Being able to purchase medications without a prescription removes a barrier to care. But some products, like the pills, powders and herbs advertised as miracle tinnitus cures can be dangerous and provide little to no relief from that annoying ringing in your ear. Below is a look at the available tinnitus treatment options and why over-the-counter cures are dangerous.
Tinnitus Treatment Options
Those with tinnitus experience a ringing or other noise in their ear that cannot be heard by others and does not exist in the environment. In addition to a ringing, common tinnitus sounds include humming, hissing, clicking, roaring and buzzing. About 15 to 20% of Americans report occasionally hearing a phantom noise.
Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying disease rather than an independent medical condition. Besides hearing an unwanted noise in one or both ears, tinnitus suffers report their quality of life is also affected. This may include an increase in fatigue, sleep problems, stress, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, depression, irritability, headaches and problems with their work, family or home life.
In order to recommend treatment options, your tinnitus expert will first try to identify the cause of your tinnitus. This may involve one or of the following:
- Medical history review
- Physical exam of your ears, head and neck
- Hearing exam
- Movement assessment
- Imaging tests
- Blood work
Treatment then depends on if the underlying cause is identifiable. This may include:
- Treating your blood vessel condition with medication or surgery
- Using hearing aids
- Removing impacted earwax
- Modifying your medications
- Utilizing a white noise machine
- Wearing a masking device
- Undergoing tinnitus retraining therapy
- Participating in cognitive behavioral therapy
Alternative Tinnitus Treatments
Those who have poor luck with the doctor-recommended treatment options may opt for alternative options. The shelves of Balanced Foods Katy or other supplement retailer is well-stocked with pills, powdered, herbs and drops displaying promises to provide tinnitus relief or offer a miracle cure. This misleading marketing is not rooted in reality, as there is little to no scientific evidence to back up these claims.
Experts advise patients to beware of these products, as they can do more harm than good.
To learn more about the available tinnitus treatment options or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, contact Today’s Hearing.