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| Image source: dailypioneer.com |
Roughly 50 million Americans hear some form of ringing in their ears even in the absence of an external source of noise. The condition, called tinnitus, is often a temporary affliction, but for about 20 million Americans the perceived ringing, hissing, clicking, roaring, whining, or whooshing sound can be extremely bothersome. And for 2 million Americans, tinnitus can be extreme and debilitating.
Individuals suffering from chronic and severe tinnitus can consider several treatment options available. From hearing aids to sound therapies to medications, the goal of these treatments is to reduce the burden and impact of tinnitus. And for many people, many of the available treatments today are effective.
Recently, however, an initial study by Brazilian researchers noted the possibility of using oxytocin, more popularly known as the “love hormone” to bring relief to people suffering from chronic tinnitus. According to lead researcher Dr. Andreia Azevedo of the department of otolaryngology at the Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, for some patients, spraying oxytocin into the nose resulted in the disappearance of tinnitus and in some cases, reached a non-distress level.
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| Image source: pzimedia.com |
Dr. Azevedo, however, noted that further research is needed to determine long-term effects of using oxytocin as a tinnitus treatment. Future studies can also look into the effects of increasing doses in relation to improving and lengthening relief.
For people suffering from chronic or severe tinnitus, a cure that will finally silence the disturbing sound from inside their head is what they long for. Perhaps oxytocin will be that cure; but until it has been medically proven and established, the quest for universal treatment continues.
Robert R. Beltran, M.D., specializes in otolaryngology and head and neck plastic surgery. For more discussions on the diseases that otolaryngologists like Dr. Beltran treat, visit this blog.
