Is There a Cure for Tinnitus?

I have had tinnitus for nearly two years. Overall, it's been a terrible experience because the noise just stays there and never goes away. At night, sleeping has also been very difficult and the noise level might go up so arbitrarily that it would disturb my sleep.

Most people said that this condition can't be cured and the noise in my ears shall remain for the rest of my life. Sometimes, I'm scared to admit that tinnitus may get worse when the noise gets so loud that I couldn't hear any sound clearly. Hopefully somebody will come up with a cure to make this thing go away because it is a very troubling condition to have.

I've had it for nearly a year. My heart really goes out to you who have had it for a good chuck of your lives.

I never really listened to loud music for long periods of time.

It seemed to come on rather quickly in my left year. I'm 45 now, and I pray and hope a cure comes quickly. If it wasn't for my wife and daughter, I'd have put myself in the ground by now.

It's THAT maddening. I hope, hope, hope, they find a cure soon!

I have had tinnitus in my right ear for about four months now. It started slowly and within three weeks or so, it was very noticeable.

I noticed sometimes when walking near traffic, I would hear a whooshing sound on top of the ringing. Other times, the ringing would become louder. I would say my tinnitus sounded like a flat line tone. And it most always was accompanied by a slight pressure in the right ear. I should add I started to get echoes in my right ear on top of the tinnitus. I should mention when my tinnitus started, I stopped all drugs, in my case, pot, booze, caffeine and anything with aspartame in it. Quitting all that cold turkey put me even further in the deep end as I had withdrawals from pot.

Two months into my distressing tinnitus, I had a week with no symptoms. It was glorious, but it came back 10 fold. A few weeks later, I got another break, but still had a very faint ringing in the ear.

I have had some good days when my hearing seems normal and the ringing is gone. I've had some OK days where the ringing is mild and some really hard days when the ringing is so loud it's hard to hear people speak.

I know its hard for all of us, but it will get better as you learn to live with it. Better yet, learn to accept it as a part of you. With all that said, it could very well be a symptom of TMS. If you haven't heard of Dr. Sarno, please look him up. When this all started I was terrified, upset, depressed and had anxiety. I think it's important to learn to accept this as apart of you. It's not a easy task, by any means. The more you accept the tinnitus, the faster the healing process can take effect.

I just felt like having a rant in the hopes that my story can help others going through what is more than likely a stressful time in their lives. Meditate and stay positive. A wise man once told me don't get caught up in your thoughts, because you are not your thoughts. You are an observer of your thoughts. Not sure if that makes sense to any of you. but it does for me.

My left ear is permanently dead and in my right ear I am suffering from tinnitus which is very irritating. but I have no problem hearing anything. My hearing ability is perfect. If you have any cure to reduce tinnitus, please tell me.

I'm 17 and I've had a constant high pitched searing noise in both my ears now for nearly a week now. I'm finding it really hard to sleep or considerate on my school work, and I'm getting quite depressed. I always listened to my music loud, which is probably the reason the tinnitus was caused.I'm really worried I won't be able to handle this so well, like the rest of you.

I'm fifteen and I have tinnitus. It all started a year ago when I had the flu. I fell asleep with an earbud sitting in my left ear, as I couldn't do much more than lie in bed and listen to music.

Eight hours later, I woke up around 1 a.m. and heard two pitches of notes, rapidly alternating in my left ear. At first I thought it was the wind or a loosely-bolted fan, but as time went on, it got louder.

For a while, I suffered panic attacks and depression, and I still go through some today. But, to everyone out there suffering, here are the words I now choose to live by.

First, we have tinnitus. It may not be fun, but we have it, and I feel your pain. Truly, I am sorry.

Second, they have not found a cure, but there are treatments.

Third, people are working on finding that cure, and, with today's technology, will probably find it within a short amount of time.

Fourth, we are not alone. If you can't tell by these posts, tinnitus affects people across the globe, they are of all age groups, and, if you're like me, don't be ashamed to be counted among the few who slipped up and made a mistake.

Fifth, keep on keeping on. Don't let tinnitus control you, like I let it do to me. Know that eventually, a solution will be found. Someday, it'll be over, and you'll be glad you waited for it. Find a hobby, keep occupied, and try to ignore it.

My heart goes out to you. From one tinnitus-afflicted person to another, be strong, have courage, and have hope.

Your friend, your fellow sufferer, your hopeful compatriot. --Kevin

I have it. When I was younger, I was smacked in the ear by my ex, which put a hole in my eardrum. Since then, both my darn ears hiss. When my ears are blocked due to a sinus problem, they are a pain, and listening to it just makes me scream. I think listening to loud music growing up is the main reason, so folks, we are not alone. I also have generalized anxiety.

I'm just 21 and I have had tinnitus for the last year. It is worse when the whole room is in complete silence. I am waiting and thinking that it might cure itself. I'm really scared. What if it gets worse with age? I don't want to consult a doctor as there is no cure for this.

