Did you know tinnitus affects nearly 25 million Americans? It is a sound only the person struggling with it can hear – an examiner cannot hear it. It is a ringing, buzzing, or humming sound that comes from the inner ear. These sounds can range from mild annoyance to loud and life-disrupting. There are some medical issues that should be checked, then there are more common functional medicine causes that likely hold the answer.
Medical issues include hearing loss, possible tumor, stroke, or underlying infection that damages or puts pressure on the nerve to the ear. All people with tinnitus should see an audiologist for a hearing test. In some cases, a head/brain CT scan or MRI is necessary to rule out more serious conditions like tumor or stroke. Thankfully, most cases of tinnitus are not serious and can be handled with a thorough functional medicine exam.
The first place to start is a food sensitivity test. People with food sensitivities produce excess mucus that can put pressure on the inner ear. The second thing to do is a neurotransmitter test to check for deficiencies. One neurotransmitter in particular, GABA, has been shown in studies to be linked to tinnitus. Third, a hair elements test will check if too much mercury, arsenic, aluminum, or other toxic heavy metals may be causing damage to the nerve to the ear.
Our next newsletter will outline the functional medicine protocol that can help at least 70% of cases of tinnitus.