Question: It is just too sad to stand by and witness my daughter suffering to cope with the ear ringing! That isn't the worst though, as she struggles to get to sleep her general health seems to be getting worse. It appears that as she is so irratable and anxious, she can't sleep for long and nowdays seems to pick up almost every sickness that is doing the rounds. My theory is that this be resulting from the tinnitus? I am searching for a tinnitus treatment right now

Answer: What works for one person will not work for another so I will list several strategies here. However, one that seems to provide relief long enough to sleep is white noise so you might want to invest in a white noise machine. Static will often work just as well so you can try a radio set on a static station...no music, just the static.

If your daugher's tinnitus is untreatable, there are several things she can try to make it less bothersome:avoid caffeineavoid nicotinezinc supplements may helpuse a white noise machine or a ticking clockavoid loud sounds, music and noisesexercise daily (improving her circulation can help)avoid fatigue as it will intensify the ringingtry to ignore the ringing (easier said than done at first)if she has a hearing loss, a hearing aid with a "tinnitus masker" may help

The susceptibility to illness would probably have no correlation to the tinnitus itself but it might to the lack of sleep. When we sleep, our bodies rebuild and without adequate rest, her resistance is impacted.

My husband has had tinnitus for years and he said it eventually becomes so much a part of you that you hardly notice it. He had a terrible time in the beginning but now it is just something that is "always there".

If your daughter has not seen an otolaryngologist, who may also send her to an audiologist for testing before a final diagnosis is made, I suggest she see one. Depending on the cause of the tinnitus, sometimes it can be treated with drugs or surgery.