Understanding Ear Health & Hearing

In the inner ear, there are thousands of auditory cells that are electrically charged. There are tiny hairs or cilia on these cells that move with the pressure of sound waves. When these cilia move, energy is released through the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound. Loud noise and head injuries can damage delicate inner ear hair cells. These hair cells help convert signals. Damaged hair cells may send irregular signals to the brain. The brain may interpret these signals as tinnitus or ringing sounds. Tinnitus symptoms can effect one or both ears. Some people experience symptoms continuously, while others notice them intermittently. Tinnitus severity and symptoms vary depending on the cause. Some cases of tinnitus improve with treatment or lifestyle changes.

What Causes of Tinnitus?

There are a number of risk factors that leave individuals more susceptible to tinnitus. Wax build-up is one of the more common risk factors, and again, is highly treatable. If you are someone who produces a lot of ear wax, your MD or naturopath can take one quick look in your ears and be able to tell you if you have heavy wax build-up in the ears - you can consider some of the options below. Some medications will cause tinnitus as a side effect, including aspirin and most anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), furosemide diuretics, and some BP and cholesterol lowering medications.

Quinine, Aminoglycoside antibiotics and cisplatin can all cause damage to the ear and therefore also cause tinnitus. Diabetics, or individuals with high insulin or blood sugar, may also be more prone to tinnitus. Jaw misalignment, head or neck trauma and ear or sinus infection can all be a cause of temporary tinnitus, as well. Have your doctor or Naturopath check your homocysteine levels, as high homocysteine has been associated with this condition, as well as heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. 

How Can I Stop Tinnitus?

Diet

Individuals who suffer from tinnitus may find that eating certain foods will worsen their symptoms. An elimination diet or anti-allergenic diet may be one way to determine what foods are triggering tinnitus symptoms.

Ear Wash

Warm water ear lavage is one method used to get rid of excess ear wax (cerumen) or impaction in the ear. Ear candling is another method of removing excess cerumen from the ear. Be sure to ask a qualified and experienced professional if you are considering ear candling, as it involves a small flame close to the head and can be dangerous. Care also needs to be made when using cotton swabs in the ear, as it can push the wax into the ear further, making it more difficult to remove and possibly causing damage.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Wear earplugs or earmuffs when working around loud noise. Hearing protection can reduce damage to inner ear hair cells. Reducing noise exposure may lower your risk. Stress can worsen symptoms of tinnitus; avoid chronically high stress by getting regular exercise, regular massages, practising yoga or meditation and getting an adequate amount of sleep. Some studies suggest acupuncture may help reduce symptoms in certain people. White noise can often mask the irritating sounds caused by tinnitus. Fans, soft music, or specialized white noise machines can all help to distract the brain. If you have hearing loss, try a hearing aid, as it will emphasize outside sounds and minimize symptoms of tinnitus.