Tinnitus

The Benefits of Tinnitus A Patient’s Perspective

Last week one of my tinnitus patients surprised me during our appointment by saying that he was thankful for his tinnitus. And he’s not alone. We know that 70-80% of people who have tinnitus are not bothered by it; however, I’ve actually had a handful of other patients over the years that actually liked their tinnitus and didn’t want it taken away from them. One gentleman found that it helped him fall asleep and another one with a more musical tinnitus sound said that she enjoyed listening to it.

When I asked my patient to tell me more about his positive mindset around tinnitus, he explained that it gives him body and mind awareness. He shared that he taught Kripalu Yoga for many years and that it is a practice of “witnessing”. It taught him to adjust his lifestyle and to develop a body and mind centered awareness by focusing on his breath. He explained that when his tinnitus is loud he sees it is a sign that he needs to assess what his body or mind needs. It may be that he hasn’t been drinking enough water, or eating enough food, his posture may be off or maybe he is under stress.

This was wonderful to hear because many of my patients report that when their tinnitus is loud, they have a hard time coping and it affects their mood and day. So maybe the key is to not fight it or work hard to ignore it by forcing yourself to engage in nonstop activities to distract yourself from it. What if you just sat with it for a moment and accepted it? What if you instead see it as a tool or gauge to check in and assess your needs?

He also shared the importance of finding love within yourself. We are not only here because we are a product of love but we are “love”. Finding and connecting with your essence will not only help you express it more easily but it can reduce pain too. Ok this may sound like pretty deep touchy-feely stuf for some of you but it’s scientifically supported as well. Meditation increases oxytocin, a hormone that is known to improve your mood, reduce stress and increase pain threshold. Tinnitus is processed by the brain as pain. Instead of focusing on your tinnitus today let’s focus on our breath to calm, center and clear our mind and increase the flow of good hormones If you need some guidance on how to meditate, you can start by checking out Dr. Jennifer Gans’ online program called Mindfulness Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction. It is an 8 week program that teaches you about tinnitus and has meditation exercises. Or you can enroll in a yoga class. Even a quick 5 minute meditation during the busy work day can help. Remember that tinnitus is just a small part of our lives. As the song by Al Jolson “Red Red Robin” says … live, love, laugh and be happy. Hopefully that song will also pull springtime a little closer, especially after the record-breaking snowfall we had last week.

Using Your Smartphone to Manage Your Tinnitus

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Showcasing Resound Relief App for a Tinnitus Free Day.

Last week I celebrated my birthday quietly at home with my husband, son and mother-in-law. We ordered in from my favourite restaurant and my mother-in-law made my birthday cake – a traditional limoncello ricotta cheesecake. It was perfect until my son reminded me that I was one year away from turning 50, he stressed that I would be half century old. He likes to make me feel old to see my reaction. This week we’ll be celebrating his birthday. He’ll be turning 15. I can’t help wondering how the time went by so quickly. I remember pulling his tiny body up on my bed in the morning so we could snuggle. Now he towers over me, shaves his face, his voice is deeper and he is always on his cell phone texting his friends or taking photos of some random part of his face for an app called Snapchat.

The song “Time waits for no one” by the Rolling Stones is playing in my mind. Life is short so it’s important to me to live it fully and not let my tinnitus rob me of my time with family and friends. One way I accomplish this is by using an app on my phone called Resound Relief. It’s a free app that can be downloaded onto your iOS or android device. The pleasant activities tab provides you with a list of activities to choose from and you can even set up reminders to alert you throughout the week to engage in the activities you enjoy. Engaging with others while performing activities helps me focus on what’s important to me. I don’t hear my tinnitus when having lunch with a friend or watching the Superbowl with family. Pursuing activities that make you feel alive or excited or provides a sense of contribution or accomplishment is great too.

