Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the treatment of Tinnitus
Sudden deafness is defined as a unilateral sensori-neural hearing loss that develops over a few hours or a few days. It can be accompanied with tinnitus (in 70% cases) and mild or transient vertigo with nausea and vomiting (in 40% cases).
Hearing change could be due to more than 100 reasons and most common are: Vascular problems (thromboembolic disease, hypertension and microcirculation disturbance); Infection (bacterial or viral); Metabolic disorders (diabetes and hyperlipidemia); Ototoxic drugs; Barotrauma (rupture of tympanic membrane); Acute acoustic trauma (due to gunfire or explosion); Meniere’s disease, acoustic neurinoma due to a compression of vestibulocochlear nerve, head injury etc.
If usual standard treatment i.e. steroid therapy is not effective a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) is considered. One of common reasons of hearing loss is caused by the “hair cell” damage (swelling and degeneration) due to occlusion of blood supply and reduction of blood flow and oxygen concentration to the ear, which is most effectively addressed with HBO. However, hearing loss, dizziness and tinnitus from other etiology are also improving during and after HBO.
Tinnitus
Dennis and Wendy R. Vancouver
“My wife and I had a very unexpected gift from her oxygen treatment at the BaroMedical Clinic.
After several weeks of oxygen therapy, her tinnitus reduced in volume and for the first time in several years she has not complained about the noise in her ears. This is a very welcomed addition to the general increased in the quality of life that she has gained from the oxygen treatment.
I would like to add that the staff at BaroMedical are incredibly knowledgeable and kind.
My only regret is that I didn't start oxygen treatment a year or two earlier.”
