Posts tout unproven tinnitus cures | Fact Check – AFP Factcheck
Copyright AFP 2017-2022. All rights reserved.
Social media posts and online articles claim dietary supplements or CBD gummies can treat tinnitus, a condition characterized by ringing in the ears. This is false; there is no known cure for tinnitus, although medical experts say some therapies may help manage the symptoms.
“Relief – peace and quiet, my headaches are gone, the cringing sounds are shut down,” says an August 13, 2022 Facebook post that links to a website selli…….
Copyright AFP 2017-2022. All rights reserved.
Social media posts and online articles claim dietary supplements or CBD gummies can treat tinnitus, a condition characterized by ringing in the ears. This is false; there is no known cure for tinnitus, although medical experts say some therapies may help manage the symptoms.
“Relief – peace and quiet, my headaches are gone, the cringing sounds are shut down,” says an August 13, 2022 Facebook post that links to a website selling supplements.
Screenshot of a Facebook post taken August 23, 2022
Other Facebook posts also claim a dietary supplement called “Quietum Plus” can treat tinnitus, which can be acute or long-lasting — and in some cases debilitating. One post says “experts at the Mayo Clinic have developed a new drug to prevent and treat tinnitus and have begun to market it,” linking to a website promoting CBD gummies.
But medical experts say the claims are false and that no drug or supplement has been approved to treat tinnitus, which in some cases is associated with partial hearing loss.
“Mayo Clinic has not developed a new drug to prevent and treat tinnitus,” a spokesperson for the academic medical center told AFP in an email.
While there is no cure, the Mayo Clinic says on its website that some techniques — such as white noise machines and counseling — may help patients cope with tinnitus. In some cases, the center notes, drugs may help treat an underlying condition or tinnitus-associated anxiety.
Douglas Backous, a neurotologist in Edmonds, Washington, who treats patients with hearing disorders, said tinnitus can have a wide range of causes, including tumors or brain injuries. The condition is believed to affect millions of Americans, with some cases resulting from loud noises or injury.
“Tinnitus is really a symptom, it’s not a disease. It can occur with a lot of other problems,” Backous said, noting that sometimes the condition’s cause is unclear.
Some tinnitus cases may require surgery or other interventions. Backous said alternative or complementary treatments may help, but a medical exam should be a patient’s first step.
“We’re not shooting for a cure — we’re trying to help people cope with tinnitus,” he said.
Hearing loss among older adults by world region, according to the World Health Organization ( AFP / Jonathan WALTER)
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery says serious tinnitus cases can be treated with counseling, sound therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. But the guidelines specifically caution against dietary supplements.
“Studies show that products such as Ginkgo biloba, melatonin, or zinc do not help patients with tinnitus,” the professional association says. “Therefore, these types of over-the-counter products are not recommended for treatment.”</…….
