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| Science & Technology |
| Tinnitus A Problem For Many Veterans |
| 2010-11-18 |
| Tinnitus, commonly called "ringing in the ears", is believed to affect about 50 million Americans, most temporarily or at near tolerable levels. However, severe tinnitus can be very painful, preventing sleep and interfering with a normal life. And it is a major health issue for large numbers of veterans of both Iraq and Afghanistan. Tinnitus was the most-claimed service-connected disability for veterans receiving compensation in fiscal year 2009-10, according to the Veterans Affairs Health Care System. The disorder can be the result of extreme noise exposure, such as that experienced by combat veterans, and is associated with hearing loss, which also is a common complaint from veterans. Tinnitus happens when hairs in the inner ear move in relation to entering sound waves. Then an electrical signal is sent from the ear to the brain. The brain interprets these signals as sound. If the hairs inside the inner ear are bent or broken, this could cause tinnitus. It involves the sensation of hearing sound when no external sound is present. For many, the lack of noise can exacerbate the problem. There isn't an effective surgery for tinnitus, so management is the best way to treat the condition. This can be done through aural rehabilitation and hearing aids. Unconventional therapies, such as acupuncture, can be more or less successful depending on the reason for the tinnitus. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #9 I've suffered from tinnitus for 25 years, and mine is pretty bad. Mine came from working in tightly enclosed places with lots of electronic equipment, working right on a busy flight line, working in computer rooms, and who knows what else. Tinnitus can also be caused by infection, by neurological problems, and by diabetes. It doesn't have a "simple" source, and it's almost impossible to treat in most cases. While some people get help from hearing aids, they cause problems for other people. It can be (and in my case, often is) miserable. Coffee, sound of any kind, and some foods can also make it worse. It also frequently causes me to have headaches equal to a migraine in intensity. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2010-11-19 00:00 |
| #8 always earplugs! I like the new Spark Plugz that are NASCAR-endorsed. In construction, one of the least identified problems (to me) is sand/bead-blasting with compressed air |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-11-18 20:55 |
| #7 gromky: Let me give a pitch for acupuncture. I went to one in Alabama who specialized in tinnitus. His patients came from a hundred miles away, and his waiting room was always full. From what I've read, they subdivide tinnitus into one of two types, one of which is easy to treat, just four or five sessions, and the other is much harder, taking months or years. Even if they can't cure it, they can diminish it enough so that their patients would pay a premium for treatment, though acupuncture usually isn't that pricey. Me, I'll swear by it, as far as back pain goes. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-11-18 20:37 |
| #6 I ALWAYS wear earplugs when at the shooting range. I can't imagine being in a firefight and shooting off 200 rounds without ear protection. Much less standing around while a Bradley's 25mm goes off or someone launches a Javelin. That Esteem system just lets you hear again if the ringing is too loud - it doesn't actually stop the ringing. You'll have that til the day you die and it is utterly incurable. |
| Posted by: gromky 2010-11-18 16:55 |
| #5 Thanks for the info on esteem - I'll pass that on. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2010-11-18 11:44 |
| #4 The statement that there is not an effective surgery may not be correct. The Esteem system that you hay have heard advertised on Rush appears to work and I believe would address tinnitus. But it's expensive, $25-30K per ear from what I've heard, and does involve surgery. Dr. Steve may want to offer his professional opinion, but if you know someone whose life is being severely disrupted, it might be worth investigation. |
| Posted by: Victor Emmanuel Ebbinetle9773 2010-11-18 11:39 |
| #3 my step-dad suffers from this, it's terrible - he's 75 and veteran but I think it was yrs of working in Detroit auto plants that did the damage...BTW - I played in metal bands in h.s. and college & also worked security at concert places - almost 300 concerts - almost always wore earplugs though. Even if you use an ipod to workout like I do, I'd try to keep the volume reasonable. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2010-11-18 11:19 |
| #2 And painkillers, especially paracetamol. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2010-11-18 10:38 |
| #1 Viagra use and heavy metal may be contributors as well. |
| Posted by: penguin 2010-11-18 10:29 |