Hearing Disorders Treatment Auditory Integration Training: Auditory Integration Training is a form of sound therapy that has been shown to be highly effective for resolving hearing disorders related to hearing loss, sensitivities to high-frequency sounds, and hearing problems associated with behavioral and development problems. This branch of sound therapy was developed by French physicians Alfred Tomatis, M.D., and Guy Berard, E.N.T., each of whom developed a technique that bears their name. Both techniques work by using sound to stimulate the ear and the brain. The Tomatis Method involves an electronic device known as the Electronic Ear that is used to help train the listener to make a deeper connection between language, listening, and learning. Dr. Tomatis believed that hearing problems can originate as a result of both physical and emotional trauma that can interfere with a person’s ability to properly connect with sounds, language, and learning. Practitioners of the Tomatis Method use the Electronic Ear to produce various kinds of sounds that their clients listen to in order to recreate critical stages of their listening development. Using specifically prepared audiotapes of music and voice that are played into the Electronic Ear and then filtered to produce high- and low-frequency sounds, Tomatis practitioners helps to stimulate and energize the brain so that clients learn how to master the developmental stages of listening. Over time, the low-frequency sounds are gradually eliminated so that the high frequencies can further energize the brain. As another aspect of the training, clients talk into the Electronic Ear using a microphone so that they can listen to their own voice as a means of establishing proper audio-vocal control. The Tomatis Method can provide significant benefits for a variety of hearing disorders, including childhood deafness. It has also been shown to be effective for resolving various behavioral problems that can occur in children with hearing disorders, including attention deficit disorder (ADD), dyslexia, and hyperactivity. Dr. Berard’s work with auditory integration training is similar to the Tomatis Method, but more commonly used for resolving the behavioral and cognitive problems that people with hearing disorders can experience. According to Dr. Berard, such problems can occur when certain frequencies are perceived in a distorted manner, leading to difficulties in comprehension and behavior. Practitioners of Dr. Berard’s Method use a device known as the Ears Education and Retraining System (EERS) that helps to reduce the sound frequencies that a person hears in a distorted way, or to which he or she is hypersensitive. Over time, the EERS enable clients to perceive all sound frequencies normally and without sensitivity to them. Dr. Berard has used his system to help many patients with hearing-related behavioral and cognitive problems fully recover, including cases of autism. Ayurvedic Medicine: Ayurvedic physicians employ essential oils, herbs, nutritional supplements, and massage therapy to help patients recover from hearing disorders. A common Ayurvedic practice is to combine the Ayurvedic herb neem with the essential oil Adardica Indica after it has been warmed. A few drops of this combination are squeezed into the ear with an eye dropper, where the solution works to destroy bacteria and fungi that can contribute to earwax buildup and other ear imbalances. At the same time, patients are instructed to consume the Ayurvedic herb Amla, a potent source of vitamin C, to further boost immune function. A Lymphatic massage may also be administered to help open up the Eustachian tubes, allowing them to drain more efficiently. Other Ayurvedic remedies include Albad oil mixed with the herbs Ashwagandha, Bala, Calamus, Black Pepper, and Indian Long Pepper. This combination helps to improve hearing loss by increasing the circulation around the ears while simultaneously helping to drain off excess ear fluid. Warm Albad Oil inserted into the ear can also help to relieve Tinnitus. It can be taken internally to assist in the recovery of hearing disorders, as can Sesame Oil and Ghee, or Clarified Butter. Craniosacral Therapy: Developed by John Upledger, D.O., Medical Director of the Upledger Institute, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, craniosacral therapy offers many benefits for people suffering from hearing disorders because of how it works to realign the temporal bones, which enclose the inner workings of the ears, with the rest of the cranium. In addition, it is highly effective for relieving pressure on the temporal lobes of the brain, which can also be a factor in hearing disorders. Craniosacral therapy is also highly effective for resolving hearing problems related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. It is particularly helpful for resolving earache and ear pain, otitis media and tinnitus. Dealing with Excess Earwax: In addition to the regular use of cotton swabs (see How Should I Clean My Ears? for safe ear swabbing technique), a simple and effective method recommended by naturopathic physicians for earwax buildup is to add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide or vinegar to warm water. Using an eye dropper, place the solution in your ear (tilting your head upward as you insert it). After a few moments, tilt you head down, allowing the solution to drain out. Then repeat the process with your other ear. Be sure to use cotton swabs afterward. Crushed garlic or the herb mullein added to extra virgin olive oil can also be used for this purpose. Excessive earwax can be due to a deficiency of essential fatty acids, especially Omega-3 oils. Therefore, daily supplementing with Omega-3 oils is recommended. Diet: If you suffer from hearing problems, you need to be screened for food allergies and sensitivities, and then avoid eating those foods that you are allergic or sensitive to. In addition, avoid all sugar and sugar products, wheat and wheat byproducts, soy products, soft drinks, commercially processed foods, and all foods containing artificial ingredients, such as additives, colorings, flavorings, and preservatives (such as BHA, BHT, sodium nitrite, sulfites, saccharin, aspartame, and cyclamates). Minimize your intake of milk and dairy products, and coffee and other caffeine products, as well as red meat, salt, refined carbohydrates (white bread, pastries, commercial pasta), corn, chocolate, and unhealthy