Causes of Tinnitus & Related Conditions FAQ

Dear Andrew,

This is a very controversial question, which infuriates the communications industry, who deny any harmful effects. The Internet is rife with stories of people who claim to have experienced harm from cell phone use. I am leery of publishing these accounts as they are anecdotal, and therefore difficult to prove.

However, I found a blog on the site of Scientific American by Joel M. Moskowitz, PhD, who is director of the Center for Family and Community Health at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Moskowitz has been producing research on wireless radiation health effects since 2009.

He stated that there has been very little research on the effects of 4G radiation on the population and none on 5G. The essential difference between the two is 5G is a higher frequency therefore, has a shorter wavelength. The shorter wavelengths don’t penetrate buildings or other obstacles as effectively as 4G and have a limited reach. Because of this it will require many more cell towers, up to 800,000 or more, than are currently in use. We are embarking on this gigantic effort without the scientific background to know whether or not it is safe.

This is a long article and I will provide a link for those who wish to read it in its entirety. One of the basic tenets of the article is the FCC is basing its radio frequency exposure guidelines on research from the 1980’s. The exposure limits are based on behavioral changes in rats exposed to microwave radiation and were designed to protect us from short-term heating risks due to radio frequency exposure.

Since the FCC adopted these limits, over 500 studies have found harmful biologic or health effects from exposure to radio frequency at intensities too low to cause heating. Citing this large body of research, more than 240 scientists who have published peer-reviewed research on the biological and health effects of electromagnetic fields have signed the International EMF Scientists Appeal, which calls for stronger exposure limits.

There is much, more to this article. Those who wish to view the entire paper can view it here: We Have No Reason to Believe 5G Is Safe

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Alberta,

The decline in your hearing is most likely the cause of your tinnitus. About 80% of all tinnitus cases are due to hearing loss. Arches Tinnitus Formula is especially helpful for this kind of tinnitus and has been helping people for over 21 years. It must be used for 3 months to get the full effect so we recommend Arches Starter Kit, a full 3-month supply of 4 bottles.

I know the market is confusing and there are many companies claiming to have a cure. There is no “cure” for tinnitus but there is relief from the noise and aggravation. You have to look at the science to determine the best product. Arches Tinnitus Formula is scientifically based and there are many clinical studies showing effectiveness in reducing tinnitus.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Clayton,

The plane ride could have caused this. Both the noise from the engines and the changes in pressure could be the culprit. If the engine noise caused it, she has probably lost some hearing. If the pressure changes caused it, it could be the result of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) where the Eustachian tube is clogged.

I recommend a visit to an ENT doctor for a hearing test. This test will be able to differentiate between hearing loss and ETD.

I have not been able to find any information relating the scopolamine patch to tinnitus.

People with tinnitus need to be careful when flying. There are safeguards that can prevent damage from the noise and pressure changes. Please read our article on Flying with Tinnitus.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Carole,

I don’t know if the mask’s elastic bands were making your ear wax or tinnitus worse. However, there are masks that have loose string you tie behind your head. The top strings go over the ears and the bottom ones around your neck. They don’t exert any pressure on the ears and are much more effective than a bandana.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Rick,

Tinnitus usually begins in the ear, especially if it is due to noise exposure. But it eventually moves to the auditory system in the brain. It is a condition that effects the entire auditory system, from the cochlea to the dorsal cochlear nucleus and onto the auditory cortex. Tinnitus can be heard in any of these structures. That’s the explanation but it doesn’t do much to help you.

You may be interested in trying another tinnitus therapy, along with Arches Tinnitus Formula. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy trains the brain to avoid the aggravation and distress of tinnitus.

Biofeedback trains the patient to control automatic functions of the body that were previously uncontrollable. You can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, practice deep relaxation, and more.

Both of these therapies are widely used to treat tinnitus and the majority of people who use them report very good outcomes. They both work well with Arches Tinnitus Formula

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Joyce,

It seems to me you may have temporomandibular joint disorder, TMJD, which is when the jaw is out of alignment with the skull. When you sleep at night, you probably push it in one direction and wake up with tinnitus. This would also account for your head-neck movement causing it to start up.

