The movie ‘A Star is Born’ puts the spotlight on Tinnitus.
Tinnitus or TinnItus is the medical term we use to describe ringing in the ears, and there are more than 50 million suffers. It is the number one service-connected disability among our Veterans. The latest research supports that this is the normal ear’s response to a change in hearing. The sound is generated by the brain, and is a symptom of a hearing loss.
If you suddenly experience ringing, and it does not resolve within 24 hours, see a specialist and have a hearing test as soon as possible. Early detection means early treatment with steroid prescription medication and better outcomes. Untreated hearing loss and tinnitus can be permanent, and is more likely to be permanent without early treatment.
There is insufficient evidence that nutritional supplements work. Since supplements are regulated by the FDA as foods and not drugs, companies that sell them do not have to prove that their products work, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery does not recommend them.
On the other hand, what is new and very convincing is technology that can deliver discrete tones through hearing aids that fools the brain and suppresses the tinnitus noise. It works so well that patients are experiencing less tinnitus even when they are not using the technology at bedtime.
If you suffer from tinnitus, see an ENT specialist who works with an audiologist.
I’m Dr. Steven Levine of ENT and Allergy Associates in Trumbull. Follow us to see our latest updates in news about health and healthcare on our blog and on social media.
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