Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is reported by the Australian tinnitus association to affect some 20% of Australians. In the age group over 65 it is 30%. Most people you speak to are either living with, related to or know someone who is suffering from this maddening condition.

What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is different for everybody. It may occur in one ear or in both and sufferers report many different sounds in their ears including humming, ringing, or a high pitched whine like the sound of crickets. It can also be experienced at various volumes and pitch, and can be worse at different times of the day or night. Often sleeping is a problem, once the daily activities which distract from the internal noise are concluded. Other symptoms which may accompany tinnitus are dizziness or vertigo, loss of balance and nausea. These symptoms may be due to a condition called Meniere’s syndrome which is caused by an excess of fluid pressure in the inner ear.

What causes tinnitus?
The most common cause of tinnitus is loud noise. Industrial noise is a very common cause of both deafness and tinnitus, affecting factory workers who have been exposed to noise over many years. Military service is also a common cause of ear problems. Many sufferers report that their tinnitus began during the war when they worked with guns, tanks or heavy machinery and in particular aircraft. Ear protection was unfortunately unheard of in these times. Loud music is another major cause of tinnitus and many musicians are plagued by this condition.
Even living in the country does not provide protection from ear damage. Farmers commonly suffer ear problems due to hours of exposure to the noise of tractors and other farm machines. A bang on the head may bring on tinnitus, and ear problems may also stem from a virus or from frequent ear infections in childhood. Some medications can cause or aggravate tinnitus as can some foods.

Drugs to avoid
The following drugs have been shown to potentially cause or worsen tinnitus. Salycilate analgesics (higher doses of aspirin), naproxen sodium (Naprosyn, Aleve), ibuprofen, many other non steroid anti-inflammatories, aminoglycoside antibiotics, anti depressants, loop inhibiting diuretics, quinnine/anti malarials, oral contraceptives and chemotherapy.

Aspirin is found in found in: Disprin, Aspro, Ecotrin, Codral, Codcomol, Cartia, Solprin, Paytocil, Rhusal, Pirophen, SRA, Asparcod, Anacin, Aspec, Codis, Venganin, Alka-Sestzer, Hedex.
Marijuana usage may worsen a pre existing case of tinnitus and alcohol may contribute to tinnitus in some people.

Ototoxic chemicals commonly found in food:
Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, Coca cola, Pepsi Cola and chocolate. Too much caffeine for some people can raise blood pressure, cause restlessness, irritability, muscle twitches and can worsen tinnitus. Experiment with your caffeine intake to see if it affects your tinnitus.

Quinine, found in tonic water.
Aspartame, found in many diet foods including diet coke. Brand names for aspartame are NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure.

Smoking
Nicotine is a vaso constrictor, meaning it raises blood pressure. It can also directly affect the nerves, causing neuralgia (pain) or spontaneous nerve impulses which can result in worsening of tinnitus.

Medical treatments
The medical profession is generally baffled by tinnitus, not knowing what causes it or how to treat it. Drugs are sometimes prescribed but are only suitable for a small number of people. In extreme cases people have had the auditory nerve severed so hearing is lost entirely. However, it has been known for this procedure to be done and despite the patient becoming deaf, the tinnitus still prevails. Many doctors now believe this indicates that although tinnitus originates in the ear it becomes perpetuated as a feedback mechanism by the limbic system in the brain.

Retraining therapy
Years ago, before tinnitus was a well known and recognised condition sufferers were told “its all in your head.” Though it is now acknowledged that tinnitus is very real condition, the specialists are concluding that in fact the cause and the treatment are psychophysical rather than physical. The current treatment favoured by specialist audiologists is tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), a lengthy re-education program which teaches the subject to change their reaction to the tinnitus and thereby reduce its impact on their consciousness. Many people find this therapy extremely helpful in allowing them to adjust to or reduce their tinnitus.

Sound Therapy
A very different alternative was pioneered by the French ear specialist, Dr Alfred Tomatis, who invented a therapeutic listening program using specially filtered classical music. Sound Therapy provides exercise for the tiny muscles in the middle ear, improving the functioning of the ear mechanism and has been found to relieve or eliminate tinnitus in many cases. It also often helps mild hearing loss, dizziness and sensations of blocking or fullness in the ear.