TMJD can be treated by a dentist familiar with the condition. Standard treatment begins with a mouth guard, designed to keep your teeth aligned when sleeping. There are many other treatments, most painless and non-invasive. Here’s an article about TMJ disorder.  At the bottom of the article is a link to the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, where you can find a list of expert dentists by location.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Cassie,

When your ENT says “solved”, she means a cure. She is correct in that we are a long way from a cure. Tinnitus represents neuronal death in the cochlea which reverberates through the auditory nerve to the auditory cortex. It is very complex and a cure may not be available until there is successful stem cell therapy.

Nonetheless, there are quite a few therapies that can reduce the loudness and aggravation of tinnitus. Most cases, including yours, are caused by hearing loss, which destroys the hair cells in the inner ear.

Many clinical studies have shown Ginkgo biloba extract to be effective in reducing the noise of tinnitus. One prominent Manhattan ENT states that 75 – 80% of his patients who have tinnitus due to hearing loss are helped by using Arches Tinnitus Formula and are satisfied with the results.

Other worthwhile therapies are biofeedback, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and modifications to diet and exercise. Articles on these therapies can be found in our Tinnitus Library.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Monica,

My tinnitus at 4,000 Hz doesn’t refer to the level of noise but the frequency. 4,000 Hz is a high frequency. Noise levels are described in decibels, or Db.

I have hearing loss at 4,000 Hz which was determined during a hearing test. Hearing loss is the primary culprit in most cases of tinnitus.

You have pulsatile tinnitus which is a whole different animal. Pulsatile tinnitus is due to turbulent blood flow, caused by a pinched artery, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or other conditions that causes turbulence. Pulsatile tinnitus can be treated and often cured. You should consult with a vascular surgeon, who can identify the cause of the turbulence and treat it.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Irene,

You have brought up a series of questions. First of all, antidepressants are pretty notorious for causing hearing loss and tinnitus. Most modern SSRI antidepressants list tinnitus as a frequent side effect. So, your antidepressant may be causing the worsening hearing and increase in tinnitus. You could try to gradually wean yourself from this medication. Consult with your doctor about it because abruptly cutting it off can have negative effects.

There are many possible causes of a feeling of fullness, or clogging, in the ear. These range from Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, caused by flu, colds or allergies, to an infection in the middle ear, even to Meniere’s disease, which I don’t think you have or you would mention dizziness.

The music and singing voices is called Musical Ear Syndrome and is nothing to be afraid of. It usually occurs in older people who are also hard of hearing. The brain demands input and if it doesn’t get enough, it actually “makes up” sounds or remembers sounds from the past. One simple way to get this to calm down or go away is to make sure you have plenty of audio input. Play music in your home loud enough to hear and enjoy it.

I hope this information is helpful for you and you can start to enjoy life more.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Joan,

Yes, it’s entirely possible removing the amalgam fillings are responsible for your decrease in tinnitus.

Amalgam dental fillings are commonly referred to as “silver fillings” but are really approximately 50% mercury. Silver comprises 25-35% of the filling and the balance is varying combinations of tin, copper and zinc. Mercury, which is liquid at room temperature, dissolves many other metals.

Mercury is an acknowledged neurotoxin. It is known that overtime mercury fillings can cause tinnitus and removing them can help. It may also help your MS. Here’s an article on amalgam fillings and tinnitus.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Jerry,

There are no OTC fever reducing meds you can take that don’t have some potential to aggravate tinnitus.  Acetaminophen can aggravate it but it is lower on the list than the other NSAIDS and is what I use when I need pain relief.

Provided you don’t take a high dose over a long period of time, your chances of worsening tinnitus are slim. Acetaminophen can also damage the liver in high doses. The manufacturer says you should not take over 4,000 mg in one day and I would keep it a lot lower than that. I sometimes have knee pain and the drug works but I always keep the dosage below 2,500 mg. You can always take NAC in the dosage of 1,000 mg twice daily. This counteracts the ototoxicity of acetaminophen and is a very healthy antioxidant to use.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Kristi,

I’m really sorry your tinnitus is so bothersome. I know about panic attacks and they’re no fun.

The first thing to know is stress is the #1 aggravator of tinnitus. Stress will take a level 2 or 3 tinnitus and turn it into a level 8 or 9 overnight. I know it’’s extremely difficult to control but if you can lower your stress levels, the tinnitus should decrease as well.

Diet is another trigger for tinnitus, especially salt. Salt will dramatically increase tinnitus. Many people are unaware of this and consume salty snacks without knowing that’s what is triggering heightened tinnitus.

