The sound of silence
Q: I’ve had a constant buzzing noise in my ears for two years and no one seems able to help me with it. I was wondering if you have any suggestions?
Dr. Wright: The condition you are describing, known as tinnitus, is a tough one. There is a long list of possible causes, but on an individual basis, it’s often difficult to nail down exactly which one is the culprit. The list includes: age-related hearing loss; trauma or damage to the inner ear, head, or neck; long-term use of medications such as aspirin, quinine, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories; build-up of excess wax in the ear; atherosclerosis or high cholesterol; high blood pressure; growths/tumors; circulatory problems; specific foods such as those rich in salicylates (the same ingredient as in aspirin).
And, unfortunately, there’s no real definitive cure.
That’s the bad news…now for the good news. First, there is an organization called the American Tinnitus Association (ATA) that is handing out sizable research grants to get to the bottom of this problem that affects as many as 50 million Americans.
Second, there are some measures you can try to get some relief. A few supplements have shown some promise:
- Gingko biloba — 80 milligrams of a standard preparation, three times daily
- Zinc (picolinate) — 30 milligrams twice daily, offset with 2 milligrams copper, twice daily
- Vitamin B12 — 1,000 micrograms injected once or twice weekly, along with 5 milligrams of folic acid each time
Some people report getting relief from regular acupuncture. Others find that adding a competing sound to their environment — even if it’s just a white noise machine, relaxes them as it drowns out the ringing. And while stress doesn’t cause tinnitus, it can exacerbate it, or decrease your ability to tolerate and function with it. So stress management techniques might also prove beneficial.
