Hope for a Tinnitus Cure?

Tinnitus is commonly described as "ringing in the ears."  There are two types of tinnitus- Objective and Subjective.  Objective tinnitus refers to tinnitus that is audible to other people.  Subjective tinnitus refers to tinnitus that can only be heard by the patient suffering this condition.

While there is currently no known cure for tinnitus, researchers are continually investigating new treatment methods and potential cures for this condition. A recent beta trial at the Cleveland Clinic showed a 90% success rate in eliminating tinnitus. Currently, the VA is conducting 17 promising clinical trials.

Dr. Michael Kilgard, an associate professor at the Dallas extension of the University of Texas School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, is presently researching whether a type of nerve stimulation (VNS) can retrain the brain to ignore the nerve signals that simulate ringing in the ears. The researchers in earlier tests found that a particular type of nerve stimulation, when paired with the presentation of alternative tones, appeared to reverse the effects of tinnitus.

Read more about the ongoing research

"Tinnitus: An Uninvited Guest"- Community Lecture!

On Thursday, January 12, Dr. Jan Dungan will be leading a conversation entitled: "Tinnitus:  An Uninvited Guest."  This presentation will feature answers to questions like:

• Why do I hear ringing in my ears? 
• What is the cause of tinnitus?
• How do I make it go away?

10:00, Chota Recreational Center, Tellico Village.  Everyone is welcome!

Dr. Jan Dungan is a clinical audiologist at Appalachian Audiology in Village Square.  Certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association, Dr. Dungan is a fellow with the American Academy of Audiology. She served as the Director of Speech and Hearing Services for the East Tennessee Regional Public Health Department. She joined the clinical faculty at the University of Tennessee Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology in 1991 and served as a Clinical Supervisor in Pediatric Audiology until she was promoted to Audiology Clinic Director. Dr. Dungan retired from UT in June, 2005 and began Appalachian Audiology in 2008. With more than 35 years of experience as a clinical audiologist, Dr. Dungan continues to provide comprehensive diagnostic and rehabilitation services to infants, children, and adults throughout Tellico Village, Lenoir City, and Knoxville.

For more information, visit our website!

Is It Time to Have My Hearing Tested?

How often should you have your hearing evaluated? 

• Adults previously undiagnosed with hearing loss should have their hearing screened every five years. 
• Adults who have been diagnosed with hearing loss should have their hearing tested every one to two years.
• Adults with diagnosed hearing loss who wear hearing aids should have their hearing tested every two years and their hearing aids adjusted to reflect any changes in their hearing.

If you have never been diagnosed with a hearing loss, how do you know if you need your hearing evaluated?

• Do you often say “I can hear you, but I can't understand what you're saying”?
• Is it hard to hear conversations in crowded places like restaurants?
• Do you find children's or women's voices hard to hear?
• Do you need the TV volume louder than others?
• Does your family get frustrated repeating themselves?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, it's time to have your hearing evaluated!

As we begin a new year, make finding real solutions to your hearing healthcare a priority!  Visit our website for more information.

Can Hearing Aids Effectively Treat Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is commonly described as "ringing in the ears."  An estimated 10% of Americans struggle with this condition on a daily basis.  While there is no known cure to tinnitus, there are effective ways of treating it.  Hearing aids can help manage the symptoms of tinnitus!  However, they are only one component of a comprehensive approach to helping people cope with this condition.

Read how hearing aids can help manage the symptoms of tinnitus.

Helping Loved Ones Cope With Hearing Loss

From our December Newsletter

During the holiday season, we become acutely aware of loved ones who have difficulty hearing. Keep in mind: No one knows they cannot hear unless they are told. They often "mis-hear," often to the glee of friends and family, because the message they perceive is so different from the intended message. During the busy holiday season, this can be readily apparent, because so often, background noise interferes with clear speech perception. How can we help them? Dr. Richard Carmen, a Clinical Audiologist in Arizona, says, "When we think of helping a loved one with hearing loss, we often think of how important it is to repeat ourselves, speak clearly, speak louder or interpret what others say if they cannot hear the message. But when we do these good deeds for loved ones with a hearing loss, what we don't realize is that we're assisting in their failure to seek help. Many people with a hearing loss never realize how much communication they actually fail to understand or miss completely because you have become their ears. However, it takes only a short time for them to realize that without your help, they're in trouble. It is through this realization that one becomes inspired to take positive action to solve their problem." Find out how you can help a loved one deal with hearing loss.   Image provided courtesy of Ambro

Treating Hyperacusis

Advances in hearing healthcare make treating hyperacusis possible. Currently, there are two main approaches to treating hyperacusis: Sound Desensitization Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) Sound Desensitization In Sound Desensitization therapy, the patient is guided by an audiologist to listen to static noise at increasing volume levels over time. The goal of this type of therapy is to gradually build a person's tolerance of loud noises. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) TRT is a variation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. As noted above, people commonly experience both tinnitus and hyperacusis. Because of this, audiologists use TRT to treat both conditions. If a tinnitus sufferer also shows signs of hyperacusis, the hyperacusis must be treated first. TRT uses a combination of low level, broad-band noise and counseling to restore a normal level of sensitivity to sound. To read a detailed explanation of TRT, click here.

Hyperacusis and Tinnitus

It is estimated that 40% of tinnitus sufferers also suffer from hyperacusis. The reason for this is not completely known. However, it is theorized that the central nervous system does not respond properly to an incoming signal, miscuing the amplifying or dampening actions of the cochlea and middle ear resulting or contributing to the presence of both conditions. For more information on the correlation between hyperacusis and tinnitus, click here.         Image provided courtesy Ambro