Vitamin A
A New York Otorhinolaryngologist, M. J. Lobel, was one of the first to demonstrate in 1949 that vitamin A is useful in treating human hearing loss and tinnitus. Between 1941 and 51, five experimental research studies were conducted into the correlation between the ear and vitamin A. Authors concluded vitamin A was a valuable therapeutic agent in the treatment of deafness and tinnitus. (Lobel, 1951)
Identical trials with 103 patients in 1952 by G. Nager concluded that vitamin A did accomplish an improvement in pure-tone hearing, improvement in speech perception and reduction of accompanying tinnitus. (Nager, 1952)
It is important to note that vitamin A can be toxic in large amounts (over 50,000 I.U. per day) and should be consumed in the form of beta-carotene, which the body then converts to vitamin A. (Diesel, 2002)
The trial period in the studies and product literature ranges between 60 to 120 days to determine if any result will be obtained. In many studies, extended trials gave even better results. The majority of recommendations for trial periods of the supplements were 90 days.
Most of these supplements include little or no side effects. As with any patient who is taking medications, they should be informed to check with their physician for any contraindications. However, caution must be exercised to warn patients who might be taking agents for blood-thinning such as coumadin or warfarin to check with their primary physician before taking Ginkgo Biloba.
Additionally, Ginkgo Biloba should be discontinued two weeks prior to any surgical procedure.
Of course, if any of your 60 to 80-year-old patients are pregnant, they should also check with their doctor.
Futuristic scientific research at Harvard Medical School involved reproducing mouse embryonic stem cells in culture that resemble sensory hair cells in the inner ear. These cells were transplanted into developing ears of chickens and appeared to be very similar to the chicken hair cells surrounding them. This technology may be used to treat disorders primarily due to cell degeneration, including hearing loss. (Cunningham, 2003) But not in the near future.
In summary, areas presented here today are non-intrusive methods that give some level of relief to most tinnitus sufferers.
In our practice, we recommend the combination of Sound Therapy and antioxidant supplements. This synergistic combination allows hearing health care professionals to offer an alternative path for their patients to follow in an effort to alleviate tinnitus suffering.
