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You Can Get More Information About Tinnitus from:

The Tinnitus Handbook

In his book, The Tinnitus Handbook-A Self-Help Guide, author Bill Habats mentions Bio-Ear as a tinnitus self-help tip that is easy to use--just moisten a cotton ball and place in ear.

What is Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)?

According to the Better Hearing Institute, almost 40 million adults suffer from tinnitus, referred to as "ringing in the ears" or "ear noises". The problem may be caused by a physical condition, such as the sound of blood rushing through an injured vein, so always consult your physician if you experience tinnitus. HOWEVER, more often than not, these annoying ear sounds are due to nerve damage or irritation, or the drying of membrane within the ear canal associated with the aging process. This condition, while not dangerous, can really interfere with the quality of life. Symptoms include difficulty hearing and understanding others, and disturbing sleep due to the constant noise. Conventional medicine has little to offer to those who are afflicted with tinnitus. There is no known cure for this persistent problem.

Imagine hearing a ringing noise in your head that doesn't go away. This maddening noise, called tinnitus, can range in volume from a ring to a roar. It affects nearly 40 million Adults, most of them older adults. As many as ten million people are so seriously bothered by tinnitus that living a normal life is not possible. In fact, tinnitus can interfere with work, sleep and normal communication with others.

Like a toothache, tinnitus isn't a disease in itself, but a symptom of another problem. Examples are:

Earwax blocking the ear canals
Food allergies
Reactions to medications
Middle-ear trauma or infections
Blood vessel abnormalities in the brain
Ear nerve damage (due to exposure to loud noise)
Anemia
Meniere's disease
Diabetes
Brain tumors (rarely)

And sometimes, tinnitus is due simply to advancing age. It often accompanies loss of hearing. Occasionally, tinnitus is temporary, and will not lead to deafness. Treatment is aimed at finding and treating the problem that causes the tinnitus.

Questions to Ask:

	YES	NO
Do you have severe pain in the ears, forehead or over the cheekbones, a severe headache, dizziness and/or sudden loss of hearing?	Seek emergency care	Go to next question
Have you been taking aspirin or other medications containing salicylates such as Trilisate or Disalcid (which are sometimes used to treat arthritis), and do you have these problems with ringing in the ears? Nausea Vomiting Dizziness Rapid breathing Hallucinations	Seek emergency care	Go to next question
Along with ringing in the ears, do you have one or more of the following? Dizziness Vertigo Unsteadiness in walking Loss of balance Vomiting Difficulty hearing sounds or speech of others	See doctor	Provide self-care (see below)

Self-Care Procedures

Use Bio Ear Formula regularly

For mild cases of tinnitus, play the radio or a "white noise" tape (white noise is a low, constant sound) in the background to help mask the tinnitus.

Biofeedback or other relaxation techniques can help you reduce stress, calm down and concentrate, shifting your attention away from the tinnitus.

Exercise regularly to promote good blood circulation.

If the noises started during or after traveling in an airplane, try pinching your nostrils and blowing through your nose. Chewing gum or sucking on hard candy may help prevent the ear popping and ringing sounds in the ear from happening when you do fly. (Do not give to children under age five.) Also, it is prudent to avoid flying when you have an upper respiratory tract infection.

Limit your intake of caffine, alcohol, nicotine and aspirin.

To prevent damage to the ear, wear earplugs when exposed to loud noises such as heavy machinery.

Copyright © 1996 Don R. Powell, Ph.D. From The American Institute for Preventive Medicine's Self-Care: Your Family Guide to Symptoms and How to Treat Them, by arrangement with People's Medical Society.