When I’m not feeling well or I’m under stress, I notice my tinnitus more. I’m sure you do to. During those times I make an effort to focus on self care, of both my body and mind. The Resound Relief can help with this too. It has a section called sound therapy with soundscapes that can be streamed to any Bluetooth device to help distract you from your tinnitus and help you sleep. It has a timer as well so you can set how long you want it to play. You can even create your own soundscape using various sounds from their library and adjust the volume to your preference for each sound, to help mask your tinnitus. There is also a section called relax that has 8 relaxing meditations by Dr. Jennifer Gans and a breathing tool to help calm you. The imagery tab has imaginary soundscapes to provide you with visual and audible calmness. So seize the day today and focus on your health and happiness. This week I will be focusing on celebrating my son. I have a little tradition where I take his birthday day off at work and pull him out of school so we can spend the day together. Afterall it’s a special day for both of us.

Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause tinnitus?

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One of the most common questions I am asked today by my patients is whether they will develop tinnitus or if their tinnitus will become worse, if they get the COVID-19 vaccine.

There is no evidence to date of a link between the vaccine and tinnitus. However, some of my patients have reported developing tinnitus or an increase in tinnitus after receiving their vaccine. My professional opinion is that it is the stress around the vaccine and self monitoring of side effects that is the cause in these cases. There is more evidence pointing to sudden hearing loss and tinnitus as a side effect of the COVID-19 virus.

Many people are experiencing COVID fatigue or burnout. It is completely normal to feel burnout when a person is under prolonged extraordinary stress. This time of year, with the holidays approaching, we may experience added stress. Self care is extremely important to cope with this type of burnout and build your resilience. Self care includes physical and mental care.

Limiting exposure to the news can also help. My teen son checks the news a few times a week and was upset yesterday when he saw the pandemic stats for Ontario indicated another increase in cases to 1,607. I was disappointed too and I worry about the impact the gatherings during the holidays will have on the number of cases in the new year. I am especially frustrated when I hear about the use of fake vaccine documents. What helps me is to remember what I can and cannot control. I can control my exposure by using PPEs, and hand sanitizers and getting my vaccines. And I am also in control my mental and physical health.

Yesterday the weather was surprisingly mild so I decided to load my husband and son in the car and we drove to Richmond Green Park to walk along their beautiful paved trails. The sound of the water at the man-made waterfalls was soothing and the exercise and fresh air was energizing. We had fun watching my son fish chunks of ice out of the pond and throwing tree branches on it to see whose will slide the furthest across the partially frozen pond. If you were wondering about the selection of photos for this blog it’ll now make sense. It’s a photo my son with a sheet of ice. We all felt happier after that walk.

Now I want you to take a look at the hours ahead. You have a lot to get done, that’s a given. But taking care of your health and wellbeing should make the list, right up there with taking care of your work, your to dos and other people. We know that if we manage our stress we will also better manage our tinnitus. So what are you going to do today to focus on your wellbeing? Try to zero in on one thing not all the things, it’s one day not a week. Take a moment with this because research shows when you set aside time to focus and create a plan you’re much more likely to follow through. There you set a focus and created a plan to prioritized your well being and minimize your tinnitus. Now go on and conquer the day and week!

A Morning Routine to Conquer Tinnitus

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Many individuals with tinnitus report that their tinnitus is loudest when it is quiet. This is because the there is no contrast or distraction from the sound. Think about a candle. The flame of a lit candle during the day is barely visible with the sunlight but at night, in the dark, that very same flame can light up an entire room.

Starting a new day with a noise in your ears that you dread can provoke feelings of depression and anxiety. One of my current patients is working on establishing a morning routine that will set the stage for a good day, where his tinnitus is not intrusive or distressing. Attached is a photo of his diary that he keeps by his bedside table with a mantra for him to read upon waking to set his intention for the day in his mind. Afterall our mind is a powerful thing.

Many of you may have heard about or read the book “Make Your Bed” by Admiral William McRaven. He learned as a Navy Seal that starting the day by making his bed gave him a sense of pride and momentum to encourage him to do another task and to realize that the little things in life matter. He shared that even when he had a miserable day, going home to a bed that he made himself provided him with reassurance that tomorrow would be a better day. I recommend watching his speech to a graduating class of 2014 in Texas, posted on YouTube, that was the basis for his book.