An ENT doctor will be able to test your hearing to see if that is the cause. Hearing loss is responsible for about 80% of those with tinnitus. However the ENT probably won’t have anything to offer for this. And it may be caused by other conditions, such as hypothyroidism, TMJ or other medical condition that an ENT won’t be familiar with. It may be best to have a full medical workup by your family doctor to see if something else is causing it.

Arches Tinnitus Formula is helpful for most people with tinnitus. Arches Tinnitus Formula has been shown in numerous clinical trials to reduce tinnitus loudness for most people who use it. It is especially helpful for those who have tinnitus due to hearing loss and/or noise exposure. It can also be helpful for those who have tinnitus due to toxic medications. One prominent Manhattan ENT says he has a 75-80% success rate with these patients using Arches Tinnitus Formula.

It takes three months to get the full benefit so we recommend Arches Tinnitus Starter Kit, a full three-month supply of four bottles. You can purchase each bottle separately but the Starter Kit offers a significant price discount and you don’t have to worry about running out during the critical three-month period.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Lauren,

Somatic tinnitus occurs when signals from the body interfere with auditory signals to cause or worsen tinnitus. One of the common causes of this is TMJ dysfunction, where the jaw is out of alignment with the skull. A dentist familiar with the condition can tell you if you have it and, if so, can treat it. The most common treatment is use of a bite guard while sleeping that will help re-align the jaw.

Another common cause is spasm of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle. This muscle starts under the ear and is what you use when turning your head. Spasm in the SCM can be treated by a physical therapist. You could see your family doctor about this and he or she would be able to refer you.

Biofeedback and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) are often used to treat muscle and upper cervical problems that cause tinnitus.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Joan,

Yes, it’s entirely possible removing the amalgam fillings is responsible for your decrease in tinnitus. Amalgam fillings are primarily mercury, a neurotoxin. It is known that this can cause tinnitus and removing them can help. It may also help your MS. Here’s an article on amalgam fillings and tinnitus.

Wish you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Richard,

All antibiotics have the potential to cause or worsen tinnitus but they vary in how high the likelihood is for each one. I’m not an expert in antibiotics and not sure which would be best. Especially since different ones are used for different purposes. This is a good question for your physician. He or she can look it up in the PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference), which every physician has. They can then decide which is best for you.

One way to ensure your tinnitus isn’t worsened by the antibiotic is to take NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) before and after the course of antibiotics. NAC is an inexpensive antioxidant found in health food stores. It protects the hearing nerves from insult, either noise or medications. Start taking 1,000 mg twice daily and continue for at least a week or two after the antibiotic regimen is finished. There are no side effects to NAC and it will not dilute the antibiotic effectiveness.

Arches Tinnitus Formula can help reduce tinnitus loudness. Arches Tinnitus Formula with Ginkgo Max 26/7 has been shown in numerous scientific studies to reduce tinnitus sound levels for most people who use it. It is especially helpful for the great majority of people who have tinnitus due to noise exposure and/or hearing loss. It is also helpful for those who have tinnitus due to ototoxic medications, which damage hearing. It can take up to three months to get the full effect so we recommend Arches Tinnitus Starter Kit, a full three-month supply of four bottles. You can buy the bottles individually but there is significant cost savings in buying all four at once, you save shipping costs and don’t have to worry about running out during the critical thee-month period.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Henry,

Prescription anti-depressants can be pretty nasty drugs. Most of them cause tinnitus at least some of the time and Zoloft is one of the worst offenders. It frequently causes tinnitus in those people who use it. There are a host of other unwanted side effects from these drugs. According to the Physician’s Desk Reference, Zoloft frequently causes the following: sexual dysfunction, impotence, heart palpitations, chest pain, weight gain, back pain and tinnitus. The list of infrequent but possible side effects is far too long to include here.

There are many other natural anti-depressants that work just as well or better than Zoloft and have no possible side effects. They’re not prescribed often by doctors because the pharmaceutical companies can’t patent them.

Some natural anti-depressants that come to mind are Ginkgo biloba, B-Complex vitamins, St. John’s Wort and SAMe. SAMe is pretty expensive and not covered by insurance but it can be effective as a natural anti-depressant.

You’re wise to stay off that prescription and play beautiful music.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Stacy,

Thank you for your kind words. This job brings a lot of satisfaction to me, especially when I receive feedback like yours.

