Is This the Cure for Tinnitus?

The company, Neuromonics, has recently concluded trials in which patients wore what looks like a MP3 device and listened to music which has curtailed the ringing involved with Tinnitus.  Although the findings are preliminary, doctors are hopeful that this could be the breakthrough all their patients have been waiting for, a way to get rid of at least most of the ringing that goes on in their ears because of this condition.

This kind of therapy isn’t covered by medical insurance just yet so paying out of one’s pocket will be costly.  However, if the person’s tinnitus is moderate to severe, it may be worth handing over the money to see if this therapy works for them.

http://www.neuromonics.com 

Possible Treatments

Medications
Many medications have been tried to relieve tinnitus but nothing has shown to achieve 100% success. Antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline, have been proven to have a certain amount success, but these meds have troublesome side effects, such as dry mouth, blurred vision and constipation.

Two recent clinical trials found that the migraine medications gabapentin (Neurontin) and acamprosate (Campral), a drug used to treat alcoholism, are effective in relieving tinnitus for some people.

Treatments with limited results
Some other treatments that have been tried, but which have had only so-so results, are:

• Hypnosis
• The herb ginkgo
• Acupuncture
• Cochlear implant, an electronic hearing device
• Electrical stimulation
• Medications, such as benzodiazepines (nervous system depressants) and baclofen (a muscle relaxant)
• Hyperbaric oxygen chamber, a therapy to get a high level of oxygen in your blood
• Zinc

Talk to your doctor to find out which treatment might be right for you.