Are You Needing Tinnitus Help?

Tinnitus: An Introduction

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), almost 12 percent of men who are 65 to 74 years of age are affected by tinnitus. In the United States, there are 23m sufferers. These include 40% of military veterans with the government obliged to pay out around $1bn in costs to tinnitus sufferers annually. Around one in 10 British adults suffers from tinnitus. All of which can be provoked by numerous sources - including listening to loud music.

Tinnitus, the ‘ringing’, ‘roaring’ or ‘hissing’ in the ears can be symptomaticof the first signs of noise induced hearing loss. It is becoming more common in our increasingly noisy society. Theaffinity with power tools, high gain stereos and power-driven garden and leisure equipment is behind many of the estimated 50 million cases, 12 million of them severe and debilitating in the United States alone;this is according to the American Tinnitus Association.

There are more and more young people experiencing tinnitus because of our society becoming more exposed as noise pollution increases. This is especially noticeable on young adultsdeveloping tinnitus as a result of listening to their favourite music through the availability of more powerful portable devices.

IN THE TWENTY-FIVE YEARS that I've been involved with helping people with their hearing problems I have held countless discussions relating to poorly performing hearing aids, ear infection symptoms in adults, speech understanding and how it has affected people’s lives. These also include such challenges as blast damaged ears, skin cancers (most of the ear surgically removed) and various dexterity issues.

Tinnitus Miracle Thomas Coleman However, tinnitus is a completely different story. Getting people to hear once again is challenging yet very rewarding, but when tinnitus is encountered, it presents a problem that seems to have no immediate or clear solution. Tinnitus is the Latin word for ‘ringing’, and usually it is described as a ringing noise or sensation, some describe buzzing, humming, or whistling. Often people cannot even tell where it's coming from with the usual answer "somewhere in my head". Tinnitus is not in itself a ‘disease’ but can be a very unwelcome symptom (to put it mildly) resulting from a range of underlying causes.

Tinnitus has featured in many of the people I have tested and you can't help sympathising, as it is so invasive and distressing, also because the way that it seldom seems to release its grip once it has introduced itself. The condition is very subjective with clients describing the noises in their head as ranging from a high frequency hiss to a deeper humming sensation, with varying degrees of intensity - some have the ability to 'accept it' while others are affected (including their family and friends) to a level where it can start influencing and dictating lifestyle.

I also happen to think that in an age where medication can help most conditions, or at least help with the symptoms, tinnitus always seems to be an area that doctors can only suggest that "learning to live with it" is the only available option.

A shocking experience

The effect of prolonged tinnitus was really brought home to me quite shockingly and unexpected when I was testing a young lady on one of our regular open days. On introducing herself, she was visibly tense and extremely uneasy but slowly she began to reveal her own story - a story that involved a frustrating journey to try to eradicate a burgeoning constant ringing in her ears. This path had taken her from initial contact with general practitioners right up to specialist consultants and surgeons who, after around 3 months of constant bombardment, finally told her that they could offer little or no hope.

However, she wanted to know whether a hearing aid would give her some relief and provide her with some benefit as she desperately wished some form of tinnitus control. So after completing her audiogram, which revealed a considerable hearing loss, we talked about the possibility of trying out a hearing aid. At this point I was hoping that I could not only help her hear better but keeping my fingers crossed that it may have provided some relief by the aids masking effect, as has been the case on several of my previous dispensings. (Note¹)

After taking the measurements of her uncomfortable levels and programming the aid digitally, making sure there was no ear wax blockage or other conductive issues i.e. outer/middle ear occlusion, it came to the point when I asked her if she was ready (and we were in a quiet room). Unfortunately, just at the very moment I switched the hearing aids on, one of my clients entered the room and shouted his greetings - she immediately grabbed the hearing instruments and pulled them out of her ears. She just couldn't cope with this new sensitivity to sound... it was incredibly moving to witness her reaction.

It was at this point that she then delivered the broadside stating, quite matter-of-factly, that she was now at the point of asking her surgeon to completely remove both her cochleas as she would prefer being completely deaf rather than having to suffer this condition every single day... and night. She said that if the surgeon was unable to comply with this request she would then take her own life. Those of us who have only had the occasional bouts of tinnitus can only imagine what it is like to live with what she described as a "siren in my head without an off switch".