Ultram can cause or worsen tinnitus in less than 1% of people. This sounds small, but if you’re in that 1%, you don’t care that the other 99% didn’t get it. I recommend you discuss with your doctor whether there’s another, equally effective, painkiller without the possible side effect of tinnitus. You can view a list of prescription drugs that cause tinnitus .

Studies show that those people who have tinnitus primarily in one ear and who have had it for less than one year respond much better to Ginkgo biloba. One researcher stated that not only should all people with tinnitus use Ginkgo but they should begin as soon as symptoms are present. Our proprietary ginkgo, Ginkgo Max 26/7 is one of the primary ingredients in Arches Tinnitus Formula.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Charlie,

The elderly have a higher prevalence tinnitus due to failing hearing. This is not a reversible condition and I’m not sure what operation a doctor may have mentioned. One I can think of would be a cochlear implant. If this is what her doctor recommended it may deserve consideration. Cochlear implants are electronic devices that perceive sound and generate it to the auditory nerve.

Having such an intrusive procedure at the age of 86 may not be in the cards though. This procedure severs the auditory nerve and destroys all natural hearing.That is something for you and your mother to decide.

Tinnitus masking may help her, especially a device called a Tinnitus Instrument. This device combines a hearing aid and a masker in the same unit and fits into the ear.

You did not mention the medications she is taking. Is she using a SSRI anti-depressant? If so, these can cause or worsen tinnitus and substitutes should be considered. Remeron is a newer anti-depressant medication modeled after the older tricyclic anti-depressants. It does not cause or worsen tinnitus. Tryptophan is the best as you probably saw from the newsletter article.

Does she take any prescription blood thinners? If so, she cannot take Arches Tinnitus Formula® without her doctors knowledge and understanding. Our proprietary Ginkgo Max 26/7®, the  ginkgo found in ATF, is also a blood thinner and is considered additive. A knowledgeable doctor will be able to lower the amount of blood thinner to compensate for the ginkgo. There are no interactions between the two.

If she is not taking prescription blood thinners, or if she is and her doctor is willing to lower the dosage, I recommend the Tinnitus Formula. It clearly helps many people with tinnitus due to failing hearing in the elderly.

There are other ways to manage tinnitus as well. Diet is extremely important. She should avoid salt like the plague. Salt is a major aggravator of tinnitus and restricts blood flow into the cochlea. She should also avoid high glycemic foods such as simple sugars and refined carbohydrates. Sugar is a trigger for many people with tinnitus.

I hope this is helpful for your mother.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Susie,

Rythmol and Lipitor are on the list of medications that can cause tinnitus. They each cause tinnitus in only 2% of people who use them. Aspirin causes tinnitus also, but generally only in very high doses. These may or may not be the cause of yours.

Plavix is a blood thinner as is Ginkgo biloba in Arches Tinnitus Formula. These should not be mixed unless under the supervision of your prescribing physician. There are no counter-indications but they are additive. Generally, a physician may lower the dosage of Plavix to compensate for the blood thinning properties of ginkgo. There are no other concerns with the medications you’re taking.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Margaret,

I’m very happy you’ve had good results with our product.

Flying with tinnitus presents a couple of problems. One is the engine noise and the other is pressure changes. The pressure changes primarily affect people with head colds or allergies. An over-the-counter antihistamine should be very helpful but I don’t have any particular favorite. I try to chew some gum during takeoff and landing as this helps the ears to pop and equalizes pressure.

We published an article on flying with tinnitus that you may want to review. There are several helpful hints in it.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Esther,

Over-the-counter pain medications present a real problem for those of us with tinnitus. Most of them will cause an increase in tinnitus. Aspirin in small amounts is probably OK but may not provide enough relief. Acetaminophen, found in Tylenol, will not increase tinnitus but can be poisonous and hard on the liver if too much is taken. You have to carefully read the label and make absolutely certain you are not taking too much.

Something that may reduce the need for painkillers is fish oil containing omega 3. This fights inflammation naturally. I don’t know if you can completely stop taking pain medication but you can probably reduce the need for it.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Louise,

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL) is a poorly understood condition for which there is no standard therapy. Researchers believe that a third of afflicted people will completely recover, a third will partially recover and a third will not recover at all. Current thinking among ENTs is that SSNHL is auto-immune or viral in nature. That is why you received treatment for those possibilities.

