Tinnitus and Hyperbaric Treatment

Tinnitus is a condition in which an individual feels ringing or buzzing in their ears without any external sound. This is a common condition that can be caused by a variety of factors, including exposure to loud noises, ear infections, or age-related hearing loss. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. It has been shown to be a promising treatment option for tinnitus by increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to the affected tissues.

Sudden loss of hearing is a serious condition. The causes are varied, from unknown to postviral. It can be either one-sided, partial, or two-sided. The loss in different frequencies can be from 5% to 100%. It is often associated with tinnitus. The treatment is aimed at improving blood flow through the inner ear. It is a vasodilatory, rheological and corticosteroid treatment. The sooner intensive treatment is started from the onset of the disease, the better its results.

WHY HYPERBARIC OXYGEN CHAMBER?

Oxygen dissolves in the blood plasma at the elevated pressure in the chamber. Oxygen is transported not only by haemoglobin, but also by blood plasma. Here its concentration, volume, is 20 times higher than at normal air pressure. This oxygen rush also penetrates into ischemic tissues or insufficiently oxygenated areas of the inner ear. There is a significant increase in the volume of oxygen in the perilymph and thereby a better supply of easily accessible oxygen to damaged cells. At the same time, hyperbaric oxygen stimulates microvessels to growth. This is the essence of the beneficial effect of HBO in the treatment of various ischemic syndromes. Of course, HBO treatment must be carried out in close cooperation with the otorhinolaryngologist.

HBOT works by increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in blood plasma, which in turn increases the amount of oxygen delivered to tissues throughout the body, including the ears. This increased oxygen supply can help improve blood flow and promote healing in affected tissues, which is important for conditions where ear structures may be damaged or dysfunctional.

Studies have shown that HBOT may be effective in reducing the severity of tinnitus in some patients. In one study, chronic Tinnitus patients who received HBOT had a significant reduction in symptom severity compared to those who did not receive this treatment. Another study found that HBOT improved hearing thresholds and lowered the volume of tinnitus in patients with noise-induced hearing loss. The therapy is usually administered as a series of treatments, with each session lasting between 60 and 120 minutes. The number of treatments required depends on the severity of the condition being treated, but a typical course of treatment may include 20-30 sessions. The treatment is generally well tolerated, with few side effects. Some patients may experience ear pain or pressure changes, but these can usually be managed with techniques such as yawning or swallowing.