You will often read that Tinnitus is not curable and partly that is true but you have to consider that tinnitus is in fact a symptom which occurs due to a number of possible causes of which some of them are definitely curable.

So what is tinnitus? Well it is different for many patients but it is often described as ringing in the ears but it can be buzzing, humming, whistling, whining or many other such repetitive sounds. These noises can be intermittent or they can be permanent which may cause sufferers great distress. The constant noises in the ear area may also upset a sufferers balance and cause other symptoms such as nausea, sweating and vomiting.

As we have already discussed as tinnitus can be caused by a number of different things then many Doctors will find it difficult to diagnose the actual problem for a patient with tinnitus as there are many possibilities as to how the symptom has arisen. A doctor may prescribe a noise masker to give a patient some sort of relief. This works by creating a noise which acts, after a fashion, to offset the internal ringing in the ears. Some relief may be found using this method but it is not really a cure for the issue that causes the symptoms.

Unfortunately tinnitus may be caused unintentionally by each person themselves. For example it is established that exposure to sound levels over 70dB can over a period of time damage a person's hearing. Sadly it is likely that tinnitus sufferers will increase with the growing trend of people to have their music player on whilst going to work. The volume levels on these machines are often as loud levels to mask out day to day noises but this can lead to damage to the hearing in later life and consequently tinnitus.

Treatments for tinnitus will really depend on the type of condition you have been diagnosed with. Conditions are likely to be either objective (where the doctor can hear the noise) and subjective (where the doctor cannot hear the noise). For objective tinnitus a doctor may recommend surgery, clearance of the ear canal or a series of drugs to help the condition. A patient with subjective tinnitus is a lot harder to treat as there are no actual noises for the doctor to use to formulate a treatment. These treatments can range from avoiding nicotine, salt and caffeine to taking supplements, taking medications, electrical stimulation's, surgery, sound therapy and psychological therapies. In some cases alcohol may increase the severity of tinnitus so avoiding alcohol may also be suggested in some cases.

In a recent study it was discovered that there was a 20% chance of a person between 55 and 65 reporting symptoms that are similar to those described for tinnitus. Given the high prevalence of sufferers in that age group it is even more surprising that there is a common misconception that this is a permanent condition and one that you just have to live with. Whilst this may be true for some patients there are available remedies for many patients that do provide some relief to the condition.

In addition to the mainstream treatments there are also some recommendations for holistic treatments that use certain food groups, herbs and vitamins to help your body to naturally boost its immune system and effectively cure your tinnitus once and for all. Many people who have tried the traditional treatments are trying these types of alternative treatments and finding that the change in their lifestyle that these treatments recommend can help them with their tinnitus.