However, there is evidence that circulatory problems may also be part of the problem. SSNHL patients have been shown to have a higher level of homocysteine and lower folic acid in their blood. High homocysteine allows plaque build-up in the arteries which slows circulation. Vitamins B-6, B-12 and folic acid are effective in reducing homocysteine. Ginkgo biloba has also been shown to be helpful in patients with SSNHL by means of increasing circulation within the inner ear.

We published an article on Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and possible treatment options. I urge you to read through this article and begin a treatment regimen with Arches Tinnitus Combo Pack which contain all the necessary B vitamins and a therapeutic dosage of our new Ginkgo Max 26/7. There is no certainty that it will help at this stage but there is a good possibility that it may.

Please let me know if this is helpful for you.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear David,

I’m very sorry this happened to you. I agree that the tinnitus was most likely caused by whiplash; this is often the case. Most results from whiplash will resolve after a few months. You didn’t mention how long ago this happened so I cannot comment on whether you are inside this window.

Ginkgo biloba, found in Arches Tinnitus Formula as Ginkgo Max 26/7 can be very helpful in cases of whiplash and tinnitus. It brings more blood flow to the damaged area of the brain and helps heal tissues. It also calms the neuro-excitability of the damaged areas by antagonizing the effect of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter that plays a central role in tinnitus.

One common effect of whiplash is TMJ dysfunction. This is where the Temporo-Mandibular joint, which holds the jaw in place relative to the skull, is knocked out of alignment. This will definitely cause tinnitus. Your comment that it’s worse in the morning leads me to believe that, when sleeping, you are applying pressure on the joint, causing the tinnitus to worsen. The good news is, TMJ is treatable. Most treatments are painless and non-invasive and may amount to nothing more than a mouth guard at night.

Please read the above TMJ dysfunction article carefully. I believe it will give you hope for an improvement. At the end of the article is a link to the association of TMJ specialists, who come out of the dental profession, and a page where you can find a specialist in your area. I advise you to contact a TMJ specialist for an evaluation.

I hope this is helpful and your tinnitus improves greatly.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Josh,

I’m very happy our product has helped you. The crackling in your ear is most likely due to Eustachian tube dysfunction. This could also increase your tinnitus. Your Eustachian tube is most likely blocked, a condition called otitis media.

I recommend you see an Ear, Nose & Throat physician. Treatments are typically painless and non-invasive and revolve around use of a prescription nasal spray and an antihistamine.

Wishing you quiet times, Barry Keate

Dear Angela,

Yes, there is a reason for this. You have what is called somatic tinnitus. This is when signals from the body become entangled with auditory signals in an area of the brain called the dorsal cochlear nucleus. These signals can cause or worsen tinnitus. Two of the most common conditions that cause this are muscle spasm in the neck and TMJ dysfunction. Muscle spasms occur in the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle which extends from the ear down to the neck and helps in turning the head. TMJ dysfunction is when the lower jaw is out of alignment with the skull at the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) below the ear. One of these is most likely the cause of worsening your tinnitus and they are both treatable. Please read our article on this condition.

Wishing you quiet times, Barry Keate

Dear Chris,

Allergies, sinusitis and hearing loss will all cause tinnitus so we don’t know what the cause of yours may be. If it is allergies or sinusitis Arches Tinnitus Formula (with Ginkgo Max 26/7) may not be helpful. If the tinnitus is caused by hearing loss, it should be helpful. An audiologist can give you hearing tests that can determine the cause of tinnitus. If your tinnitus is at the frequency where hearing loss occurs, that is probably the cause.

And rest assured Ginkgo biloba will not your make tinnitus worse.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Doug,

Like you, I could not find any direct evidence that the ingredients in your supplement can cause tinnitus. However, Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid and is related to quinine. Quinine is known to cause or worsen tinnitus.

The real test for whether this supplement is causing the upswing in your tinnitus is to stop using it for a couple of weeks then start again. If your tinnitus goes down when you discontinue usage then increases when you start again, the supplement is definitely the cause.

We are all sensitive to different things and what holds true for one person may not for another. In my case, I cannot take a single low dose of Ibuprofen without sending my tinnitus through the roof for several hours. Other people don’t react to it this way.

