FAQ: Tinnitus and Ringing in the Ears

By Barry Keate
Barry Keate, has lived with tinnitus over 40 years and has published 150+ research articles on numerous aspects of tinnitus. He is an expert on the condition and a well-known advocate for those with tinnitus.

Arches assists you in answering your most common tinnitus questions. Hosting  one of the largest collections of tinnitus research articles available online, we provide an array of vital information for our customers…

What is Tinnitus? 

Tinnitus is the medical term for ringing in the ears. It is classified as hearing sounds in your ears or head that have noTinnitus outside source. Tinnitus can have several sounds, although ringing in the ears is the most common. Other sounds of tinnitus can include humming, blowing, whistling, whooshing, buzzing, hissing, roaring, sizzling and more. In some cases the sounds of tinnitus will pulsate in time with the heartbeat, resulting in what is called pulsatile tinnitus.

Tinnitus can be experienced in both ears as well as in a single ear or inside the head. Because of the continuous ringing in the ears, tinnitus is also known to cause several psychological side effects. Those side effects can include difficulty concentrating and disruptive sleep patterns as well as anxiety and depression.

What is Pulsatile Tinnitus?

Pulsatile tinnitus is a rhythmic pulsing (often in time with the heart) in the ears or head. It is also known as “vascular tinnitus” because it can often be related to instabilities in the blood flow. It is possible to have basic tinnitus along with pulsatile tinnitus and in those cases, the pulsatile tinnitus can become the more bothersome of the two.

Pulsatile tinnitus can have several medical causes including Intracranial Vascular Lesions, Middle Ear Effusion, Hypertension, Arnold-Chiari Malformation and more. Read more about pulsatile tinnitus and its causes in “Pulsatile Tinnitus” by Barry Keate.

Is There a Tinnitus Cure?

Unfortunately, there is no  cure for tinnitus. Many companies  tout that they have a tinnitus miracle or a  cure, but to date there is no tinnitus cure available. However, there are several effective tinnitus treatments known to reduce the severity of the ringing in the ears and provide tinnitus relief. These tinnitus treatments can include the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants, cognitive behavioral therapy, masking devices, neural stimulation, tinnitus medications and natural tinnitus treatments.

Many tinnitus sufferers have experienced tinnitus relief through the use of natural tinnitus treatments. This can mean employing the use of tinnitus supplements as well as engaging in more holistic lifestyle choices. Those tinnitus remedies can include:

– Increasing GABA levels through supplementation or  yoga for tinnitus
– Participating in acupuncture therapy for tinnitus
– Avoiding caffeinated drinks (read the clinical study on caffeine here)
– Biofeedback– Acupuncture– Hypnotherapy
– Limiting the exposure to loud sounds
– Increasing zinc and ginkgo biloba intake (Read about Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus)
– Avoiding the consumption of alcohol
– Maintaining an active exercise routine
– Eating a proper diet with low salt intake
– Avoiding excitatory neurotoxins such as aspartame (found in diet sodas) and monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food additive.

What Are Some Tinnitus Causes?

There are several known tinnitus causes. The most common cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud noise. High-volume sounds such as gunshots, loud music or heavy machinery can cause permanent damage to the cochlea hair cells, resulting in ringing in the ears. (Learn more about how noise causes hearing loss and tinnitus.) Although prolonged exposure to high-volume sounds is the most common cause of tinnitus, there are several other known tinnitus causes. Including:

– Ear infection
– Allergies
– TMJ and Bruxism
– Age-related hearing loss
– Anemia
– High blood pressure
– Heart disease
– Meniere’s disease
– Ear wax buildup
– Thyroid issues
– Head and/or neck injury
– Diabetes
– Use of certain medications (See  full list of medications that can cause tinnitus)
– Otosclerosis
– Acoustic Neuromas
– Poor blood circulation

Fortunately there are several tinnitus treatments available to reduce ringing in the ears and make living with tinnitus manageable.

What Is The Best Tinnitus Treatment

There are several schools of thought as to what the best tinnitus treatment may be. In many cases, the best treatment will depend on the cause of your tinnitus. That said, the best all-encompassing tinnitus treatment may be a combination of several natural tinnitus treatments at once; reducing alcohol, caffeine and salt intake, eating a healthy diet, having a regular exercise routine and taking tinnitus supplements rich in zinc and containing a high concentrate of pure Ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo Biloba Extract has been proven in several clinical studies to be effective as a natural tinnitus treatment especially when taken in a pure form such as Ginkgo Max 26/7 found in the Arches Tinnitus Formula®.

How Soon Can I Receive Tinnitus Treatment

Immediately. If you are looking for a natural tinnitus treatment that is also recommended by leading ENT doctors, we suggest trying out Arches Tinnitus Formulas.

Is There a Natural Tinnitus Treatment?

There are several natural tinnitus treatments available. The only treatment that is recommended by leading ENT doctors is the tinnitus supplement, Arches Tinnitus Formula®. The Arches Tinnitus Formulas have been specially formulated with naturally derived materials, proven to reduce ringing in the ears through the use of the highest quality ingredients, specifically Ginkgo Max 26/7. You can read about the science behind the Arches products and why it is the only natural tinnitus treatment recommended by ENT doctors on the Arches website.

More questions on tinnitus? Ask Barry…

These were just a few of the frequently asked questions regarding tinnitus and ringing in the ears, but if you have more questions or want answers to your specific situation, visit our Ask Barry Question on Tinnitus page (updated monthly with new answers to your questions) and ask Barry your own questions by emailing him. Barry Keate is a tinnitus expert who has lived with tinnitus for more than 40 years (Read his story of finding tinnitus relief).

You can also find up-to-date information about all things tinnitus in our Tinnitus Research Library, which is home to over 200 articles on tinnitus causes, tinnitus treatments, clinical studies and more.

Arches Natural Products, Inc. strives to be a leader in premium-grade tinnitus relief supplements as well  as a valuable resource for the best tinnitus treatment and causes information. Visit our online store to purchase your ENT-recommended tinnitus supplements.