One of the real problems with this condition is that you generally find that the point at which acoustic pain can occur is much reduced; for example, most people can stand up to 120 dB for a short period, but with tinnitus you may find that this value reduces considerably and so the dynamic range between the point at which they can just hear a tone and the point where that becomes unbearable becomes increasingly narrower. (Note²)

This is why I never take this subject lightly. It's becoming increasingly common, for all sorts of reasons, and I hope that this series of articles will help people understand and hopefully answer a few more questions. For those that are still seeking some practical treatment guidelines or just want to go into the subject in more depth, I have compiled a review of a resource that you may want to consider. This is available at the end of this series of articles. For now please remember - you are not on your own!

Note¹: Generally speaking, the pitch of a subjective tinnitus nearly always coincides with the frequency of the maximum hearing loss. Or, in other words, if you compare the pitch of someone's tinnitus with the frequencies of a pure tone audiometer, it is nearly always found that the pitch of the tinnitus approximates most closely to the frequency of the maximum hearing loss; so for example, if a hearing loss is greatest in the high frequencies the tinnitus is usually also high-pitched.

Note²: A tone which is only just audible is known as a threshold sound - the softest sound of human speech to which we normally listen is a whisper, and the whisper is about 1,000 times more powerful than the threshold sound, at a distance of about 3 feet.

If you think that tinnitus only affects the middle aged... then think again.

Most people tend to think that tinnitus is associated with middle and old age but it's becoming an increasing problem for our children as well. I asked my niece, Rachel (age 21), who had a pretty rough ride with tinnitus about a year or so ago following a night out at her local discotheque. She has very kindly allowed us a very personal insight to her thoughts and feelings as she was under attack from tinnitus:

Rachel's story

tinnitusmiracle.com "I had tinnitus severely for about a month, following a night out in my local town. I can honestly say it was the most distressing thing that has ever happened to me. I could not escape it, the ringing was not even masked by everyday noise, yet it was nothing compared to the night - it was constant ringing so that was the time when I suffered the most!

It became a vicious circle; my lack of sleep caused me to become more and more stressed and upset, and as I became more distressed the tinnitus gradually got worse - meaning I had no chance of a decent night’s sleep.

It got so bad, that I actually remember saying I'd rather be deaf than go through this torture every day! I know that sounds dramatic, but I was deadly serious at the time.

This all came about just before I was due to go on holiday, the aeroplane journey was horrendous, my ears had become so sensitive to loud noise that the sound of the engines was more than I could take. However, once I arrived in Spain and began to relax, I noticed that my tinnitus was starting to settle down, and having a fan in my room at night worked perfectly to mask the ringing - my first night in Spain was probably the first full night’s sleep I had had in 4 weeks.

Eventually I forgot about the ringing, it was still faintly there but I learnt to kind of live with it. It was dramatically better though, there would have been no way I could have 'ignored' it previously. I felt so fortunate that it was becoming better; I thought I had ruined my life forever.

My experience of tinnitus has taught me how precious my hearing is, I took it for granted and did not particularly look after my ears. However, I am extremely conscious of making sure I never put myself through that again and whenever I go to a nightclub, I wear earplugs (I can still hear absolutely fine). I find that it occasionally returns, but I try to remain calm and it usually wears off pretty quickly, and if it happens to play up on an evening, I keep a fan by my bed :)

Look after your ears!!! Unless you want the sound of a whistling kettle following you around 24/7 and literally driving you crazy!!!"

Recent survey

In a recent study carried out by the RNID (Royal National Institute for the Deaf) revealed that 70% of clubbers had symptoms of hearing damage after only one night out. More than 1,300 people were surveyed –a quarter said that the music was too loud and a third said they thought hearing loss would affect their lives. Most young people have experienced the first signs of permanent hearing damage yet have no idea of how to prevent it.

The survey offers a few useful tips for music lovers, musicians and DJs to protect themselves or while performing:

Taking a five minute rest period for every hour of listening to allow ears a little time to recover.
Stand well away from loud speakers in pubs, clubs, gigs and concerts.
Taking regular breaks from the dance floor and using ‘chill out’ areas to give ears a rest from loud music.
Wearing earplugs designed for use in clubs and gigs, which reduce the volume not the quality of the sound - available for the price of a CD (see Rachel’s comment above).

tinnitus miracle In other workplaces, updated regulations are already in force and the level at which employers must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones is now 85 rather than 90 decibels (daily or weekly average exposure). If you are getting the slightest hint of ringing, it is a warning - remember you will not be the remotest bit aware IN THE VENUE itself but as soon as your ears enter quieter surroundings, you may become aware of a strange new sound.

At first, your brain won't comprehend this - you'll feel that it could be environmental and you will probably look for some kind of visual verification. It takes a little while to come to the conclusion, and accept, that it's actually your ears making that noise. So do please listen to your body - it is rather clever at telling us what we ought to know!

