TINNITUS
Tinnitus is a medical term for hearing noises in your ears when there is no outside source. It can sound like ringing or other noises in one or both ears. Tinnitus is usually not severe enough to interfere with daily life. However, it can affect mood, sleep, and concentration. In severe cases, tinnitus can lead to anxiety or depression.
In the long term, it can negatively impact the brain. In a study by researchers at the University of Illinois, they found that chronic tinnitus has been linked to changes in certain networks in the brain. These changes make the brain more attentive and less relaxed. In clinical practice, common factors that affect the psychological and emotional well-being of people with tinnitus are fear, stress, anxiety, and depression, which in turn can cause sleep deprivation, poor concentration, and cognitive dysfunction (Baguley et al., 2013).
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers diagnostic hearing and balance exams if your doctor or other health care provider orders them to see if you need medical treatment.
While there is not yet a cure, there are two options which may help.
- Low dose Naltrexone: From a doctor I know and trust, his recommendation is low-dose naltrexone. He has used this for 25 years and it helps many people. There is a LDN research trust that discusses this method. Naltrexone is an FDA-approved opioid antagonist used to treat alcohol use disorder and opioid dependence. Naltrexone blocks the effect of opioids and prevents opioid intoxication and physiologic dependence on opioid users. So it helps one relax and not be so disturbed by tinnitus.
- Lenire electric device: Approximately 88% of tinnitus patients in a clinical trial said they would recommend Lenire. Additionally, 4% of patients complied with treatment. The findings were consistent with real-world evidence from 204 patients who were treated with Lenire. The TENT-A3 trial builds upon the success of two previous landmark clinical trials.
Lenire may not be covered by all insurance providers, which could make it less accessible for some patients. Time commitment: The recommended treatment duration for Lenire is 12 weeks, with daily sessions lasting 30 to 60 minutes. It costs several thousand dollars, not covered by medicare yet.
