Tinnitus Acoustic Neuroma Explained
Tinnitus Acoustic Neuroma
What is tinnitus acoustic neuroma and how does it affect you?
When you first go to the doctor with ear problems and tinnitus the first thing that will be done is a hearing test. This is to determine if you have any hearing loss.
The second thing will normally be having an MRI test run.
This is used to find out if your tinnitus is caused by acoustic neuroma. The condition is often referred to as “Vestibular Schwannomas” and it involves non-malignant growths that appear on the “eight cranial nerve”.
This is the nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain.
In order to understand tinnitus acoustic neuroma, you need to understand what kind of effect these growths can have on this cranial nerve. This nerve is composed of two different parts and it’s located near the facial nerve.
One part carries sound to the brain and the other carries balance. They pass through a very small bony canal that is referred to as the internal auditory canal. This is the canal in which the growths will begin to grow when a person is suffering from acoustic neuroma.
These growths are not cancerous and they grow very slowly over a number of years. They don’t spread to other parts of the ear but they can continue to grow in size. When they grow big enough, they will begin to reach outside of this canal and they can press against the brain. This of course, can become a very serious problem.
The symptoms associated with this condition are tinnitus, dizziness and hearing loss. When the condition becomes severe tingling, facial numbness, headaches, mental confusion and clumsiness can occur. As you can see, this can be a very serious condition but luckily, it‘s very rare.
There are three methods of treating tinnitus acoustic neuroma. First, your health care provider will keep a close eye on the condition to look for any changes. Microsurgery can be performed to remove some or all of the growth in hopes of preserving the hearing if it continues to get worse. Radiation is a non-invasive treatment that is also used for small and medium growths. The radiation, if done precisely, will stop the growths while doing little damage to the nerves thus, preserving the hearing in many cases.
* image courtesy of Northwestern University
Tinnitus Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids
Tinnitus hearing loss and hearing aids, what do they have in common. Tinnitus and hearing loss seem to go hand in hand. In fact, it’s estimated that somewhere around ninety percent of all people who suffer with tinnitus also have some form of hearing loss. This is not a surprise since the two often accompany each other. This is because tinnitus is usually the symptom caused by the problem that is responsible for your hearing loss.
It’s important for people to realize that tinnitus is not the cause of the hearing problem but it can affect your attention span causing you to ignore the sounds around you. The tinnitus can also be so loud that it makes it difficult to hear anything else. These are some of the reasons why it’s so important for you to have a hearing test done. Tinnitus needs to be properly diagnosis and it needs to be determined if you have hearing loss and if so, to what degree.
When a patient is diagnosed with tinnitus hearing loss, one of the first things recommended for them is a hearing aid. The reason for this is because when you have trouble hearing, the tinnitus is no longer drowned out by the external noises that you use to hear. With less interference from the outside, these internal noises appear to be louder. By improving the hearing with this device, you may be able to reduce the sound caused by the tinnitus.
When the hearing aid is not enough, then masking techniques are usually recommended. Many patients have found relief with a combination of hearing aid and masking techniques. If you’re suffering from tinnitus, it’s vital that you see your doctor and have your hearing checked. If the real cause of your hearing loss can be determined, it may be possible to treat it and improve your hearing to some degree. This will most likely help reduce the tinnitus as well. If the hearing problem can’t be corrected, hearing aids can help to improve your hearing and help reduce the noises associated with tinnitus.
Tinnitus Questions – Video Series Episode #2
Episode #2 so let’s get started 1st question:
1.Question #1: How do supplements ease the distress of tinnitus? I am skeptical.
A: These T-Gone tinnitus relief homeopathic treatments are very effective as they do not just treat the symptoms of tinnitus but actually deal with and treat the root cause and this is why they are so effective in diminishing tinnitus and produce such excellent results.
2.Question #2: What determine’s the different sounds?
A: The different sounds are determined by the root cause of one’s tinnitus for example exposure to loud noise which causes cochlear damage – the noises most common to this particular type of tinnitus are Ringing, Chirping sounds, Sounds like cicada’s or crickets on a warm summer evening. A High frequency noise similar to that of a computer monitor.
3.Question #3: Would wearing a hearing aid help?
A: This is something that is very much a personal and individual choice as Some people find that hearing aids can help to mask the tinnitus to a certain degree and then others find it aggravates their tinnitus.
OK well that’s all for this weeks episode BUT remember please leave your comments and post your thoughts below…
Stop Tinnitus Ringing
Stop Tinnitus Ringing Forever
Tinnitus is a common problem among many people that is a result of many different causes. While many people think there is no cure for Tinnitus, there are some ways to alleviate the ringing in the ears to a certain degree. In some cases, taking some simple steps can actually get rid of it. It depends on what the base cause of the tinnitus is, and that will determine if it is a permanent condition or not.
Tinnitus retraining therapy has been known to get rid of the ringing noise associated with tinnitus. Tinnitus retraining therapy is the procedure in which the tinnitus sufferer is taught to notice the ringing less by using sound enrichment techniques.
Masking is a commonly used method for stopping the tinnitus ringing. Masking is performed through the use of a device, similar to a hearing aid, which puts off a certain level of noise that will mask the ringing and reduce the sufferer’s perception of it. This can also be done with other tools such as a radio or alarm clock.
Cognitive behaviour therapy has been used as a remedial method for many ailments, as well as tinnitus. This is done by training the tinnitus sufferer to react differently to the symptoms of tinnitus, thus lessening the severity of the symptoms, as well as get rid of the ringing.
Stress has been associated with the severity of the ringing level associated with tinnitus for many years. When a person suffering from tinnitus takes the necessary steps to relieving and avoiding stress, they will notice that the ringing will lessen or stop completely. There are many holistic or alternative medicine practices that will reduce stress levels to get rid of the tinnitus ringing.
Biofeedback has shown great potential in relieving tinnitus ringing because it allows the person to visually and physically notice when their stress levels are up and how their body reacts, allowing them to avoiding the stress altogether. Yoga and meditation are also widely known techniques for reducing the stress a person may have. It is also great for inducing rest, as fatigue can worsen the symptoms of tinnitus.
A healthy diet is the key to a healthy life, so it is no surprise that maintaining a healthy diet will also prevent tinnitus ringing. Many common vitamins found in nutritional supplements have proven to work, such as zinc and niacin. There are also prescription medicines such as tranquilizers and muscle relaxants that have proven effective in getting rid of the ringing caused by tinnitus.
Hearing aids, much like masking devices, will get rid of the ringing sound caused by tinnitus by boosting the sounds around the person suffering from tinnitus. This makes it much easier for them to hear a person speaking to them, rather than the ringing.
Although there are many doctors and tinnitus sufferers that believe there is no cure for tinnitus, there are homeopathic cures for the ear ringing associated with tinnitus. Those suffering from tinnitus should discuss these treatment options with their health care physicians to choose the best options for them. Tinnitus sufferers should also try more than one of these options to ensure that the tinnitus ringing stops permanently.
iPhone App Turns The iPhone Into A Hearing Aid
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An amazing new iPhone application has been launched that turn the iPhone into a hearing aid. SoundAmp from Gingerlabs.
Their website announced today:
“soundAMP improves your hearing, whether or not you have hearing loss.
For people without hearing loss, launch soundAMP and relax, no more straining to hear what is said. In lecture hall situations, at the theater or in other settings, soundAMP puts better hearing within your reach.
For people with hearing loss, re-awaken your sense of hearing. Sounds come to life, and you can hear better again.”
We believe hearing is personal. Your hearing is all yours. You know how good it is and you know your hearing history. You know what situations you hear well in and those you do not. You may have even had a hearing test. Yet in the past, you may have been frustrated that you could not control your hearing experience.”
To go directly to the iTunes Store Click Here
