Tinnitus is a condition in which the person suffering hears ringing in their ears. It’s an internal ringing that causes distraction, sleep disturbances and sometimes pain. For some, tinnitus is mild and merely annoying. For others, the symptoms can become so frequent and painful that it truly interferes with their lives.

Tinnitus most often occurs as a result of age-related or noise-induced hearing loss. On occasion, certain medications such as courses of antibiotics, cancer drugs and aspirin can cause temporary tinnitus. Build-up of earwax may also cause tinnitus.

For the latter cases, the symptoms usually clear when the medications are ceased (if they can be) or when the earwax is removed. For age-related or noise-induced tinnitus, tinnitus is usually permanent.

There are some ways tinnitus can be relieved. As we just learned in our last blog, not all of these suggestions are as effective as others.

1. Hearing aids: They amplify hearing to serve as a distraction from the internal ringing.
2. Avoid further damage or excessive noise with noise-reducing earplug (musician’s earplugs, foam earplugs)
3. Avoiding stimulants (Likely not, see our previous blog)
4. Background or white noise (another distraction method); can use custom earphones to “drown” out the ringing yet protecting your ears from further damage
5. Therapy to help with relaxation
6. Medications for relaxation, depression or anxiety

Treating tinnitus has no “one-size-fits-all” approach, so it’s important to work with your healthcare provider and find the appropriate treatment for your tinnitus so you don’t have to continue suffering. Above all, continue to stay apprised of all the latest research. As we learned with our last blog, what was advised yesterday may not be the best means to treat tinnitus.

Some of us just have more earwax than others, and it becomes important to keep this pesky problem at bay.

What NOT to do!

Whatever you do, don’t insert something like a cotton-tipped stick into your ear and try to remove the wax. You’ll only be impacting it and pushing it deeper into your ear canal which can lead to bigger problems (and possibly a trip to the doctor!). The best piece of advice I can give you that many doctors have said is ‘Never stick anything in your ear except for your elbow!’ Unless you’re a contortionist, this is an impossibility, ergo, nothing should go into your ear that’s not meant for your ear (earplugs are designed specifically for an ear canal and thus, they are okay!).

Also, if there is discharge draining from your ear, you should see a doctor as this can indicate an ear infection that may lead to more complications and even hearing loss. So, no home remedies if you have any sort of cloudy or bloody fluid draining from your ear. Head to the doctors and then check back here to see how you can prevent ear infections in the future.

What you CAN do

A good way to keep up on earwax build up can be performed in your regular shower once or twice a week. Tilt your head to the side under the shower and allow the warm water to go into your ear. Stand this way for about 30 seconds on each side. The water should soften the earwax and make it easier for it to come out naturally.

Eat crunchy foods that make your jaw work harder. The motion that your jaw makes when you chew also pushes earwax out of your ear canal. Try carrot or celery sticks or crunchy crackers such as melba toast.

Use natural home remedies such as doctor-approved earwax removal kits. Don’t use just any home remedy that you find on the internet because some of these can actually harm your ear or cause permanent damage. Macks makes two earwax removal kits that are both doctor approved and safe.

Cheers for now!

Meghan