You can create a morning routine that will help you get out of bed and have a “good tinnitus day”. Some activities you can incorporate into your morning routine are taking a few minutes to focus on gratitude, reading out loud your positive mantras, writing out your goals and engaging in some form of physical activity. Developing and following a morning routine can help everyone achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.

Give it a try this week. Start with one thing and build on it. Maybe this week when you wake, instead of listening and focusing on your tinnitus, train your mind to take a few moments to think about at least 3 things that you are grateful for in your life and write them down. Gratitude has many scientifically proven benefits including reducing physical pain, improving psychological health, enhancing empathy, reducing aggression, and improving relationships. Consistency is key. Following a morning routine each day will help you manage your tinnitus better and will lead to an improved quality of life for you and those people around you. Remember tinnitus is just a small part of our lives.

Next week I will address another time of day that individuals notice their tinnitus most – bed time. Tinnitus can make falling or staying asleep a challenge because of the increased perception of their tinnitus in quiet. We will dive into this next week. Wishing everyone who is celebrating the holidays this coming week a happy holiday season.

An Evening Routine to Conquer Tinnitus

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“Good morning. How was your sleep?”. This is what I’m asked every morning when I’m at my favourite B&B in Niagara Falls.

A good night’s rest is important for everyone. It helps the brain and body recuperate and develop. Some benefits include boosting your immune system, improving your memory, strengthening your heart and improving your mood. There are many things that can negatively impact your sleep. Speaking to your doctor to determine if you need a sleep coach to address unhealthy sleep habits or to determine if there is an underlying health issues to address, like sleep apnea, is an important first step for anyone who wakes up feeling tired or feels sleepy during the day.

If you have tinnitus, it can make falling asleep or staying asleep difficult. One reason for this is that it’s quiet at night and there are no distractions. Like a candle light in the night, tinnitus is more noticeable. Some of my patients use a fan to drown out their tinnitus but the most ideal sound source is a tabletop sound generator, like the one in the photo for my blog, as you can control the volume. Some common sounds that are good to use at night are white sounds (or any variation of static noise), heartbeat and nature sounds like ocean waves or rain. However, there are a few important things to remember when enriching your environment with sound at night.

First, it’s important to use a sound that is stable; that is without any erratic fluctuations. I had one patient who reported worse sleep after using her table top sound generator. She was using the rain track. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later that we solved the mystery, when she commented that her husband wanted her to change the sound because the rolling thunder in the background was waking him up. Remember that we cannot turn off our ears at night so any sound source must be stable for your brain to tune it out.

Second, you must set the sound source BEFORE going to your bedroom for the night. We want to avoid having you enter a quiet bedroom space and worry about what sound to use. Most people with tinnitus also have hearing loss and keep their hearing aids in a case or charger on their bedside table. Never the washroom please! Having the sound in the room on before removing the hearing devices is especially important to avoid perceiving your tinnitus as being louder than it really is.

Lastly, it’s important to set the sound to stay on throughout the night. This will ensure that you won’t notice it as much when moving to a lighter stage of the sleep cycle or waking up to use the washroom in the middle of the night and when waking up in the morning. A common question I get is “how do I enrich my bedroom space with sound if my spouse needs the room to be quiet to sleep?” You don’t need to move out. There are solutions that I can explore with you if you need help.

As we say good-bye to 2021, I wish you all good health and happiness … and good sleep is a big part of that!

Let’s Get Physical! Step It Up To Turn Down Your Tinnitus.

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Happy new year!!!

Do you know what the most popular new year’s resolution is? You got it … to exercise more.

Regular exercise is not just for getting in shape but it can improve your health by preventing or managing health conditions, it improves your cognitive function, boosts your energy, promotes better sleep and improves your mood. It’s only logical then that it will also improve your tinnitus.

