Baby boomers are experiencing in greater numbers the effects of loud rock music listened to over the years. I know this fact first hand. Having played in numerous “garage bands” in my youth and standing face to face with a wall of tie-dyed speakers at “Dead” concerts, I have  bouts of hearing loss and tinnitus that seem  to increase with age.

But the hearing damage being done to the generations of MP3 (think IPod) enthusiasts may prove much worse.

IPod users and the like are pumping music at dangerous decibel levels into the heart of the inner ear canal which over time can do long-term harm and desensitize their ears to further damage.

In Spring of 2007, Apple marked the 100 millionth IPod sold worldwide, making it the fastest-selling music player in history. As of June of 2006  as many as one in five Americans over the age of 12 now own portable MP3 Players and one in 20 own more than one, according to the global  research firm Ipsos. Over half of American teens now own some form of an MP3 player and one third of 18 to 34 year-olds own one.

The dark side to this impressive business growth is the explosion of hearing-related maladies in the younger generation including hearing loss and tinnitus. Many people are listening to their ear buds at volumes high enough to create permanent hearing loss. While snug fitting ear buds provide great sound definition, they increase decibel penetration into the inner ear.

According to a study published last year in the Journal Ear and Hearing reported that on average, the smaller the ear bud, the deeper they fit in your ear canal, the higher their output levels are at any given volume control setting. For example, the white headphones sold with the iPod, will increase sound levels by up to 9 decibels. Although 9 decibels don’t sound like much, that is about the difference between an alarm clock and a lawn mower.

Brent Curtis - Editor

Tryptophan is a natural amino acid that safely increases seratonin levels in the brain. Selective seratonin re-uptake inhibitor medications (SSRI anti-depressants) are prescription drugs that concentrate existing levels of seratonin in the brain so they stay in the synapse between nerve endings. Tryptophan is the only compound that actually increases seratonin levels, however it has been banned by the FDA since 1989 due to an adulterated product from an unscrupulous Japanese manufacturer.

Despite intense lobbying efforts by the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA could no longer justify the ban on tryptophan.  Pharmaceutical-grade tryptophan can now be imported for use in dietary supplements. This means that many people using drugs such as Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro and Celexa will be able to discard these medications and once again treat their seratonin deficiency syndrome with natural tryptophan.

Barry Keate

We were interested to note that British researcher, Dr Lindsay St Claire and the Center for Hearing and Balance Studies at Bristol University have received a research grant for £55,000 or $110,000 to finally determine if caffeine does indeed affect tinnitus.

While we applaud further research into all aspects of tinnitus, we won’t hold our breath as to the outcome. For almost a decade we have written about the three major offenders of tinnitus: caffeine, salt, and alcohol. In fact certain "food" substances such as MSG and the sweetener Aspartame (think Equal and diet sodas) can be deleterious to tinnitus as well.

According to tinnitus authority and inner ear specialist, Michael Seidman, MD FACS, diet plays a major role in in affecting tinnitus levels. The old adage, "Your are what you eat" applies double to those living with tinnitus.

Brent Curtis - Editor

A recent news report discusses the possibility of Viagra and other erectile dysfunction (ED) medications causing sudden hearing loss in a small number of users. The FDA found 29 reports of sudden hearing loss, of which one third was temporary and the remainder was permanent. Most hearing loss involved one ear only.

This is an extremely small number considering the millions of prescriptions issued each year for Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. Nevertheless, the FDA has changed the labels of these drugs to include this new precaution and has issued an updated adverse reactions section.

Anyone using these medications should be aware of the potential for hearing loss. If this occurs, immediately discontinue the medication and contact an Ear, Nose and Throat physician. Many cases of hearing loss can be corrected if treated within a few days.

Barry Keate

Hi Barry,
I am suffering from tinnitus for the last 18 months. Doctors have diagnosed the cause to be small perforations in my left and right eardrums .According to my ENT specialist, most of the eardrum perforations close automatically after 6 months to 12 months. My perforations, however, are not closed.

Do you think tinnitus can really be caused by eardrum perforations ? Also, do you believe that Arches Tinnitus Formulas can help in reducing tinnitus due to eardrum perforations? What would you recommend for tinnitus caused due to eardrum perforations?

