Let’s talk tinnitus
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a continuing perceived sound where no external source is present. It may be in one or both ears. It is considered subjective since only the person who has the condition can actually hear it. Individuals with tinnitus sometimes describe the sound as a high-pitch whistle. Other individuals describe the sound as buzz, chirp, whoosh or pulse. Pitch is also variable. The consistent characteristic is that the ‘sound’ is constant and relentless. The best characterization is that ringing in the ears is an indication of a possible issue in the inner ear or auditory system.
Is ringing in the ears a disease?
No. Ringing in the ears is believed to have many possible causes or contributing factors but it is not a disease. In some cases occupational exposure to loud noises is directly related to ringing in the ears. In other cases certain medications (including aspirin and ibuprofen) are thought to initiate or exacerbate tinnitus. In still other cases none of these factors is present, but ringing in the ears still occurs. Ringing in the ears is sometimes associated with impacted cerumen (ear wax) or other symptoms of inner ear disturbance such as dizziness or vertigo.
What kind of doctor diagnoses and/or treats ringing in the ears?
Otolaryngologists, also known as Ear, Nose and Throat specialists (ENTs) are the most familiar with ringing in the ears.
Is tinnitus permanent? Will it just ‘go away’ eventually?
Ringing in the ears may be temporary… or permanent. It is important to find mechanisms to improve quality of life for as long as tinnitus is an issue.
Is there a cure for ringing in the ears?
It is generally acknowledged that there is no “cure” for ringing in the ears. However, there is general agreement in the medical community that about 80% of patients seeking medical assistance are able to improve their quality of life by following a regimen which avoids environmental and therapeutic triggers of the symptoms while providing nutritional support for healthy microcirculation of the inner ear.
Many ENT specialists regularly support and employ Lipo-Flavonoid® Plus as a therapeutic option where ringing in the ears is involved.* (*Source: April 2018 survey)
Why is nutritional support for the inner ear important?
The human ear is an enormously complex system which depends on tiny hair-like sensors in the inner ear to convert external vibrations into recognizable sounds. Inflammation, irritation or trauma can be very disruptive in the inner ear. The blood vessels which serve this area are extremely small, so much so that physicians sometimes refer to ‘microcirculation’ when talking about blood circulation in the inner ear.
Various hypotheses have been offered by clinical observers to explain the mechanism by which the micronutrient support provided by Lipo-Flavonoid® Plus provides benefit to many tinnitus sufferers. Learn more here.
What clinical support is there for the use of Lipo-Flavonoid® Plus for tinnitus?
Dr. Henry L. Williams, a prominent Minnesota ENT is generally credited with the insight that dietary supplementation with citrus bioflavonoids had a beneficial effect on patients with Meniere’s syndrome (ringing in the ears is considered to be one of the component symptoms of Meniere’s syndrome). Prior to the publication by Williams of his “preliminary report” of treatment of 122 patients1, the use of citrus bioflavonoids to address ringing in the ears was virtually unknown in medical practice.
In a subsequent paper, Williams determined that it was the lemon bioflavonoid eriodictyol glycoside that provided the benefit – not all citrus bioflavonoids. By chance or coincidence, the product which Williams had used to make his initial observation was Lipo-Flavonoid® — which contained eriodictyol glycoside, the lemon bioflavonoid.
Dr. Williams’ work was studied by other ENTs and additional studies followed. Today, ENTs regularly employ supplementation with Lipo-Flavonoid® Plus as a primary or adjunctive therapy in most cases where ringing in the ears is involved.
1Staff Meeting of the Mayo Clinic, 1962