We know that when we are distracted with an activity that the perception of our tinnitus diminishes. Make exercise a sensory rich experience by listening to music, an audiobook, or podcast while using your treadmill. Of course, walking outdoors is best, if possible, as you not only will have visual and audio distractions but you will also get fresh air and the added bonus of vitamin D from the sun. Canadians are known to be deficient in Vitamin D, especially in the winter months. This can increase the risk of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you’re a stranded snowbird due to COVID this year and need sunshine, light therapy using bright artificial light is often helpful. This “sunshine vitamin” is also used by our body to absorb the calcium it needs to build and maintain our bones. Speak to your doctor to find out if your vitamin D level is optimal and what foods and/or vitamins are recommended to boost it, if needed.

Having good physical health will also help you manage stress better. In my blog on stress and tinnitus, I explained how stress increases tinnitus. The key is consistency, that is regular physical activity. Health Canada recommends 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more. Exercise can be fun and social. Find an activity you enjoy, that gets your heart rate up and strengthens your muscles and bones.

I know it’s a little harder to get physical activity in the winter but there are lots of options that winter brings such as skating, snow shoeing, skiing and if you’re up to it … shoveling snow (just remember to bend your knees!). As you can see from my blog photo, I prefer to have my son do the shoveling at our house. There are lots of indoor sports and activities you can explore too. I loved playing squash but a knee injury has made that impossible now. I’m looking to start private lessons instead to learn how to play badminton, as my new year’s resolution is to increase exercise as well. Tonight, I’m dusting off our Xbox game console and challenging my teen son to a Just Dance competition.

Remember that tinnitus is just a small part of our lives, so tune it out by staying active and enjoying your life. Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2022!

Beware of Over the Counter “Cures” for Tinnitus

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What they don’t tell you CAN hurt you

You probably heard already that there is no “cure” for tinnitus but this doesn’t mean it can’t be treated. If we discover the cause we can usually treat it quickly, such as tinnitus due to impacted earwax. But what if we can’t find a cause or treat the condition that is causing it? Can over the counter products help?

There are many over the counter products with catchy names that claim to provide relief or a cure such as Tinnitus 911, Ring Relief, Ring Stop, Tinnifree, etc. There is insufficient evidence to prove that ANY over the counter products today help with tinnitus and in some cases they may actually be harmful. These products include herbal supplements, vitamins and homeopathic remedies that may be sold as pills, powders, liquids, sprays and teas.

So why are these products allowed to be sold? Because they are classified as dietary supplements, so they are considered “food” and not a drug. Therefore, they do not have to declare efficacy. Manufacturers avoid liability by adding a disclaimer stating that it has not been evaluated by the FDA or Health Canada and that it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

My blog photo was taken in the Springtime in my neighbourhood when I was on one of my morning walks. I came across a newly planted tree with a tag on it that identified it as a ginko biloba tree. I thought their leaves were quite pretty. You probably saw ginko biloba advertised as an herbal remedy for tinnitus. It is known to be a powerful antioxidant that may improve blood flow. The cochlea is the most sensitive organ in the body to changes in blood flow. Reduced blood supply to the labyrinthine artery due to vascular problems can lead to outer hair cell death in the cochlea and may lead to subjective tinnitus. While there are some studies that claim that it can help there are also others claim that it is an ineffective herbal remedy. Peer reviewed studies are essential to validate these claims.

Perceived benefits from these products are likely due to the placebo effect or other variables that may have helped, such as stress reduction, diet, exercise, better sleep, etc. I’m always open to alternative treatments such as acupuncture, even if there is no evidence to support it, but when it is s something that has to be ingested, I advise against it. If you are taking medications, it is especially important to speak to your physician or health care provider about any supplements before you try them. They will be able to determine if there are possible interaction effects with the medications you are taking and advise you as to the risk of other side effects.

Tinnitus is just a small part of our lives but it is of great interest to researchers today as the number of cases rise due to the COVID pandemic. I am well informed of any advances in the field. If you see or hear anything and are not sure if it is valid don’t hesitate to email me at info@salushearing.com. Stay health, safe and have a great week!