I don't know how I got this. I used to listen to music at a very low volume. Now I have stopped listening to music, fearing my condition might get worse. Do you think this might get cured with time?

Chin up people. Think your healing has already happened. Think.

This is Emily again. I also wanted to know if anyone here with tinnitus actually ended up needing a hear aid to cover up the noise?

Should I talk to people who I trust about my tinnitus? Will it help me in any way?

I'm only 14 and I've suffered from tinnitus for just over a year. I sometimes keep freaking out about it and panic. When I first got this uneven ringing sound in my left ear, I was told to take antibiotics for a week. It didn't work much, but after I stopped the medication the noise would sometimes be soft or really loud.

My ears would sometimes feel blocked or when I' hear high pitched noises, the ringing would get worse.

At night when I sleep, it really bugs me. It's sometimes quiet but when I wake up in the morning it's just back to the normal way it is.

I don't know what to do. I really want help from someone. I'm only in high school and my grades have been dropping because I can never concentrate. I try my best, but I can't seem to live with it.

Is it possible for me to go deaf because of tinnitus? I've only seen my GP and haven't tried an ear, throat or nose doctor. Should I? --Emily

Tinnitus is actually a brain processing problem, not a hearing problem as such.

The tinnitus in my right ear doesn't "ring" but sounds more like a cross between a fetus heartbeat on a sonogram (the pattern) and the howling of wind (airy). It bothered me before, but was more tolerable and I'd just notice it and say something like, "My ear is making noise." Now it's bothering me a lot, and more frequently, like the sound of it is starting to make me mad, and I'm not only stressing. The only temporary "cure" to make it stop ringing faster is pressing on the tragus. I can't imagine having to hear persistent ringing sounds all day. I've been hearing these sounds on and off for three seconds every five minutes, all day. I've had tinnitus for about two years now.

The noise in my ears wakes me up lots of times in the night. It is constant and I had it for as long as I can remember, but it got worse after I broke my nose when I was 16 years old. Now it is so loud that I cannot work. I also lose my balance and people think I am drunk. I don't know how much longer I can put up with it. It has taken my work. I no longer go out, I can't concentrate and nobody understands what I go though. They say I'm lazy. Help me, please.

Mine started with having shingles. Now I have it all the time, and seem not to hear as well either, now.

@anon2593: Can you please tell us the name of the depression medication that you took?

I have seen Dr.John Sarno, author of 'The Mindbody Prescription' and 'The Divided Mind' mention tinnitus as an equivalent of TMS, a very common but very curable disorder.

I have lived with tinnitus for over twenty years, insomnia also. I keep telling myself there is a reason for all this.

I have had tinnitus for two months now and I got it from taking a sinus medication ciprofloxacin. I am scheduled for an MRI and am both frightened and going crazy from the constant loud ringing in my head. As well, this drug gave me tendinitis.

my tinnitus developed from using viagra.

nearly 30 years before i had T.B. I had to take streptomycin injection and other tablets regularly for more than one and a half years to cure that. After completion of the stipulated course, the T.B. was cured, but tinnitus developed in both my ears for the last 28 years. Please suggest any medicine if it is there.

Tinnitus for me is purely psychological. My uncle complains about his tinnitus all the time. One day i was sitting around thinking about what causes his ears to ring and what he could do about it and out of the clear blue my ears started ringing and haven't stopped since.

So somehow thinking about my uncles tinnitus triggered tinnitus in me, so i have no idea what to do since my tinnitus was caused by apparently just thinking about someone else's tinnitus.

God must really hate me to torture me like this. Come to think of it he must hate all of you too. What a wonderful world we live in.

I have had tinnitus all my life, or for as long as i can remember. I'm almost 20. i actually thought that tinnitus was a normal thing and that everyone had it, until i was about 13-14. I've been so used to it i have learned to live it and not let it bother me until about three months ago, when for some reason it's started to really stress me out and it's all i ever seem to think about.

I don't know why it has suddenly started to bother me because it's not noticeably worse or anything. i have been trying some things out to see what makes it worse and what makes it better. I'm absolutely certain that when i eat food that is quite sugary, it irritates it so I'm avoiding that. obviously loud music so i don't go to clubs as much anymore.

Stress definitely makes it worse and thinking about it (try not to listen out for it as i notice the more i think about it the worse it gets). I smoke and I've cut down recently and noticed that my tinnitus is less irritable. and an unhealthy diet like fast food chocolate and sweets all the time makes it worse.

It's a lot better when i eat things healthy. the doctor can't give me a reason why i have it and I've had hearing tests and it came back fine so i guess some people are just unlucky and have to learn to deal with it. i also get it every now and again where one ear, left or right, will randomly lose hearing for about three seconds or so? i hope they find a cure for tinnitus and soon please!

I have been suffering with tinnitus for the last 20 years or so. I cannot handle this, as it is affecting me in such a way that i am constantly thinking ending my time here on earth. Is there someone out there who can help me please? --Ttuz

I have had tinnitus as long as I can remember. I am only 18 now. I am very prone to dizziness as well, and the tinnitus is more prominent in my right ear. I didn't damage my ears from loud noise as a child; in fact, I have always kept music volume low, especially while wearing ear buds. And I have excellent hearing. So are some people born with permanent tinnitus? --Angela

I have had tinnitus since I was 47. I am now 55 and it just gets worse. Some days are worse, especially when I have had some chocolate, wine or a late night.

No matter how bad or good it is for the day, I always wake up with my ears ringing really loudly as if sleep turns on a switch.

I have developed some noise on a CD called "white noise" and have set some recordings at different frequencies, which when used at a moderate level actually counter attacks the noise and can sometimes stop it completely, on some days, but not always.

If it were not for this masking of noise for about 15 minutes every morning, I would go insane!

I sympathize with all sufferers as it is a condition that has ruined my life. Playing acoustic guitar every day helps too. Just wish I could wake up without the loudness of the ringing one day.

I had tinnitus for a couple of days from listening to my music in my earphones to loud. It would ring during the day and at night would sound like an ocean. I took some Monavie for like four days straight and haven't had a problem since. I don't know if it is because of the juice it stopped or if it was just temporary. Worth a try, though.

I just recently discovered I have tinnitus. Do not know how long I've had this. Cannot find anything to cure it by myself. It is so annoying! It starts out as a loud rushing river and turns into ringing. What do I do? I am very new to it.

Anyone got any suggestions? I've been taking sinus tablets to see if that would cure it. Is there anything to take for it?

I've had tinnitus now for 15 years and it's really starting to peck my head. It's in the form of a crisp loud note, strangely it seems to die down when I'm using my computer. I would love for there to be a cure someday --something to actually allow me to hear. Silence.

Anon: What was the medication that you took? Please share the information with people who are still suffering from tinnitus! Thank you in advance, Bella

Ive had it since almost a year and I'm getting used to it now. i got it from shooting a deer rifle without using earplugs many times in a row. I wear earplugs now.

I've had tinnitus since I was 10 years old. I'm now 21. It's a static, high pitched noise on both of my ears. I remember getting it from earplugs. Sometimes it has been louder and sometimes quieter. It has been with me so long that I've learned to live with it just fine. But I do remember how hard it was when I got it! I was so young that I panicked quite a bit when I first realized I had it.

Waiting for cure. Maybe when nanotech gets advanced enough? But I'm not sure if I can live without it anymore! Hah!

I have had tinnitus for over 40 years in both ears and I have learned to live with it. It does affect my sleeping, especially when I am over tired or unwell. If I ever get a cold it is like living in a world of my own, it is so overpowering. I would love to hear if there is a cure out there!

I'm 17 and I've had tinnitus for over a month now. It happened after I went to just one music concert where I was located right by one of the amps. It's just been getting worse now though, and I haven't been able to sleep for two days. I keep hoping it'll go away but it's just getting worse day by day even though I haven't been listening to much of anything at all.

I'm 50, a survivor of the 60's as well. I sure wish there was some sort of operation to take care of it. I used to live in Hawaii, was a virtual waterbaby. Is it possible I had or have water damage and didn't know it at the time?

I would follow my friends when they went freediving. They went 30-40 ft. down, I stayed closer to the top, but kept my head under water with a mask so I could see the fish. I also did a lot of snorkeling. My left ear is constantly ringing, my right sounds like a live outdoor mic. without a windscreen. What is that?

I've had Tinnitus for about three years. I'm 58. I had a hearing test; results were better than average. I also had a CT scan but nothing was found. Mine is cyclic. I'll have one to three days with no ringing and then three to five days with ringing.

Sometimes, it greatly affects my concentration and I can barely type an e-mail without errors every couple of words. It can be extremely frustrating. It never goes away during waking hours; I just wake up and it is gone.

On days when it's returning, it starts out very softly in my left ear and by mid-afternoon it's very loud and the origin seems a little closer to the left ear than to the right. I'll keep watching for methods for relief.

I have suffered from tinnitus since my twenties (am now 45). I have always thought it was the result of going to lots of live music gigs. If you have this, and you don't want it to drive you insane, you need to have background noise with you at all times, except at night when you are trying to sleep.

I have found this helps immensely, and try to just block it out of your mind. Think about other stuff. Good luck.

I had tinnitus for about two or three months. In the last three days it got a lot worse, and even right now all I can hear is this cursed buzzing noise.

I took some meds for a while, but they didn't help at all. I believe I got my tinnitus from overuse of headphones, and it might have something to do with the ear infections I had when I was younger.

I may have to take some depression medicine soon. My advice is try to not think about it even if that's all you can hear. Also, try taking up a hobby like drawing. When I have free time and my tinnitus annoying I sketch or doodle to take my mind off it.

What depression meds did you use?

I had suffered from tinnitus for many months. I was getting very depressed and went to the doctor for depression medication. The third day of taking the medication my tinnitus went away! I feel so hopeful now.