The level at which employers must assess the risk to workers' health and provide them with information and training is now 80 decibels (an explanation of the decibel appears in the chart below)

Tip - if you are experiencing any form of tinnitus and the hearing loss appears to be one-sided it would be a good idea to have a word with your physician. Try this test if you are unsure: close your eyes and then ask a friend stand around 4 yards away and clap their hands just once, then point to where you think that the sound has come from. Do this a number of times in different positions and if you can't point to the source of the sound, there is a high chance that you may have a unilateral condition. If that’s the case, get it checked out.

stop ringing

Book Review Of Tinnitus Miracle - Thomas Coleman

Note: This is a review; click here if you want to visit the Tinnitus Miracle website.

Despite all the negative stories of tinnitus, many people have significantly reduced the sounds in their ears quite naturally and are now tinnitus free and the best part is, many did it without drugs, over the counter medications and without the very real risk of surgery or any side effects...

In fact 95% of the people who use conventional treatments such as drugs, habituation (to learn not to respond to a stimulus that is frequently repeated) or surgeries may lower the ear ringing volume temporarily but most often end up worse than when they started. I'm going to shortly direct you to a resource that will show you how to be in the successful 5% group that will give hope to tinnitus sufferers worldwide.

Help Tinnitus holistically

Relieving tinnitus can never be achieved by tackling one of the many factors responsible for it in the first place. If you've ever tried to eradicate your tinnitus using a one-dimensional treatment like drugs, herbal supplements or even detox diets and failed, it's probably because you have tackled only one aspect of the disease. Not only will this system teach you the only way to prevent the formation of tinnitus, you will also learn a practical way to relieve your tinnitus naturally - the holistic way.

These processes are not complicated and come from a nutritionist and former sufferer who knows from real-world experience exactly what it’s like and how it's done. Here’s a brief summary of Tinnitus Miracle contents:

Everything you need to know about tinnitus, EXACTLY what causes the noise in your head. (Take a closer look at two most recent tinnitus surveys, the results are surprising.)
The top eight best anti-tinnitus foods you should eat all the time.
The top ten worst foods you should NEVER eat when you have tinnitus.
Conventional tinnitus treatments, ear nerve surgeries, the ‘medication trap’ and use the natural approach.
Discover the most important element that, when eliminated, can virtually banish over 85% of all tinnitus cases (and almost all tinnitus sufferers do it).
Tinnitus remedy: the most powerful homeopathic herb (that can reverse most tinnitus conditions) that the tinnitus and drug industries hope you will never find out!
The one natural vitamin supplement that you should always take on a daily basis, and is guaranteed to make an impact on your tinnitus condition - sometimes in a matter of days!
The cardinal sin of every tinnitus treatment almost all tinnitus sufferer are guilty of, which, instead of relieving your tinnitus, weakens and destroys your body's natural ability to defend itself, thus putting your health in serious risk and making your tinnitus worse in the long run (and more than 92% of tinnitus sufferers are doing it!)
Discover the link between ONE specific medication and tinnitus and why must you avoid it right now to prevent the worsening of your tinnitus condition and potential health complications. I eventually discovered the connection with my own wife with this substance. As soon as she stopped taking it, her tinnitus disappeared.
Tinnitus and the ‘Emotional Brain’: the facts about "the phantom perception - is tinnitus all in your head?”
A simple test (questionnaire) you can take at home to know the exact severity of your tinnitus. (You'll know the answer in less than 15 minutes.)
What personality characteristics do tinnitus sufferers share? Surprising facts about the similarities between all tinnitus sufferers.
The importance of making simple lifestyle changes in daily habits that can drastically decrease the sound in your ears, sometimes in a matter of days.
How to diagnose your tinnitus with pinpoint accuracy using a multi-dimensional approach that will also help you exclude other risky possibilities.
Answering the following scientifically proven questionnaire will quickly help you understand what your SPADE levels are (stress, panic, anxiety, depression), their impact on your tinnitus and EXACTLY what to do to eliminate these symptoms from your life one and for all.
Several of the best-kept anti-tinnitus supplements that almost NOBODY knows about...compiled from a 14-year study.
WHY you have tinnitus, the CRITICAL main causes of the noise in your head and why some people always seem to make their tinnitus worse.
The connection between physical activity and tinnitus and why, when, where and how you can start 'exercising' your way to a tinnitus-free life.
The 2 breathing strategies that significantly help your body to start to heal itself and fight tinnitus.
Why no special diet, chiropractor or detox program will ever completely eradicate your tinnitus.
A WARNING! A very common household ingredient has the ability to aggravate your tinnitus. If you do not get rid of it, you will never get rid of your tinnitus.
A method to use the powers of your mind and mental abilities to tackle one of the main causes of your tinnitus. This technique alone can dramatically reduce the sounds in your ear.
This technique has been voted "the best" since it fixes the root cause of tinnitus pain and helps prevent its recurrence.
Why you'll never get the whole truth about drugs, and risky surgical procedures from almost any doctor (Even if they wanted to tell you, this is why they CAN'T!)
The importance of optimizing your immune system. How you can start feeling much healthier and ward off tinnitus by boosting your natural immune capabilities.
Why a combination of three types of herbs will empower your body's self-immune mechanism and cleansing abilities (required to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus) dramatically.
How to prevent the recurrence of tinnitus, ear and sinus infections, allergies and how they are all connected. How to tackle the root cause of tinnitus, keeping your internal organs in optimum condition.
Why tinnitus is a WARNING sign that something could be wrong. What you can learn from it and do about it?
The simple effective method for allowing your body to strengthen, heal and fortify itself and thus help tinnitus so efficiently.
The most potent and controversial method of using Hypnotherapy and its effect on your tinnitus condition. This important step alone has done wonders for thousands of tinnitus sufferers faster than they ever thought possible and is also crucial for preventing recurring tinnitus.
The TRUTH about homeopathic remedies and yoga as treatments for tinnitus. Can yoga, along with a unique combination of homeopathic remedies, be the answer to the ringing in your ears?
The CRUCIAL link between lack of sleep, stress, anxiety and tinnitus and exactly what you should do to significantly control or completely eliminate these afflictions from your life. If you recall Rachel's story above you're already beginning to understand part of this process and please remember... it is a process and not an event.
The connection between an unbalanced body and tinnitus and what you can do to bring your body back into balance.