Stepping into the Light for Tinnitus

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Ever woke up in the middle of the night or before your alarm clock goes off feeling wide awake?

Today I woke up at 5am, not because my alarm went off but because I was excited. Last night I made a decision to be brave and step into the light. As many of you know I’ve been grappling with how to open the lines of communication around tinnitus and extend my reach to as many people as possible.

Yesterday I completed a 2-day online event by Amy Porterfield. Amy is passionate about helping people share their story and knowledge with the world through social media – specifically by creating an online course. During her event she had a lovely speaker named Luvvie Ajayi Jones. It was this woman’s courage to show up in spite of her fear that woke me up this morning.

She shared her mantra with us that she had posted on a sticky note on her desk – “Hold the light” – and it struck a chord with me. It inspired me to make a commitment to start writing to you each week to share my experience and knowledge around tinnitus … to inspire you.

I took a photo to include in my first blog so it’s not so text heavy. It’s a photo of the scratch pad I grabbed from the top of my plug-in fireplace in my room. It’s a special note pad because I took it home after a family stay in New York at the Ritz Carlton Hotel a few years back. We heard the hotel was closing so I brought home the momento and thought I’d finally use it for something special – my first blog draft to you. Ok it’s also true that I was too shy to take a photo of myself for the post and just got a manicure. But you’ll see I’m using my Salus Hearing Centre pen and writing with my notes from Amy Porterfield’s event, that I added to my Remarkable electronic notebook, close by.

I’m writing in my room and can’t believe how quiet the house is … only it’s really not. I hear a “loud” noise in my head. I’ve heard it before one night while in bed dreading an exam the next day for, believe it or not, one of my courses from my post graduate certificate program – Advanced Studies in Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Management. The first time I heard it that night I panicked. It was so loud! I can only describe it to you as a jet engine. You know that noise you hear while on the airplane waiting for it to take off? Well in that moment a flood of thoughts came to my mind – What is that noise? Is this tinnitus? Why is it so loud? Is this permanent? I need to sleep or I’m going to be tired in the morning and fail my exam. But then I stopped … I remembered what my professor told me. He said that tinnitus is actually a very soft sound that our brain perceives as being loud.

So I tested this … I grabbed my iPhone from my night stand and opened up an app I use sometimes when I have to wait in the reception area for my doctor (back in the pre-COVID days) because I don’t like waiting. The app is actually from a hearing aid manufacturer called Resound – Resound Tinnitus Relief. I like it because not only can I combine sounds that I like but it has these gentle bubbles that float up that I like popping with my finger. Wait where was I? Ah yes, so I turned on the app and I set it to a soft level because we were taught that the volume of the sound we use during sound therapy doesn’t have to be loud. I set the timer in the app for 30 minutes, turned it upside down on my nightstand to block the light and lay in bed in the dark and just focused on the lovely nature sounds … and fell asleep.

I can’t remember which sound I chose that night but I would guess it was a combination of water and birds. I was thrilled, the next morning when I woke, to see that it worked. It renewed my commitment to the course and to share this with others who have tinnitus since many have trouble falling asleep because of the noise in their head.

So my friend, I thank you for allowing me the time and space to share my thoughts (and distract myself from my tinnitus) in this first attempt to “hold the light”. I promise to write again to you next Monday and every Monday after that to give you tips and inspiration. To know that you’re not alone. I’m here for you and we can do this together. Now go do something you need or want to do like hug your kid, husband, or dog or go for a walk … because tinnitus is just a small part of our lives.

Sincerely Sabrina

Stopping the Vicious Cycle of Stress and Tinnitus

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Do you find that your tinnitus is louder when you are stressed? You’re not alone.

Some stress is actually a good thing as it can increase motivation when needed. Chronic stress, however; can cause anxiety and can negatively impact your health. The body experiences stress the same way whether it’s good stress or bad stress, the key difference is how you react to it.

