Is there an effective drug or operation for tinnitus?

Tinnitus has many different causes, some of which we do not fully understand, therefore there cannot be one single drug or surgical procedure which can be effective for everyone with tinnitus. Some people find that they get relief by using a prescription drug or vitamin/mineral supplement, but this depends upon the source of the tinnitus. There is no operation specifically for tinnitus, but if it is caused by a condition which can be operated on, e.g. otosclerosis, it may be relieved by the operation. This should be discussed with your doctor, but there are no guaranteed medical treatments.

Will the tinnitus get louder and louder?

Generally, no. In 8/10 people the tinnitus loudness remains the same or becomes less over time.  Most people find that the tinnitus loudness varies from time to time, due to their general health, intermittent ear or respiratory problems, or stress, depression or anxiety.

Does grinding my teeth cause tinnitus?

Some people clench or grind their teeth, especially in their sleep, and experience jaw and ear pain, clicking or locking in the jaw, and tinnitus. Correcting a poor bite and managing muscular tension in the jaw and face can give some relief to these symptoms, so it is worth seeing a dentist and/or specialist physiotherapist if you have these symptoms. In some people, tinnitus and jaw problems are both caused by stress and anxiety, so relaxation is an important part of the management of both conditions.

Why is tinnitus bad at night?

Tinnitus is often more noticeable when there are no other sounds to distract your attention from it, hence it can be more noticeable at night. Also, when we are tired we are generally less resilient and less able to think positively so feel more anxious or worried. If you have particular worries or preoccupations – work-related stress, the illness of a family member, you are planning a major event – you may find that you are sleeping less well and you notice your tinnitus more when you are lying awake.

Why is the tinnitus loud when I wake up in the morning?

The most likely explanation is that your ears have become slightly blocked over-night, when you haven’t been swallowing regularly to refresh the air in the middle ears. This blockage causes a slight hearing loss and increases your attention to internal sounds instead of external sounds. As your ears unblock, the loudness of the tinnitus may decrease.

THINKING ABOUT TINNITUS

“Consider what options are open to us when we actually encounter a particular problem. At one extreme, we can allow ourselves to be overwhelmed. At the other, we can simply go on a picnic or take a holiday and ignore it. The third possibility is to face up to the situation directly. This involves examining it, determining its causes and finding out how to deal with them” (the Dalai Lama, 1999)

We have a constant stream of self-talk -  thoughts and images which go through our minds during waking hours. For example, you might be stuck in traffic. Your thoughts might be:
Neutral    (“I wonder what’s happening at the intersection ahead?”)             
Negative (“I can’t stand all this traffic. Why is it always so busy when I’m in a hurry?”)
Positive   (“I have a chance to hear the end of this interesting radio program”)

Tinnitus Self-talk

Thoughts can be automatic. We are often unaware of the contents of our thoughts until we deliberately stop and listen to what is going through our heads.  Thoughts flow fairly constantly – we rarely pay attention to them.  We tend to believe our thoughts without questioning their basis. However, thoughts might be logical, that is based in fact -  or illogical, not based in fact.  Thoughts can also become stuck, repeating the same sequence.

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