Click here to visit Thomas Coleman’s Tinnitus Miracle website.

So, am I willing to recommend this book?

After 25 years of continuous professional involvement with the hard of hearing, this is the most comprehensive tinnitus relief system that I have personally ever seen. I can understand how it has taken 14 years of research - there are no gimmicks in this program - there are no magic pills, no drugs to buy and no hidden agendas - just all the facts and solid advice you will need to help you with your tinnitus naturally. The book consists of 334 pages of content - delivered as an e-manual. If you need answers quickly, just pop in your search term... it really is that simple. However...!

Warning!

I also believe it's important to state that this book isn't for anyone that wants, or expects, a 'quick fix'. If you're the type that believes advertisements proclaiming nonsense such as "Lose Ten Pounds In One Week Without Exercising" type of thing you are going to be disappointed. Yes, it will take some effort but there is so much in this book that may surprise and help you (or a loved one) with guidance that can be simply and practically applied at very little expense. It's for people who are looking at a long-term solution to their tinnitus problems and want to take action but are unsure of how to go about it.

Taking aside the book's title, the intonation of ‘Miracle’ is just plain silly! It would be far more appropriate to call it a ‘Tinnitus Management System’ but I guess that isn't sexy enough for the marketing department - if you can get your head round this and regard it as a ‘system’– a ‘system’ that is broken into 5 practical steps.

Now I'm not going to give you a clinical or academic appraisal here because you really do need to view tinnitus as an entity - an enemy that you are capable of completely annihilating. Now if you don't believe that you've already lost.

Look at it this way... doesn't it make sense that you need knowledge and guidance first and once you have that you can then begin to collect, and use, the right equipment and attack on numerous fronts. Once the attack has begun and you know you are going to win, your tinnitus will have no other option than to retreat, capitulate and give up. Now maybe that's a simple way of looking at it but that's the way I personally regard it. This is something you can beat.

This 'Tinnitus Management System' will also give you some hidden benefits as you begin to realise that you can actually win this battle. Meaning, you have everything centralised in one manual. No more spending hours on the Internet looking for free stuff or articles that are so impractical, or written so academically, that they don't warrant a second glance.

What you need is a searchable database on the subject - a reference that you can dip into time and again but, more importantly than that, you need a proven system that will enable you to begin the assault far quicker, and more effectively than you ever thought possible.

Therefore, I am more than happy to recommend this practical and honest tinnitus help system.

Do please let me know how you get on... and good luck!

Click here to visit Thomas Coleman’s Tinnitus Miracle website.

tinnitus control

P.S. Here’s a sobering message: David Baguley, Consultant Audiologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, stated: "My hope, which is cautiously optimistic, is that we will see a drug available to sufferers within a 20 year period."

For further information about tinnitus, please see the following articles: