The Medical Consumer's Advocate

Tinnitus

 

Q: Is it necessary to see a doctor for tinnitus? It began after firing weapons in the military 15 years ago. Can acupuncture help?

A: If you are absolutely certain that you know the cause of the tinnitus (also known as "head noise," or "ringing in the ears") then you are right, it is not necessary to see a doctor. If there is some doubt as to the origin of this noise, then it would be a good idea to see a doctor. Tinnitus can be a symptom of more serious illness– even brain tumor. Nevertheless, if his tinnitus has existed unchanged for 15 years, it is improbable that this symptom signifies anything serious.

Before you completely toss the doctor visit aside, here is what it could possibly accomplish:

1. Verify the diagnosis. In other words, you would have a doctor’s statement that your tinnitus, and any associated hearing loss, is due to noise exposure in the military. You may not need a hearing aid now, but you may need one in 10, 20, or 30 years. This is impossible to predict. If you can get the Veteran’s Administration to acknowledge responsibility for his problem, then the VA may pick up part of the cost of hearing aid(s) in the future. (I am assuming you are a US citizen. Other countries may have similar policies, however.) If this interests you, you ought to see a VA doctor, since his/her opinion will carry more clout than that of a non-VA doctor.

2. Establish the level of hearing loss. For this, you will either need to see an audiologist, or see an ear, nose and throat physician who can do hearing tests in his/her office. This is the best way to determine if you need a hearing aid now, or may need one in the future.

This is also an important point if you work in a noisy environment. If you do, you needs to wear noise protection (plugs, muffs, etc.) in order to prevent further hearing loss. Also, if you think you may have a workman’s compensation case for occupational hearing loss, a "base-line" hearing test is critical. Otherwise, your hearing loss could be attributed entirely to your time in the army.

3. Receive information regarding treatment. True enough, there is no cure for noise-induced tinnitus, but there are a variety of simple techniques which may make the tinnitus more tolerable. Occasionally, medication may be prescribed to help with tinnitus. Devices (such as "tinnitus maskers") may also be extraordinarily helpful for the "tough cases." More information on tinnitus treatment options can be found at the American Tinnitus Association website.

I’m sorry to say that I have no experience with acupuncture for the treatment of tinnitus. Since there is no cure for tinnitus, many alternative treatments have been attempted. Meditation, biofeedback and herbal medicine are especially popular. As a general rule, however, when multiple treatments exist for an ailment, it is unlikely that any of the treatments are routinely successful. (But that doesn't mean they are never successful!)

 

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