Tinnitus

Q Is it possible for tinnitus to completely disappear, or do I just have to live with it?

A. It depends on the cause and course. Early tinnitus can disappear completely, while for chronic tinnitus a realistic goal is to greatly reduce the bothersomeness and sleep disruption so it doesn't interfere with daily life, rather than reducing the sound to zero.

Q I think my hearing has deteriorated a bit along with my tinnitus. Are these two related?

A. Yes. Tinnitus and hearing loss often stem from the same root: damage to the hair cells in the cochlea. If hearing loss is left untreated, tinnitus tends to become more entrenched, so it is important to address both together.

Q I have high blood pressure and pulsatile tinnitus has started. Is my blood pressure related to the tinnitus?

A. Yes. Pulsatile tinnitus that throbs with your heartbeat requires checking for vascular causes first. When you have high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, or carotid artery stenosis, turbulent flow in the blood vessels around the ear can be heard as sound, so blood pressure control and vascular evaluation are important.

Q When I have tinnitus, is a quiet environment better, or is it better to keep some background sound on?

A. Complete silence makes the tinnitus sound stand out more. Keeping a gentle background sound that is easy on the ears, such as low-volume white noise, natural sounds, or soft music, helps you focus less on the tinnitus and reduces the bothersomeness.

Q My tinnitus makes it really hard to fall asleep. Is there a good way to sleep well?

A. Playing low background sound (white noise, natural sounds) before bed, avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the evening, and keeping a regular bedtime are effective for tinnitus-related insomnia. Stretching the back of the neck and shoulders also aids blood flow.

Q I suddenly can't hear in one ear and tinnitus has started. Is it okay to go to a Korean medicine clinic first?

A. No. If sudden unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus occur at the same time, sudden sensorineural hearing loss is highly likely, so you must go to an ENT immediately. Starting treatment within the first 72 hours is decisive for hearing recovery.

Q My tinnitus seems to have started after taking medication. Are ototoxic drugs really harmful to the ears?

A. Yes. Some antibiotics (aminoglycosides), anticancer drugs (cisplatin), high-dose diuretics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to be ototoxic and damage the hair cells of the cochlea. If you suspect this, consult the prescribing doctor.

Q My ENT prescribed blood circulation enhancers and steroids for my tinnitus. Can I take them together with herbal medicine?

A. Usually you can take them together if you leave a 1-2 hour interval. If you tell us about your current medications during the consultation, we adjust the herbal formula and dosing times accordingly. During short-term steroid treatment, please be sure to keep the time interval from herbal medicine.

Q It has been 3 weeks since I started having tinnitus. Is there a high chance of improvement if I start treatment right now?

A. Yes. In cases of tinnitus, especially when accompanied by sudden hearing loss, the earlier treatment begins (usually within 2 to 4 weeks) the higher the chance of recovery. The 3-week mark is a good time to start active management.

Q My tinnitus has lasted more than 2 years. If it's already become chronic, is it no longer possible to improve?

A. Even for chronic tinnitus, managing it to reduce the bothersomeness and sleep disruption is meaningful, rather than aiming for complete elimination. By addressing the body's condition along with stress and sleep, even long-standing tinnitus can change in how intensely it is felt.

Q I keep hearing a continuous ringing sound in my ear even when there's no external noise. Why does this happen?

A. When the hair cells inside the cochlea are damaged or the auditory nerve becomes abnormally excited, the brain generates a sound signal that isn't really there. This is the core mechanism of tinnitus, and the most common causes are noise exposure, age-related hearing loss, and stress.

Q I heard there are different types of tinnitus. Do the causes differ depending on the type of sound?

A. Yes. High-pitched ringing is linked to noise-induced or age-related hearing loss, low buzzing to Meniere's disease or phlegm-retention, and pulsatile tinnitus that throbs with your heartbeat to vascular abnormalities or high blood pressure. The character of the sound is a clue for identifying the cause.

Q My tinnitus seems to get worse when I drink coffee. Do caffeine or salty foods affect tinnitus?

A. Yes. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system and constricts the blood vessels of the ear, which can worsen tinnitus. Salty foods disrupt the fluid balance of the inner ear (cochlea) and are especially bad for tinnitus accompanying Meniere's disease.

Q My tinnitus seems to get louder whenever I work a lot of overtime and am under heavy stress. Is there really a connection?

A. Yes. Stress and lack of sleep tense the autonomic nervous system and make the auditory center hypersensitive, making them leading triggers that worsen tinnitus. As fatigue builds up, a vicious cycle of becoming more sensitive to tinnitus develops.

Q What happens when I visit a Korean medicine clinic in Dong-gu, Incheon for tinnitus for the first time?

A. On your first visit, we listen in detail and examine when and how the tinnitus started, the character of the sound, any hearing changes, and accompanying symptoms. Based on that, we design the diagnosis, herbal prescription, acupuncture treatment, and lifestyle management direction together.

Q In what specific stages does Dongjedang treat tinnitus?

A. We approach the treatment in three stages: clearing the heat accumulated around the head and ears through Cheongsang (淸上); replenishing the roots of Qi and blood supply to the ears through Bosin (補腎); and improving cerebral blood flow and the auditory nerve environment through craniosacral Chuna and acupuncture.

Q What should I prepare before a Korean medicine consultation for tinnitus to make the examination more accurate?

A. If you organize the character of the tinnitus sound (pitch, one or both ears), when it worsens, whether it is accompanied by hearing changes or dizziness, a list of your medications, and any hearing test results, it makes designing the diagnosis and treatment direction much faster.

Q My ENT doctor said there's no medication for tinnitus. Can Korean medicine treatment really help?

A. It may be difficult to reduce tinnitus completely to zero, but the volume, bothersomeness, and sleep disruption can be meaningfully reduced. Especially when stress, fatigue, or Kidney deficiency are the background, addressing the body's condition can make a big difference in how it feels.