Please note: the following information does not constitute professional medical advice, and is provided for general informational purposes only. Please speak to your doctor if you have tinnitus. Many people have never experienced tinnitus, so they have no concept of how irritating and frustrating this condition can be. In fact, the constant ringing and buzzing sound can result in other health problems due to the stress tinnitus causes. Sometimes in mild cases of tinnitus, the sounds are not noticeable during waking hours when the sounds of everyday life drown the noise out. The condition often seems louder when the sufferer is trying to sleep, so regular sleep can be difficult to achieve. Approximately two million residents of the United States are so affected by tinnitus that they are unable to sleep or work and some even choose suicide to end their anguish. There has been no cure for tinnitus thus far, so people who have it try various methods to deal with the problem. Some of the most common approaches include:
  • Background music or sounds
  • Sleeping pills or calming herbal remedies
  • Avoid loud noises to prevent further damage
Scientists believe the primary reason that people develop tinnitus is due to hearing loss from loud noises. The inner ear is lined with hair cells that detect sound, and each is tuned to a different frequency. When any of these cells are damaged a gap in hearing ability is caused. Since the brain is missing auditory input from some hair cells, the neurons of the auditory cortex create phantom perceptions. Although tinnitus research has been going on for years, there has been no cure of the condition found to date. However, there is a ray of hope on the horizon for those who experience constant noise. A recent study shows the possibility of a GABA tinnitus treatment becoming available in the future. Laboratory experiments using rats indicate tinnitus symptoms originate in the brain rather than the inner ear. A GABA tinnitus treatment may inhibit the auditory cortical neurons to alleviate tinnitus symptoms with a relatively low risk of side effects. Various treatment strategies have been considered to minimize the symptoms of tinnitus. Two drugs in particular were shown to improve GABA tinnitus treatment in rats, but these drugs have serious side effects when used on humans. Further research is required in order to identify drugs that will help to inhibit the firing of auditory cortical neurons. In the meantime, the symptoms of tinnitus can be lessened by the reduction of anxiety and stress in the life of the patient. This approach can be challenging since tinnitus can be the source of stress, but meditation and anxiety reducing drugs can help.