Whatever caused the increase, Arches Tinnitus Formula can help to combat it. The Ginkgo biloba extract found in Arches Tinnitus Formula, Ginkgo Max 26/7, is neuroprotective and aids in preventing ototoxicity.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Renee,

Colds and sinus infections are common causes of tinnitus. This is referred to as otitis media and results in a blockage of the Eustachian tube. The result is negative pressure in the middle ear which causes fluids to pass through the membranes and fill the middle ear, hence the blocked feeling.

Treatment for otitis media, if it is not infected, can be as simple as a prescription nasal spray, such as Flonase, taken with an antihistamine. If the fluid becomes infected it is treated with antibiotics. It can take some time to clear it up so you should continue with the drops your doctor gave you. However, you may want to also discuss a nasal spray and antihistamine.

Unfortunately, Arches Tinnitus Formulas will not address otitis media and I don’t think they will be helpful for you.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Randall,

Thank you for your message. The condition you refer to is known as electromagnetic hypersensitivity. This has been studied for years and no conclusive evidence has shown that this causes tinnitus. Nevertheless, people with subjective electromagnetic hypersensitivity, those who self-identified as being sensitive, had a higher percentage of tinnitus than control groups. The reasons for this remain unclear and it is possible that hypersensitive people share other conditions that may cause both electromagnetic hypersensitivity and tinnitus.

Not discounting your assertions, I believe working in a noisy factory for 41 years provides a much higher probability of contributing to your tinnitus than random electromagnetic radiation. Noise exposure is the single largest cause of tinnitus with fully 70% of tinnitus cases caused by continued exposure to loud noise.

Arches Tinnitus Formula (ATF) should be helpful for both you and your wife. Clinical studies on pharmaceutical grade ginkgo (e.g. Ginkgo Max 26/7 found in ATF) have shown it to reduce tinnitus and vertigo. Studies also show that starting treatment during early onset of tinnitus (within about 5 years) has better results than starting later.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Howard,

Our tinnitus formula may be helpful for your TMJ disorder, but you should have some direct therapy for it. Postural and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction caused tinnitus are part of somatic tinnitus. This is when signals from the body interfere with auditory signals in the brain and cause or worsen tinnitus. It is totally different from tinnitus caused by noise exposure or hearing loss. If the cause of the somatic tinnitus can be determined, it can be treated.

One of the main causes of somatic tinnitus is spasm in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This is the large muscle on both sides of the neck that helps rotate the head. Spasm in this muscle will cause tinnitus. The other main cause is TMJ, which you mention. TMJ is caused by the misalignment of the skull and jaw at the temporo-mandibular joint. This is the joint where the jaw hinges onto the skull.

Either of these can cause tinnitus and both are treatable. Most treatment options include relaxing the muscles in the area causing the somatic reaction. Please read our article somatic tinnitus for a fuller understanding of the condition. Also, make sure to click on the TMJ link (above) which will take you to another article specifically dealing with TMJ. There are many treatment options for this and most are painless and non-invasive.

In both cases, Arches Tinnitus Formula can be a helpful co-treatment for the conditions. ATF increases blood flow and will help the affected muscles and clear toxins from them that are caused by the continued stress. It can also help heal the damage in the ear and reduce tinnitus.

Sincerely,
Barry Keate

Dear Pam,

I’m sorry you’ve haven’t seen any results to date using our product. The problem with ototoxic medications is pretty severe and Taxol is one of the worst offenders.

There are a couple of other supplements that could be helpful and both are very inexpensive. GABA is a calming neurotransmitter in the brain and counteracts glutamate which is an excitatory neurotransmitter. Glutamate is one of the primary causes of tinnitus. GABA, which can counter-balance glutamate, can be taken in a dosage of 750 to 1,500 mg two or three times daily. It may cause drowsiness so please be careful driving or operating equipment until you know how you react to it. You should probably start at the lower dose and move up as you’re able.

The other supplement is NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine). This is an antioxidant which scavenges free radicals from the body. It’s also helpful for neuropathy. There are no side effects from this and you can take 1,000 mg two or three times a day. You will not notice anything different.

As I mentioned, both of these are very inexpensive and can be found online or in most good health food stores.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Marilyn,

Acanya, a topical ointment used to control acne is combination of benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin.  I believe acanya is mostly safe for people with tinnitus. It’s not on lists of ototoxic drugs that cause tinnitus  nor is either of the individual medications. However, there is at least one report of a young man who developed hearing loss and tinnitus using clindamycin. So while clindamycin is a potential cause for tinnitus, as a topical ointment and not an ingestible drug  so side-effects should be reduced.

