncture
May provide temporary relief to some people. One contributor ...
-10.5) other tinnitus treatments: stress reduction
Many people say their tinnitus is more active when they're tired ...
-10.6) other tinnitus treatments: hearing aids
Some people with severe tinnitus may benefit from hearing aids ...
-10.7) other tinnitus treatments: cranial sacral therapy
There is anecdotal evidence of help for tinnitus through ...
-10.8) other tinnitus treatments: electrical stimulation
Various electrode placements with various voltages & frequencies ...
-10.9) other tinnitus treatments: surgically severing the auditory nerves
An Eighth Nerve section is the treatment of last resort. You will ...
-10.10) other tinnitus treatments: hyperbaric oxygen therapy
This treatment is supposed to be beneficial when the tinnitus ...
-10.11) other tinnitus treatments: feedback therapy
A poster to alt.support tinnitus reports about a therapy ...
-10.12) other tinnitus treatments: Auditory Integration Training (AIT)
Auditory Integration Training (AIT) was originally developed by ...
-10.13) other tinnitus treatments: sound therapy
Sound therapy originates from the work of Dr. Alfred Tomatis. ...
-10.14) other tinnitus treatments: hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy has been reported by Dr. Kevin Hogan, who is a ...
-11) What is masking?
Masking is the technique of producing external white noise sounds ...
-11.1) Residual Inhibition
Masking can also produce a phenomenon called, residual inhibition. ...
-12) What types of earplugs or other hearing protection are available?
Wearing ear plugs protects your ears from new damage as well as ...
-13) What organizations can I turn to for more information?
The following organizations all support tinnitus/hearing research ...
-14) What books can I turn to for more information?
Tinnitus: Diagnosis/...
-15) What online resources are available?
On the Internet, the Usenet newsgroup alt.support.tinnitus is the ...
-16) What can I do when all else fails?
Here is one sufferer's advice:...
-17) Where did the medical advice in this FAQ come from?
With few exceptions, none of the contributors to this FAQ are physicians....
-18) What clinics or physicians can I turn to for real medical advice?
The following clinics or physicians all specialize in the treatment ...
-19) Who are the contributors to this FAQ?
Unless otherwise requested, all contributors will be credited here....







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