Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 13, 2026 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller How To Turn Down the Volume on Tinnitus Dear Savvy Senior, What treatments are recommended to help with tinnitus? I started noticing a subtle ringing in my ears about 10 years ago, but it’s gotten much more bothersome since I turned 60. Ringing Ronnie Dear Ronnie, Tinnitus is actually one of the most common health conditions in the country. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders around 10 percent of the U.S. adult population – over 25 million Americans – experience some form of tinnitus. For most people tinnitus is merely annoying, but roughly 5 million people struggle with chronic tinnitus and 2 million find it debilitating. While there’s no cure, there are a range of different strategies you can employ to reduce the symptoms to make it less bothersome. Here’s what you should know. What is Tinnitus? Tinnitus (pronounced TIN-a-tus or tin-NIGHT-us) is the sensation of hearing a ringing, buzzing, roaring, hissing or whistling sound in one or both ears when no external sound is present. The sounds, which can vary in pitch and loudness, are usually worse when background noise is low, so you may be more aware of it at night when you’re trying to fall asleep in a quiet room. Tinnitus itself is not a disease, but rather a symptom of some other underlying health condition. The best way to find out what’s causing your tinnitus is to see an audiologist, or an otolaryngologist – a doctor who specializes in ear, nose and throat diseases (commonly called an ENT). The various things that can cause tinnitus are: • Hearing loss, which is the most common cause. • Middle ear obstructions usually caused by a buildup of earwax deep in the ear canal. • Side effects of many different prescription and over-the-counter medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, certain blood pressure medicines and diuretics, some antidepressants, cancer medicines and antibiotics. • Various medical conditions such as high blood pressure, vascular disease, diabetes, allergies, thyroid problems, ear or sinus infections, Meniere’s disease, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, otosclerosis, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a tumor, an injury to the head or neck, traumatic brain injury, depression, stress and more. Treatment Strategies There are many ways to treat tinnitus depending on the cause. For example, if your tinnitus is caused by a wax build-up in your ears or a medical condition like high blood pressure or a thyroid problem, treating the problem may reduce or eliminate the noise. Or, if you’re taking a medication that’s causing the problem, switching to a different drug or lowering the dosage may provide some relief. If you have hearing loss, getting a hearing aid can help mask your tinnitus by improving your ability to hear actual sounds. Another strategy that can help suppress or mask the sound so it’s less bothersome is “sound therapy.” This can be as simple as a fan or white noise machine, or you can use sound therapy apps like ReSound Tinnitus Relief, myNoise or NatureSpace. Cognitive behavioral therapy and psychological counseling can also be helpful, as can tinnitus retraining therapy (TNT). This combines counseling and sound therapy to train your brain to ignore the sound in your ears. The new MindEar app offers TNT. There are even new innovations like the FDA approved device Lenire (lenire.com) that uses electrical stimulation of the tongue to alleviate symptoms. There are also certain medications that may help. While there’s no FDA approved drugs specifically designed to treat tinnitus, some antianxiety drugs and antidepressants have been effective in relieving symptoms. Your audiologist or ENT can help you figure out the best treatment options. Other things you can do to help quiet the noise is to avoid things that can aggravate the problem like fatty foods, salt, artificial sweeteners, sugar, alcohol, tonic water, tobacco and caffeine. Also be sure to drink plenty of water as dehydration can worsen symptoms. And protect yourself from loud noises by wearing earplugs. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 1. February 13 is World Radio Day; which RPM records did radio DJs start with? 2. In what 1500s “dream” play is “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind…”? 3. On Feb. 14, 1859, George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., was born; he created the Ferris Wheel to be a centerpiece like what European attraction? 4. The 1928 film “Alias Jimmy Valentine” is based on a play based on whose short story? 5. In 2008 why were three Miami Dolphins fined for dancing the Cupid Shuffle after a touchdown? 6. What does XOXO mean? 7. On Feb. 15, 1965, what country changed its flag to have a leaf? 8. Originally, borax was transported out of what is now a national park by 20-mule teams? 9. Which Founding Father sold drinkable chocolate at his print shop? 10. The first permanent Pokémon theme park just opened where: Japan, Korea or USA? 11. On Feb. 16, 2005, what pro sports league in North America canceled their season? 12. In 2025 a Kartoffel-Flut (bumper crop) prompted free giveaways in Berlin of what? 13. On Feb. 17, 1963, what pro basketball player was born whose last name is the same as a river in the Bible? 14. In February 1926 production for “The Son of the Sheik” began; who starred in two roles? 15. Where is the world’s largest flood defense barrier: Florida, London or the Netherlands? 16. In 2022 a chocolatier created a Dubai chocolate bar called “Can’t Get Knafeh Of It” with knafeh pastry and what nut? 17. Feb. 18 is Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day; why did that happen? 18. What new sport does the 2026 Winter Olympics have? 19. Reportedly, the first teabag was invented in what city: Boston, Delhi or London? 20. On Feb. 19, 1945, U.S. Marines invaded what island? ANSWERS 1. 78 2. Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 3. Eiffel Tower (His Ferris Wheel was the centerpiece of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.) 4. O. Henry’s story “A Retrieved Reformation” 5. There was a rule that two or more people could not perform choreographed celebrations. 6. Kiss, hug, kiss, hug (hugs and kisses) 7. Canada (the Maple Leaf replaced the Canadian Red Ensign) 8. Death Valley (20 Mule Team Borax became a brand) 9. Benjamin Franklin 10. Yesterday the park (PokéPark Kanto) opened in a suburb of Tokyo. 11. NHL (collective bargaining agreement ended) 12. Potatoes; Kartoffel-Flut means potato flood. 13. Michael Jordan 14. Rudolph Valentino (He played a father and son.) 15. The Netherlands — Oosterscheldekering Barrier 16. Pistachio 17. It was an experiment to learn how height affected milk production; the milk was parachuted to spectators for publicity. 18. Ski mountaineering (also called skimo) — ascending a mountain on skis or carrying them and skiing back down 19. Boston (In 1880 inventor Thomas Fitzgerald was granted a patent; however, there are some Ancient China writings about teabag-like devices.) 20. Iwo Jima
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