Tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing sensation in the ears when there is no actual outside noise, affects about one in five people, according to the Mayo Clinic. It occurs as a symptom of an underlying condition and can be subjective, meaning that only the patient can hear the noise in their ears, or rarely it can be objective, meaning that others can hear it as well. Tinnitus remedies can aim at either eliminating the sensation of noise, or curing the underlying condition.
Underlying Conditions
Tumors in the head, neck, or on the nerve that stimulates the ear can cause tinnitus. Disorders that alter blood flow like hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, or turbulent blood flow can cause objective tinnitus. Treating these underlying conditions can eliminate or reduce tinnitus.
Changing Medications
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are a number of medications that can cause or exacerbate tinnitus. Cutting back or switching medications such as antibiotics, malaria drugs, chemotherapy drugs, diuretics and even aspirin in very high doses might eliminate the phantom noises.
Treatment Medications
Some prescription medications can reduce, but not totally eliminate, tinnitus. Tricyclic antidepressants and alprazolam can help tinnitus, but the possibility of some unpleasant or serious side effects, limit their usefulness. A drug for alcoholism, acamprosate, might be effective for tinnitus, but the Mayo Clinic concludes that more studies are needed to gauge its effectiveness.
Earwax Removal
Normal, healthy ears produce earwax to protect the ear by trapping foreign particles. Too much earwax can accumulate, a condition medically known as cerumenal impaction, causing potential problems with hearing as well as tinnitus. Doctor-supervised removal of impacted earwax can reduce or eliminate tinnitus in these cases.
Noise Suppression
Background noise can overpower tinnitus, and this solution might be useful for patients who cannot take advantage of other options. A white noise machine can generate a constant, pleasant background noise to drown out the perception of tinnitus. For people who have hearing impairment, a hearing aid can do double duty to boost hearing while minimizing tinnitus. A device called a tinnitus masker looks like a hearing aid, fitting over the ear, and produces a low-level white noise to drown out tinnitus.
Home Remedies
People with tinnitus can take some steps on their own to reduce symptoms. Stress, possibly acting through changes in blood pressure, can worsen tinnitus, and as such, stress-relieving techniques like yoga or biofeedback can reduce tinnitus for some people. Caffeine and alcohol affect blood flow patterns as well, so avoiding these substances can help some people with tinnitus.