Managing your stress when you have tinnitus is even more important as it can exacerbate your tinnitus. Since the start of this COVID pandemic the number of people who contacted my office for a tinnitus consultation tripled, because of stress. The reason why tinnitus increases when you experience an increase in stress, whether it’s physical or psychological stress, is because of the brain’s heightened awareness, due to the activation of our fight/flight centre of our brain, that in turn reduces our overall tolerance to any stimulation that is perceived as unpleasant.

So how can you manage your stress better? Everyone is different when it comes to what works for them. Spend a moment to think about what helps you destress. Is it running on the treadmill? Sipping a warm cup of camomile tea by the fireplace? Playing your favourite game on your phone? Or maybe it’s attending a yoga class? Whatever you do, make sure you choose a healthy way to manage your stress.

Some of my favourite ways to destress are playing backgammon on my iPhone, reading a book and going for a walk, in nature. However, these things aren’t always possible. I experience stress daily at the office as I’m not only a clinician but the director and owner of the practice. It’s easy to resort to quick fixes like caffeine and sugar, especially this time of year when patients and hearing aid manufacturers send us tempting sweet treats. However, these things are stimulants that provide a short bust of energy and leave you craving more.

The key to managing stress successfully for me has been to become mindful of the signs of stress in my body. When I feel my tolerance is decreasing and my cortisol level is rising, I go to my office for a 10 minute “time out” break. I put my telephone on DND, lock my door, sit at my desk with my eyes closed and focus on controlling my breath. Consciously breathing deeply is known to help control your nervous system, increase alertness and can even boost your immune system. There are many techniques on how to do this.

If your thoughts are affecting your ability to focus on your breath, like it does sometimes for me when I’m upset, you can try a guided meditation. One of my favourite apps is the CALM app. It has relaxing nature music, guided meditations, and so much more. A great website that I often turn to is mindful.org. It has a 6-minute breathing meditation that you can listen to and read along with and a gif image that expands and contracts to help you visualize when to inhale and exhale. It also helps redirect any thoughts gently back to your breath. If you can’t find the meditation let me know and I’ll email you the link. Stress management isn’t only for individuals with tinnitus. It’s important for everyone, even if you don’t think you are stressed.

Ok so you’re probably wondering what I have in my hand in the photo I took for this blog today? It’s a stress ball in the shape of an ear. We purchased these to give to all of our patients who pursue treatment for hearing loss and tinnitus. It’s not only a great way to strengthen your muscles and potentially relieve arthritis pain but it can also reduce anxiety and stress. As a token of appreciation for taking the time to read my second tinnitus blog today, I will be mailing out one of my “ears” (not my real ear!) to the first 10 respondents that reside in Ontario, who have tinnitus and commit today to a daily practice of stress management. Simply email me at info@salushearing.com the words “Lend Me Your Ear” and your address and my team will ensure it’s in the mail before the end of the day tomorrow. Now go on and conquer the day and week. Remember that tinnitus is just a small part of our lives!

The Benefits of Tinnitus A Patient’s Perspective

Using Your Smartphone to Manage Your Tinnitus

Showcasing Resound Relief App for a Tinnitus Free Day.

Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause tinnitus?

A Morning Routine to Conquer Tinnitus

An Evening Routine to Conquer Tinnitus

Let’s Get Physical! Step It Up To Turn Down Your Tinnitus.

Beware of Over the Counter “Cures” for Tinnitus

What they don’t tell you CAN hurt you

Stepping into the Light for Tinnitus

Stopping the Vicious Cycle of Stress and Tinnitus

Ready to take the next step towards better hearing?
Contact us to book an appointment.

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(289) 963-1512

Tinnitus

Showcasing Resound Relief App for a Tinnitus Free Day.

What they don’t tell you CAN hurt you

Ready to take the next step towards better hearing? Contact us to book an appointment.

Call us today:

Ready to take the next step towards better hearing?
Contact us to book an appointment.