Noise induced tinnitus is a general condition experienced by millions of people but tinnitus is not a simple condition to treat.



A Few Tinnitis Do's and Don'ts

A person affected by ear ringing should avoid exposure to excessively loud noise for any length of time. A good rule of thumb is this: If you are affected by tinnitus and the noise levels in the room is loud enough that you must speak louder to be heard, you should either leave the room or use ear plugs. Most people find using small earplugs in crowded or noisy places provides effective tinnitus relief.

Tinnitus sufferers should avoid ototoxic drugs (drugs that have a harmful effect on the organs or nerves connected with hearing and balance). These medications include:

Aminoglycoside antibiotics when given intravenously or by injection. Some popular brand names for this group of antibiotics include Gentamicin, Streptomycin, Amilkacin, Neomycin and Tobramycin.

Quinine-based anti-malarial's (Choroquine) or anti-arrhythmic's (Quinidine)

Platinum-based Chemotherapeutic agents (Cisplatin) Some physicians suggest avoiding the antibiotic Zithromax (azithromycin) or the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Relafen (nabumetone).

People with tinnitus should avoid complete silence. The auditory system is designed to thrive in the presence of environmental sound. If there is no sound, the hearing system will seek to find it. If the only noise available is the tinnitus, it will become unnecessarily magnified. To obtain relief from "head noise," a person affected by tinnitus should be exposed to all kinds of sounds that are not excessively loud.

Experts recommend tinnitus sufferers to hold the ears close to the head and use the thumbs and index fingers to massage the outer edges of both ears, including the earlobes. Reflexologists suggest pressing or massaging the area below the last two fingers on the palm of each hand, and/or the sole of each foot between the little toe and the middle toe.

Many have found a lowering of the tinnitus noises is brought about by doing something that increases the blood circulation to the head. Recommended exercise such as running, fast walking, swimming, cycling and aerobic activities.

Others have found that meditation and simply learning to relax has been helpful in reducing tinnitus levels. Obviously not all of these techniques will work for you so experiment a bit and find one that you are happy with and that does the job for you.

Experts suggest using a guided meditation or soft, comforting music.