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Laser therapy is most effective treatment for tinnitus, study finds
Medical Xpress / FAPESP / Journal of Personalized Medicine ^ | June 21, 2023 | Julia Moióli / Vitor Hugo Panhóca et al

Posted on 06/22/2023 7:05:55 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

Low-level laser therapy and associated photobiomodulation is the most effective of the known treatments for tinnitus, according to a study comparing the main therapies in current use.

Often described as ringing or hissing in the ears, it is considered a symptom rather than a disease, but is unpleasant and in some cases incapacitating. Its known causes can range from a buildup of earwax and insufficient peripheral irrigation in the inner ear to brain damage and bruxism.

Panhóca and his team tested alternative and complementary treatments for idiopathic (with no apparent cause) and refractory tinnitus on more than 100 men and women aged 18-65, divided randomly into ten groups. The treatments tested were laser acupuncture, flunarizine dihydrochloride, Ginkgo biloba (a medicinal plant), and low-level laser stimulation of the internal auditory canal or meatus (transmeatal stimulation), on its own and combined with vacuum therapy, ultrasound, G. biloba or flunarizine dihydrochloride.

The patients were submitted to eight twice-per-week treatment sessions. They were clinically assessed before treatment began, after the eighth session and two weeks later, using a "tinnitus handicap inventory questionnaire" with a total of 25 questions. A functional subscale comprised 11 questions on mental, social, occupational and physical limitations due to tinnitus.

The best outcomes were observed in patients treated with laser acupuncture alone and transmeatal low-power laser stimulation alone. In the latter case, they improved even more when irradiation time was increased from 6 minutes to 15 minutes. Combinations of laser therapy with vacuum therapy or G. biloba, laser acupuncture alone, and flunarizine dihydrochloride alone also had lasting therapeutic effects.

"The positive effects include anti-inflammatory action and relaxation. We believe laser therapy can increase peripheral irrigation, which may be the main cause of the problem in many cases, as well as stimulating inner ear cell proliferation and collagen production," Panhóca said.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: audio; ears; hearing; laser; therapy; tinnitus
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I have doubts about the laser/red light therapies, but I offer this write up because people with tinnitus can have a pretty hard time with it.

I have a very slight high-pitched sound in my ears, sort of like the sound televisions used to emit, but I don’t find it annoying.

As a rule, I am a big proponent of nutritional approaches to address issues, whenever credible to do so.

1 posted on 06/22/2023 7:05:55 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; BusterDog; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

2 posted on 06/22/2023 7:06:23 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Live with it. Cheaper.


3 posted on 06/22/2023 7:08:09 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (e allowed )
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To: ConservativeMind
As a rule, I am a big proponent of nutritional approaches to address issues, whenever credible to do so.

Does anyone here know of any nutritional approaches that have worked for them?

4 posted on 06/22/2023 7:13:14 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (“There is no good government at all & none possible.”--Mark Twain)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Mine was cured with hearing aides.

People who are deaf as fence post often have severe tinnitus. Mine was so bad it kept me up at night. When I got hearing aides the first thing I did was to enjoy the silence and took a nap


5 posted on 06/22/2023 7:15:35 PM PDT by Fai Mao (Starve the beast and steal its food!)
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To: ConservativeMind

If this works I need some of this for my right ear


6 posted on 06/22/2023 7:21:58 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: Fai Mao

Really?!


7 posted on 06/22/2023 7:22:22 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: ConservativeMind

This low level usage actually should give good results. The body’s tissues absorb these wavelengths very easily. Such lasers have been used in other medical procedures for over thirty years with good success


8 posted on 06/22/2023 7:23:45 PM PDT by Nifster ( I see puppy dogs in the clouds )
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To: ConservativeMind

“…sort of like the sounds televisions used to emit”

Yep, same here, closest real sound to it is the ~15kHz whine from an old TV. I’ve had it since childhood. It’s the sound of silence to me. Real sounds drown it out so it’s not a distraction. Allows me to sleep when there are no other real sounds. Total silence is never there but it doesn’t bother me.


9 posted on 06/22/2023 7:25:26 PM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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To: Fai Mao

Did you go with off the shelf hearing aids or expensive custom ones?


10 posted on 06/22/2023 7:25:29 PM PDT by BipolarBob (I was going to start procrastinating this year, I just haven't got around to it.)
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To: BipolarBob

“ Total silence is never there but it doesn’t bother me.

Well I get kind of sick of it and it’s a super high pitched ringing like it sounds when a firecracker or firearm goes off next to your head


11 posted on 06/22/2023 7:27:33 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: NWFree

That was for Mikey


12 posted on 06/22/2023 7:28:58 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: NWFree

You don’t have to tell me. I know.


13 posted on 06/22/2023 7:29:05 PM PDT by BipolarBob (I was going to start procrastinating this year, I just haven't got around to it.)
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To: ConservativeMind

When the laser exits the opposite side of the head, generally the tinnitus is solved. As well as other nagging worries.


14 posted on 06/22/2023 7:31:38 PM PDT by DaxtonBrown (away.)
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To: BipolarBob

Okay 👍🏻


15 posted on 06/22/2023 7:31:43 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: NWFree

Really! I had tinnitus that sounded like a screeching machine. I had trouble hearing anything else. It kept me up at night. I had it for years. The hearing loss was caused by nerve damage and was severe.

The first day I had the hearing aides I literally took a nap with them in. I wish I could sleep in the things.


16 posted on 06/22/2023 7:32:40 PM PDT by Fai Mao (Starve the beast and steal its food!)
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To: BipolarBob

We bought them at Sam’s club. They cost about $3000. The exam was free.


17 posted on 06/22/2023 7:35:07 PM PDT by Fai Mao (Starve the beast and steal its food!)
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To: ConservativeMind

Sign me up


18 posted on 06/22/2023 7:36:04 PM PDT by HollyB
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To: Fai Mao

I’ll check into that it would be great even if the ringing wasn’t as loud.


19 posted on 06/22/2023 7:38:40 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: mikey_hates_everything

Yes, same here. I’ve had it for decades. It has gotten worse as I have gotten older . It is starting to drive me crazy.....


20 posted on 06/22/2023 7:46:27 PM PDT by CletusVanDamme (The breaking point will be reached soon. )
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