Rafaele Joudry, Director of Sound Therapy International, leading author and lecturer on Sound Therapy believes that most tinnitus is caused by damage to the tiny hair cells called “cilia” in the inner ear. She says that when they are damaged they lie flat, and in touching each other they “short circuit” and create a phantom noise. The Sound Therapy program trains the ear to open and respond to gentle high frequencies so that these therapeutic sounds can reach the inner ear. These sounds stimulate the damaged hair cells to become erect again, improving hearing and usually providing relief for tinnitus. Sound Therapy is a self help program which can be used by anyone in their own home. A full and fascinating description of this therapy is given in Joudry’s latest book, Sound Therapy: Music to Recharge Your Brain.

Rafaele says, “We have been treating tinnitus for twelve years now in Australia with results ranging from partial to complete relief for sufferers. Our treatment is a safe method which is affordable and enjoyable. Our clients have achieved results where they were told that no hope existed.”
Rafaele Joudry’s latest book, Triumph Over Tinnitus is a handbook for tinnitus sufferers and covers a wide range of therapies that can help.

Natural therapies
A naturopath will look at the whole system to determine where an imbalance may be contributing to the symptom of tinnitus, and look for a specific formula to address that imbalance. Tinnitus could be due to a digestive problem, which may include poor pancreatic function. Therefore, a digestive enzyme that would support the pancreas may be in order. If it’s an acid condition where there is a lot of mucus present in the body, then the patient may just need a general de-tox. A bowel disorder indicates toxicity which is coming back into the system and needs to be cleared, and could perhaps be treated with a herbal formula. Naturopaths may also use minerals to help in the bowel cleansing, and they may use homoeopathics or nutrient formulas.
Free-radical damage to the hearing apparatus can be caused by noise exposure and for this a naturopath would recommend anti-oxidants. A powerful formula including herbs which promote circulation is often beneficial to improving general ear function.

Where the tinnitus is due to industrial ear damage rather than systemic imbalances, some naturopaths would recommend Sound Therapy, and say that around 70-80% usually get a positive result.

A Chinese medical practitioner will want first to determine whether the tinnitus is due to an excess type or deficiency type imbalance. For example excessive types may exhibit the rising of liver fire; which is a way of describing a condition such as hypertension, preclampsia or emotional irritability. Another description might be phlegm-fire, which again is an excess condition involved in inflammation.

The deficiency types are from kidney essence deficiency which has to do with old age or excess of sexual activity, possibly tied up with excessive use of drugs. Also poor diet will cause a deficiency of the Chi, and conditions that are connected to the heart such as emotional conditions. Depending on whether the tinnitus is damp or wind type tinnitus, kidney, heart or liver tinnitus, the practitioner will then treat this imbalance with acupuncture or Chinese herbs.

Body work will help if the tinnitus is caused by neck tension or structural damage due to injury, stress or bad habits of posture and movement. It can be occupational, or it can be due to damage that has been done through being traumatised earlier in life, like being born with forceps delivery. To recover from this type of ingrained physical tension may take some time but is usually possible through a powerful and sensitive form of bodywork such as the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Cranial Osteopathy, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Osteopathy or working with a skilled massage therapist.

How do we avoid tinnitus?
Now that tinnitus is receiving more publicity and with the onslaught of environmental pollutants and chemical overload, many fear that it is becoming an epidemic. This raises the question, how can we avoid getting tinnitus? Here are a few tips for prevention:

• Protect your family’s ears from loud noise. Use cotton wool, ear plugs or muffs or your hands in noisy places.
• Never expose babies to loud noise. They are too young to tell you it is hurting them.
• Play music or TV quietly.
• If the music at the dance is too loud, ask the DJ to turn it down.
• Manage stress, learn yoga or meditation. Learn to relax.
• Use a quality mineral supplement, preferably colloidal minerals, to provide the ears with their basic requirements. The ears are very nutrient rich and require minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.
• Protect your ears against free radical damage with high quality, long lasting antioxidants. Besides vitamins A, C and E, find a supplement which includes second and third generation antioxidants such as ginko biloba, tumeric, pinebark and grape seed extract.
• Avoid medication that may trigger tinnitus.
• Use Sound Therapy to stimulate the cilia and strengthen the middle ear muscles.
• As much as possible avoid long term exposure to low frequency noise such as refrigerators, air conditioners, computers, traffic, tractors, aircraft and industrial noise.
• Listen to natural sounds in the upper frequency range eg birds, frogs, running water, the wind in the trees. These sounds calm the nervous system.

Rafaele Joudry is the founder and director of Sound Therapy International and the author of three books on Sound Therapy, including, Triumph Over Tinnitus, which includes a variety of treatments both wholistic and conventional, physical and psychological to assist with the troubling condition of ringing in the ears.
Contact: Sound Therapy International,
Phone 02 4234 4534 or 1300 55 77 96