fats (hydrogenated or trans fats). Emphasize a diet rich in organic whole foods, especially plenty of organic fresh green vegetables and green vegetable drinks. Also, eat high-quality protein foods such as free-range organic meats, poultry, and wild-caught fish. Garlic and onions are beneficial due to their immune-boosting properties, as are live cultured foods such as yogurt and cultured yogurt drinks, such as kefir and lassi. Also, be sure to drink plenty of pure, filtered water throughout the day. Eliminating Allergies: Detecting and eliminating food and environmental allergies is essential in many cases of hearing disorders. In addition, breastfeeding infants for at least six months following their birth can significantly reduce the risk of children developing allergies that can contribute to hearing problems. Research shows that breastfed children overall grow up to be more resistant to allergies than infants who are fed milk formulas and have stronger immune systems. In addition to allergy testing (See Allergies for more information), one of the most effective means of detecting allergies is electrodermal screening (EDS). EDS is able to screen for both food and environmental allergies by energetically reading a person’s energetic pathways of the body as the person is exposed to sample vials of the most common allergens. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, EDS is often capable of detecting hidden allergies when all other testing methods fail. If allergies are detected, an effective way to resolve them is an allergy treatment known as enzyme-potentiated desensitization (EPD). In EPD treatments, patients receive a series of injections that contain a variety of allergens from a specific category, such as milk and dairy products for food allergy treatments. The injections help the body’s immune system to build up tolerances to the allergens so that they can eventually be tolerated without problems. Depending on the number of allergens a person is sensitive to, a series of EPD injections may be necessary. Unlike conventional allergy shots, EPD injections are able to treat multiple related allergens at once, and at much lower dosages, thus minimizing the risk of adverse reactions. Herbs: Herbs that can help eliminate infections related to hearing problems include Echinacea, Goldenseal, Hypericum, and St. John’s Wort, all which can also help to drain excess ear fluid. For Otitis Media, combining equal parts of Echinacea and Cleavers as a tincture can be helpful. Take one teaspoon three times a day. Warm Mullein Flower Oil inserted into the ear via an eye dropper can also help to relieve symptoms of inflammation, but should be avoided if perforation within the ear is present. Ginkgo Biloba is useful for improving overall circulation in and around the ear and is also effective as a treatment for tinnitus. Combining equal parts of Ginkgo with Black Cohosh as a tincture can be helpful. For an earache, ear pain, diminished hearing, and hearing problems related to Candidiasis, inserting Tea Tree Oil Drops and diluted Grapefruit Seed Extract is recommended. Homeopathy: At the onset of Otitis Media, the homeopathic remedies Aconite and Ferrum Phos. can be highly effective, while Belladonna, Chamomilla, Hepar Sulf., Lycopodium, Merc Sol., Pulsatilla, and Silicea are recommended for Otitis Media’s later stages and for recurring episodes. Apis Mellifica, Belladonna, Chamomilla, Hepar Sulf., Lachesis, Lycopodium, Merc Sol., Pulsatilla, and Silicea are useful for treating infections related to hearing disorders. Carboneum Sulphuratum and Salicylicum Acidum, taken in conjunction with vitamin B6 and Gingko Biloba, can be helpful for Meniere’s disease, so long as sodium, caffeine, and chocolate are avoided. For tinnitus, recommended homeopathic formulas include Chenopodium, Cinchona Officinalis, and Salicylicum Acidum. The appropriate remedy depends upon the type of noise heard by the patient. Lifestyle: Avoid exposure to loud noises. If you work in a noisy environment, be sure to wear protective earplugs or earmuffs. Also avoid listening to tapes and CDs using headphones, which can cause hearing loss and significantly increase the risk of ear infection. In addition, regularly clean your ears with cotton swabs, but do so gently, to avoid damaging ear tissue. Nutritional Supplements: Useful nutritional supplements for hearing disorders include vitamin A (hearing loss and Tinnitus), B vitamins (Otitis Media and other hearing problems related to infection), vitamin C (Otitis Media and other hearing problems related to infection), Zinc (tinnitus), Beta Carotene (Otitis Media), and N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC) (for excess fluid buildup in the ear). Iron should be considered, especially for children with hearing disorders, but only if the patient is Iron deficient. Acidophilus is recommended for hearing disorders in order to maintain healthy gastrointestinal flora and to minimize the risk of infections and Candidiasis. The amino acid Glutamic Acid can help cases of tinnitus and also helps to maintain proper brain function, which can improve symptoms of hearing disorders. Liquid MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) inserted in the ear via eye dropper can improve the elasticity of the membranes of the middle and inner ear, and is especially useful for age-related hearing loss. Folic Acid is also beneficial for hearing loss. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Practitioners of TCM find that most cases of hearing disorders are related to imbalances in kidney function. Therefore, they treat hearing problems by balancing the kidney meridians (energetic pathways of the body) using a combination of acupuncture and herbal remedies, such as Er Long Zuo Gi Wan, a classic TCM remedy for imbalanced kidney energies. Close attention is given to each patient’s diet and to stimulate the immune system, Qigong and Tai chi exercises are also frequently advised. Alternative Professional Care The following therapies can also be useful for treating and preventing hearing disorders: Biofeedback Training and Neurotherapy, Biological Dentistry (for hearing problems related to TMJ), Chiropractic, Environmental Medicine, Magnet Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, and Sound Therapy (See Glossary for descriptions of these Alternative Therapies.) Quick Action Plan for Hearing Disorders:
Close Browser/Window To Return To The Main Menu |