Thanks,
Harry
Bedford, TX

Read tinnitus expert Barry Keate’s answer to this and other tinnitus questions >>

A recent article by the Associated Press discussed the huge influx of hearing-related injuries connected to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by US military personnel. The most prevalent of these disabling injuries centered on acute hearing loss and tinnitus.

Hearing loss has always been a hazard associated with military service but the these injuries have seen an exponential increase since the war on terror. According to the Department on Veteran Affairs, hearing loss is now the number one disability of US servicemen. 70,000 military personnel are now collecting disability for tinnitus just from these current conflicts.

The marked increase of improvised explosive devices (IED) such as roadside bombs and the frequency of firefights and ambushes are blamed for the increase of hearing injuries. According to military officials these blasts can cause extreme changes in air pressure rupturing ear drums.

While the military provides hearing protection for its war fighters they often go unused, Many soldiers feel that wearing hearing protection on patrol limits their ability hear subtle changes is sound that may indicate an ambush.

Michael Hoffer, MD, an otolaryngologist (ENT) and Navy commander discussed aspects of hearing loss and tinnitus in the military at both the 24th International Tinnitus Forum in Toronto in 2006 and again in Washington, DC at the 25th International Tinnitus Forum.

Dr. Hoffer served in Iraq treating war fighters for a variety of hearing disorders. He concluded that he saw four types of tinnitus due to warfare: noise induced;blast induced (pressure); tinnitus without hearing loss; and post traumatic Meniere’s disease.

The Naval Medical Center San Diego has conducted studies on antioxidants such as such as N-Acetyl Cysteine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine, and their ability to prevent hearing loss and found they can be effective if taken within eight hours of hearing loss damage.

Ben Balough, MD is the Chief of Neurotology at the Naval Medical Center San Diego stated in a talk at the 23rd International Tinnitus Forum that Ginkgo biloba extract showed good indications that it could be a benefit to tinnitus patients but more studies are needed with standardized testing and large numbers of participants.

Brent Curtis - Editor

Oregon Health & Science University (OSHU), Oregon state’s only health and research university has received funding to conduct a study on a medication previously used for the treatment of alcoholism to see if it may be effective in reducing symptoms of tinnitus.

There has been previous evidence that suggests the drug, Acamprosate, used to treat alcoholism may indeed be viable for tinnitus. A small clinical trial in Brazil conducted on 25 tinnitus patients in Brazil showed that 87% had some degree of relief and nearly 48% had a reduction of more than 50%. 1

The study had the shortcoming of having a small number of participants and researchers speculated that those on the active medication were aware of it due to the marked drowsiness associated with the drug. They also say the drowsiness itself may have contributed to improvement as many tinnitus patients have trouble sleeping. The OSHU study plans on having over 150 participants.

Billy Martin, Ph.D., professor of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, and director of the OHSU Tinnitus Clinic believes that since Acamprosate can restore balance between two competing neurotransmitters in the brain, it may also serve the same role in tinnitus suffers.

Neurotransmitters in the brain conduct information between brain cells. An imbalance of neurotransmitters occurs in alcoholics and scientists speculate that those suffering with ringing in the ears may have the same type of imbalance

Researchers hope to identify, by the close of the study, the common characteristics of people who respond to the medication, for example tinnitus pitch, degree of sleep problems and level of hearing loss.

We spoke with OSHU project coordinator Linda Howarth, who told us the study is now open for participants to apply. Each individual must first answer a series of questions to see if they qualify for participation. 150+ qualified individuals will be accepted to participate. Inquiries should be directed to Linda Howarth at (503) 494-0670.

1. Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol (Engl Ed). 2005 Sep-Oct; 71(5):618-23. Epub 2006 Mar 31. Tinnitus treatment with acamprosate: double-blind study. Azevedo AA, Figueiredo RR.

Brent Curtis - Editor

A large clinical study conducted by researchers from the Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark and the National Institute of Occupational Health, Copenhagen, Denmark seems to confirms that in average non-industrial work environments the chance of tinnitus is low for individuals with normal hearing but as might be expected, higher for those individuals with some type of hearing-related issue. The study’s assessment that ongoing noise exposure in offices, or perhaps large retail environments and other non-industrial settings, has statistically little chance of causing tinnitus in those with normal hearing seems obvious. Or is it?

