Imagine you are at a live rock concert. You find the music enjoyable but deafening. After the concert, your ears begin to ring. Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, affects one out of every five people in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms may include a ringing, buzzing, hissing or a roaring sound. You may be the only person to hear the ringing (subjective tinnitus) or your doctor can hear the ringing when he approaches you (objective tinnitus). The American Tinnitus Association states that ear problems, heart problems, jaw problems and other medical conditions cause tinnitus. There are various treatments available to relieve it.
Step 1
Remove ear wax from both ears. Cerumen (wax) impaction can lead to ringing in your ears and removal can lessen your symptoms. Do not use a cotton swab applicator as this can push the wax farther in your ear. Go to your doctor to safely remove the ear wax.
Step 2
Go to your otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) to check whether you have any blood vessel problems in your ears like vascular (blood) tumors. Treat this problem with medication or surgery as your doctor recommends to reduce ringing in your ears.
Step 3
Go to your doctor and obtain a prescription for a tricyclic antidepressant, alprazolam or acamprosate. These drugs can significantly relieve ringing in your ears. Unfortunately, certain medications can also cause tinnitus. Go to your doctor so she can check if your current medications are a cause for your ear ringing.
Step 4
Purchase a white noise machine. These machines make environmental noises like falling rain to drown out the ringing in your ears. You can purchase this machine at your local drug store or online.
Step 5
Wear a hearing aid in the effected ear. This can help you hear if the ringing in your ears is too loud.
Step 6
Go to your otolaryngologist and determine whether cochlear implants (device implanted in your ear to help you hear) can help your tinnitus. These implants are used in deaf to near deaf patients.
Step 7
Seek alternative treatments. Herbs like gingko baloba, acupuncture, magnesium and hypnosis are just some of the alternative treatments available to relieve tinnitus. You should talk with your doctor to determine whether this type of treatment is suitable for you.
Step 8
Go to a counselor to get cognitive therapy. Here, your emotions to your tinnitus will be analyzed and treated. This can subsequently decrease your tinnitus.
Step 9
Find ways to reduce your stress. Stress can aggravate the ringing in your ears. Exercise and talking to your friends and family are just a few examples of ways to relieve your stress.
Step 10
Decrease alcohol consumption. Alcohol can increase the amount of blood traveling through your ear and cause ringing. Drinking less alcohol can significantly reduce ringing in your ears.
Things You'll Need
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Alprazolam
- Acamprosate
- White noise machine
- Hearing aid
