28 Oct Botulinum for tinnitus therapy?

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a permanent, unpleasant noise in the ear. It sounds like whistling or beeping - some patients also perceive it as hissing, buzzing or ringing. The ringing in the ears can either occur acutely (no longer than three months) or become chronic (longer than three months). A distinction is also made between objective tinnitus - which can also be heard by us during the examination with a stethoscope - and subjective tinnitus. In this case, only you can hear the ringing and buzzing.

The ringing in the ears can be associated with a physical illness. In addition to typical ENT diseases such as middle ear inflammation, otosclerosis or sudden hearing loss, cardiovascular diseases, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure or diabetes can also be the cause of tinnitus. Tension in the neck and back or temporomandibular joint problems should also not be neglected.

The psyche can also be a possible trigger. Persistent professional and/or personal stress or other psychological problems can cause ringing in the ears as a reaction to anger and overload.

In some cases, there is no clear physical or psychological cause. In this case, we speak of idiopathic tinnitus.

What is botulinum?

The name Botox has become synonymous with various products that work with the active ingredient botulinum toxin - but it is actually a protected brand name of a manufacturer. This is similar to using the term "Tempo" to refer to a paper tissue in general (which is also produced by other companies).

Botulinum works as follows:

In order for a muscle to move, the associated nerve releases a transmitter substance (acetylcholine). The result: the muscle contracts. Botulinum toxin inhibits the release of the transmitter substance. As a result, the muscle can no longer contract (as strongly) and relaxes.

There are seven serotypes of the active ingredient, which differ in their concentration and properties. They can be used not only for treatments in aesthetic medicine (wrinkle treatment/wrinkle smoothing), but also to improve neurological problems, for example. Common areas of application for botulinum are dystonia, i.e. movement disorders in which involuntary and abnormal muscle movements can occur. These include tremor, torticollis, eyelid spasms, spasticity and strabismus. Botox can also provide relief in chronic cases of migraine.

The active ingredient has also proven itself in the treatment of excessive sweating: In hyperhidrosis, botulinum toxin can prevent increased sweating, e.g. under the armpits.

Study: Botulinum for tinnitus therapy - injection into the auricle area

According to American scientists from the California Ear Institute in San Ramon, Botox can also be effective in the treatment of tinnitus. They presented their findings at a meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology in New York.

The Study included 26 tinnitus patients whose ringing in the ears was first precisely classified. For the tinnitus therapy, they injected the substance into the auricle area of one group of patients. The researchers administered a placebo to the other groups. They repeated the injections four months later.

They then asked the study participants about their subjective feelings and any noticeable changes. In some patients to whom they had administered the substance, they noticed a reduction in ringing in the ears.

Other approaches to tinnitus therapy with Botox

If the ringing in the ears is caused by a dysmotion of the soft palate, injections with botulinum can provide relief. This also applies to the so-called gaping tube, a functional disorder of the tube with an insufficient closure between the nasopharyngeal cavity and the tympanic cavity of the middle ear.

As ringing in the ears is also caused by temporomandibular joint problems, it may be worthwhile using botulinum here. Night-time teeth grinding is often the result of overactive chewing muscles. Those affected often suffer from pain in the jaw joint and tension in the cervical spine. As a result, they wake up in the morning with a sore jaw and a tension headache. These symptoms usually improve over the course of the day. This symptomatology is often accompanied by unilateral or bilateral ringing in the ears.

In addition to neural therapy or treatments with acupuncture and chiropractic therapy, botulinum can also be used in such cases. The active ingredient is injected into the chewing muscle. In some cases, this improves the symptoms.

Botulinum and tinnitus therapy Frankfurt

If you suffer from ringing in the ears, please make an appointment with us. With a detailed diagnosis in our practice in Frankfurt, we will first clarify the cause of your tinnitus. Based on the results of the examination, we can develop a customised therapy for you.

We are also familiar with the Botox treatment from.

ENT Frankfurt: Dr Thomas Fischer & Dr Albrecht Linke

Your specialists for ear, nose and throat medicine, who will provide you with professional and individualised advice, examinations and treatment in all matters relating to ENT medicine, functional plastic surgery and the aesthetic treatment of changes to the facial skin.

Our news articles are prepared for you to the best of our knowledge and belief and are intended for general education. They are in no way a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis and treatment and are not intended to encourage self-diagnosis or self-treatment. Please always contact your ENT specialist in Frankfurt directly if you have any health complaints!

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