You may wish to use it sparingly. If any indication of hearing loss or increased tinnitus appears, discontinue immediately and consult with your doctor.

You may also wish to use Arches Tinnitus Formula at the same time. Pharmaceutical-grade ginkgo has been shown to prevent cochlear damage from ototoxic medications.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear David,

You most likely have a mild case of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or mild concussion. These injuries often cause tinnitus and other side-effects. In mild cases the brain is able to recover and hopefully your tinnitus will resolve. A neurologist is the correct specialist to determine how much damage has been done.

Ginkgo biloba has been found to be helpful in restoring neuronal damage from traumatic brain injury. Our proprietary ginkgo, Ginkgo Max 26/7 is the primary ingredient in Arches Tinnitus Formula. I recommend 240 mg taken twice daily. Do not use ginkgo, without consulting you doctor, if you are on prescription blood thinning medications as ginkgo increases circulation and they can be additive.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Dan,

An 81 mg aspirin is not going to hurt. It takes a lot more than that to aggravate tinnitus. Coffee may or may not be an issue. Most people who stop coffee say it doesn’t change anything. Some say it does so you’ll have to be the judge.

The big problem is with salt. Salt constricts blood vessels, raising blood pressure and reducing flow. Salt can really increase tinnitus. If I have a salty meal, my tinnitus will increase for the rest of the day. You should reduce salt intake as much as possible.

The issue of pain relief for people with tinnitus is quite difficult. Please read our article on Pain Management and Tinnitus

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Hi Scott,

It’s very difficult for me to diagnose this from a distance. I’m not an ear doctor. I would hazard a guess that you may have a degree of conductive hearing loss as well as noise-induced hearing loss. It’s the conductive hearing loss you are affecting by moving your jaw.

Conductive hearing loss occurs when the sound is either blocked or not transmitted effectively to the inner ear. This can occur from Eustachian tube dysfunction, excessive earwax, damage to the eardrum or from otosclerosis, which is a fixing of the bones in the middle ear which conducts sound to the inner ear. This leads to an inappropriate bone growth around the base of the conducting bone. When the bones are fixed to their base, they don’t conduct as well. You can read about the difference between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss in our article Hearing Loss: An Overview.

You can read about otosclerosis in our article Stapedectomy for Otosclerosis.

When you move your jaw you are re-aligning the mechanisms of the inner ear and their relationship to the Eustachian tube. This is improving your high frequency hearing. I cannot say what the exact action is that helps hearing but I believe this is encouraging. If you can find why you have conductive hearing loss, you should be able to treat it and have improvement.

An Audiologist can tell the difference between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. I suggest you have an audiogram performed to look for conductive hearing loss. If you do have this, find an ENT who will work with you to determine the exact cause. Once found you can begin treatment.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Michael,

I’m sorry about your tinnitus. Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome is very real and must be conducted very slowly. The issue is that benzo medications fool the brain into thinking there is plenty of GABA so the brain stops manufacturing it. GABA is the neurotransmitter responsible for electrical inhibition in the brain. Without it glutamate, the excitatory neurotransmitter, predominates. Tinnitus is a side effect of excess glutamate. It takes a long time for the brain to reset itself and start producing GABA again.

One thing you can do is to start taking GABA supplements. These are very inexpensive and found online and in health food stores. A typical dose may be 750 mg twice daily. Be very careful as GABA can act like a benzo and produce a sedative effect. Be careful driving or operating equipment until you know how you react.

If 3-10mg of melatonin is helpful for you, please continue with it. In fact a clinical study recommended melatonin as one tool to improve tinnitus.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) frequently causes tinnitus. Fortunately, it is treatable by a trained dentist in this field. A quick home test for this is to stand in front of a mirror, take some time and completely relax your face. Then slowly open your mouth. If you have TMJ, your mouth will most likely open somewhat sideways, it won’t be straight up or down. This is not an absolute test and some TMJ may be present even if your mouth opens straight. It’s fairly accurate though.

Wishing you quiet times,
Barry Keate

Dear Lola,

Thank you for your question. The tinnitus and headache are mos