The abstract of the study published in the International Journal of Audiology can be seen below. We welcome comments by qualified individuals who can help to explain the significance (if any) of this study.
Brent Curtis - Editor

Excerpted abstract from the International Journal of Audiology
The risk of tinnitus following occupational noise exposure in workers with hearing loss or normal hearing
"The purpose was to investigate the relationship between noise exposure and tinnitus among workers with normal hearing and hearing loss, respectively. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 752 workers employed at 91 workplaces that were investigated by means of full work-shift noise levels, questionnaire data, and bilateral pure-tone audiometry. Tinnitus was not associated with the present noise level, the duration of noise exposure, or the cumulative noise exposure if participants had normal hearing. As expected, such trends were demonstrated if participants had a hearing handicap. Based on these data, we will be cautious in ascribing tinnitus to noise exposure in our patients’ workplaces if they have a normal audiogram. Furthermore our data indicates no risk of noise-induced tinnitus at exposure levels where no hearing loss would be expected, e.g. as usually encountered in non-industrial workplaces."

Did aspirin make her tinnitus worse?

Dear Barry,
I have had tinnitus for five years. Until recently, it was a steady sound in both ears, louder in the left. I was able to habituate to the sound over time. Recently, everything has changed. I had a bad bout of extreme back pain for which I took aspirin for one day. I took about 7 or 8 350 mg. tablets during that one day. Four days later, I noticed a second sound in my left ear. I experienced a lot of anxiety after this and my right ear has become louder than it was also. The doctor I saw thought it was probably not the aspirin but the long bout with back pain followed by stress and anxiety. I am trying hard to put it out of my mind and not be anxious but am finding it harder this time. Do you have any advice for me? Do you think your product would be helpful to my circumstance? I am new to your website and have just started to get your newsletter which I love and the articles are wonderful. Thank you for your time..

Sincerely,
Peggy Dale

Hi Peggy,
Thanks for your message. I agree with your doctor. You took a lot of aspirin and it may have made your tinnitus temporarily louder and created the new sound. However, this should subside in a few days. It takes a lot of aspirin for a very long time to make tinnitus permanently louder and one day won’t do that.

I know that I can take two aspirin of 325 mg each without fear. If I take a third one, my tinnitus will get louder and stay there for at least a day. But it always goes back down. I believe yours will also.

The stress and anxiety caused by the increase in tinnitus and also your back pain are the cause of the increase, I’m sure. Once you can reduce the stress, the tinnitus will improve. There are a lot of things you can do to reduce stress. A healthy diet, low on salt, sugar, caffeine and no diet drinks, and regular vigorous exercise are perhaps the best ways. There are articles on Diet and Tinnitus and Stress and Tinnitus in our Tinnitus Library that have important ideas for better health, lower stress and reduced tinnitus symptoms.

If all else fails, ask your doctor for a prescription for anti-anxiety medication such as Xanax or Klonopin. These cannot be taken indefinitely but are good for reducing stress short-term.

And yes, I think Arches Tinnitus Formulas can significantly help reduce the sound level. It takes time so please remember you must use Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula® for three months (4 bottles) before determining how effective it will be.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Sugar & Tinnitus

This is my second question for you on tinnitus and I appreciated your prompt response to my last question. This question is concerning sugar. I have been to several ENT doctors and they all tell me to watch my salt, but none seem to think that sugar will aggravate my tinnitus. Can you tell me what your studies have found out regarding sugar triggering tinnitus?

Thank you!
Joyce R.

Hi Joyce,
Salt seems to be the biggest problem for those with tinnitus but sugar definitely has an effect. Researchers in Brazil found the great majority of people with tinnitus also have hyperinsulinemia. This is a condition where the body becomes less sensitive to insulin and is the first step in the long, slippery slope towards Type II Diabetes. They placed these patients on a diet suitable for diabetics and the great majority improved. You can read an article about sugar metabolism and tinnitus in our Tinnitus Library.

There is a quandary regarding sugar intake for those with tinnitus. They should not consume large amounts of it due to the above mentioned relationship. However, sugar substitutes are, in many ways, worse. Aspartame (e.g. Equal), the sugar substitute used in diet colas, is very harmful and can cause many neurodegenerative conditions, including tinnitus. Xylitol and Stevia are good sugar substitutes. A discussion of this can be viewed in a previous Ask Barry - March of 2005.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate