12 Tips to Reduce and Prevent Tinnitus (including TMS)

Houston West TMS Blog 12 Tips to Reduce and Prevent Tinnitus (including TMS)

1) Do talk to your doctor if your tinnitus is affecting your mood, causing anxiety or depression, disturbing your sleep or your ability to perform your job.

2) Do consult a physician to rule out hearing loss or other medical conditions that can cause tinnitus.

3) Do talk to your healthcare provider to make sure none of your medications can contribute to your tinnitus. (see my blog on medications that can contribute to tinnitus)

4) Do see an audiologist if your doctor thinks a hearing aid may help reduce your perception of the noise you are hearing.

5) Do avoid stress and anxiety as they can worsen tinnitus.

6) Do try a white noise machine or app to mask the tinnitus, especially at night.

7) Don't listen to loud noises. Noise can aggravate tinnitus and loud noises often preceed the onset of tinnitus. Use ear plugs if needed.

8) Don't waste a lot of money on herbal remedies that promise to "cure" tinnitus. It is a huge market and my spam folder often has multiple remedies for ringing in the ears. People have tried many alternative treatments like melatonin, zinc, B vitamins and gingko biloba. None of them work consistently for tinnitus.

9) Do limit alcohol consumption. Alcohol can cause vasodilation of the blood vessels. If you have greater blood flow around the inner ear, it may aggravate your tinnitus.

10) Do understand that tinnitus is a brain disorder not just a hearing problem. The good news is that a lot of research is being done to understand and treat tinnitus.

11) Do consider Deep TMS if you are out of options. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a treatment that uses magnetic impulses to stimulate or inhibit the excitability in different areas of the brain, including the auditory cortex (just above the ear.) TMS may be able to offer some relief for your tinnitus. Please note Deep TMS is not FDA cleared for the treatment of tinnitus. It is considered an "off Label" use for TMS. Insurance will not cover the treatment at the present time. Dr. Drell is one of a few physicians that offers Deep TMS for tinnitus.

12) Do contact Dr. Drell if you would like more information on Deep TMS for tinnitus for yourself or others.

Author
William Drell, MD Houston West TMS and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Our practice is continually monitoring the CDC Guidelines and recommendations from Brainsway and will adjust precautions as necessary to ensure the safety of our patients. We are enforcing recommended Social Distancing s for patients and staff throughout our office and waiting room. Our TMS device is being thoroughly disinfected between sessions, with special attention being paid to surfaces that come into direct contact with patients or operators including the helmet and chair. We are also regularly disinfecting commonly touched surfaces including door handles, light switches and countertops, etc. The office building has implemented extra deep cleaning and more frequent cleansing of bathrooms and water fountains. Any patients who are experiencing symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath or who have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19 should notify our staff before coming in for their TMS treatment so we can decide the treatment options.

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