Are You Suffering From Any of These Symptoms as a Result of Tinnitus? Call Today for a Consultation.

■ Mild to severe anxiety■ Depression
■ Insomnia■ Negative thinking
■ Triggered fight or flight■ Crying spells
■ Hopelessness■ Ringing in the ears
■ Suicidal thoughts

Are you growing more isolated?
Do you feel like life will never be the same?
Are you refraining from activities that you enjoy?
Are you fearful of losing your job?
Do you find that your thoughts tend to be negative?

If you answered yes to 3 or more of these questions or symptoms, then we can help. You may be a candidate for Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy, or TCRT.

With over 20 years of clinical experience, Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R developed Tinnitus Cognitive Retraining Therapy and founded the Tinnitus Cognitive Center™ in response to the growing number of Tinnitus sufferers coming to his private practice.

He discovered that by helping people to retrain and reinterpret the thoughts around their Tinnitus, anxiety and depression symptoms began to improve. But even more important so did the Tinnitus.

Call Dr. Katz at (646) 213-2321 for a consultation.

Convenient Online Sessions
Dr. Katz Speaks 5 languages

See our main site: www.TinnitusCognitiveCenter.com
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Category Archives: Best Tinnitus Doctor 2015

Tinnitus: Is There a Cure?

Tinnitus is a condition that is mainly characterized by hearing ringing, buzzing, humming or hissing sounds in the ear that are not coming from the external environment. Although there is not usually a quick fix for tinnitus, unless it is caused by an easily treatable condition such as a middle ear infection or build-up of earwax, it will usually improve gradually over time. There are a number of treatments for tinnitus available which can help you cope with this condition and better manage the symptoms.

Treating Underlying Conditions:

Firstly, if you are suffering with tinnitus, the best thing to do is speak to your doctor and have them examine your ears to determine whether the condition has been caused by an easily treatable condition. In many cases, tinnitus is a symptom of minor ear issues, such as a perforated ear drum, an infection in the middle ear, or simply a build-up of too much ear wax. If your tinnitus is caused by any one of these conditions, they will usually be easy for your doctor to treat quickly with the appropriate methods, such as a course of antibiotics or earwax draining.

Correcting Hearing Loss:

If you have tinnitus which is mainly caused by age-related hearing loss or otherwise, then dealing with the hearing loss should be the first step to solving the problem. Correcting even minor hearing loss issues can often mean that the parts of your brain which are involved in hearing will no longer need to work as hard when it comes to interpreting sounds; therefore, your brain will not pay as much attention to the tinnitus. The best course of action is to see a hearing specialist who will be able to recommend a suitable course of treatment, such as having a hearing aid fitted or in some cases, surgery.

Counseling and Therapy:

As a continuous condition, tinnitus can often be very disruptive to the life of the patient. Many patients with tinnitus report a lack of focus and concentration due to the sounds that they hear, along with trouble sleeping and in some cases, mental health issues such as depression. Tinnitus counseling can be very useful by helping you to work together with your therapist to understand the condition and find healthy ways of managing and coping with it each day.

Get in touch today to book your appointment for the best tinnitus treatment in New York!

Call today for a free 15min phone consultation 646-213-2321

Herbal Treatments for Tinnitus

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a common condition of ringing or roaring in the ears that usually results from an underlying problem with the ear, including ear infections, hearing loss, disorders of blood circulation and even tumors. Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, a leading Manhattan tinnitus treatment psychotherapist, notes that the cause of tinnitus cannot always be discovered. However, the good news is that there are treatments that can still reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.

Medications to Reduce Symptoms of Tinnitus May Have Side Effects

There are medications that doctors prescribe to reduce symptoms of tinnitus, but these medications sometimes have side effects that are just as unpleasant. Some doctors prescribe anti-anxiety medications like Valium, which result in a tired feeling and may cause you to become sleepy in the middle of the day. Anti-depressant therapies used to treat tinnitus have many potential side effects, including agitation and sexual dysfunction.

Herbal Remedies for Tinnitus

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, a leading NYC tinnitus treatment psychotherapist, says herbal remedies may provide a safer alternative for reduction of tinnitus symptoms. Although herbal medications are usually gentler, they can interfere with other medical conditions and with medications your doctor may have prescribed. If you decide to try an herbal therapy for your tinnitus, be sure to consult with your doctor.

Gingko biloba

Gingko biloba is a supplement made from the oldest living tree species. Gingko has been used medicinally for centuries, and recent studies show it is effective when used to treat a variety of medical conditions. People who take gingko have reported increased mental alertness and concentration. Gingko has been successfully used to treat circulatory disorders of the blood vessels, including intermittent claudication. It works by increasing blood flow, and gingko also has antioxidant properties that help prevent and repair damage caused by free oxygen radicals. A study that was published in 2002 in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics found that patients who had tinnitus from noise-related hearing damage showed improvement after treatment with gingko.

Black cohosh (Cimcifua racemosa, Actaea racemosa)

Black cohosh is an herb that has been used to treat a variety of conditions, including pain in patients with arthritis and neuralgia, and in patients with menstrual pain and cramping. Black cohosh causes dilation of the blood vessels, increasing blood flow, which may help with tinnitus, particularly in patients who have Meniere’s Disease. The German Minister of Health appointed a commission to study herbal remedies in 1978, and the commission approved black cohosh as a treatment for tinnitus.

Rehmannia (Rehmannia glutinosa, sheng di huang)

Rehmannia is an herb that has long been used in traditional Asian medicine, and it continues to be used throughout Southeast Asia for treatment of tinnitus and hearing loss. Researchers reported in 2007, in the Archives of Medical Research, that free radicals played an important role in cellular damage that results in tinnitus. They found that use of oral antioxidants resulted in reduction of the noise level experienced by patients with tinnitus. A study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology reported that rehmannia was an effective antioxidant to protect against auditory cell damage, and another study, published in The American Journal of Chines Medicine, found specifically that extract of rehmannia increased antioxidant levels in the auditory cells.

If you are troubled by tinnitus, you are not alone. It’s a common problem, and there are solutions. Call our office today at 646-213-2321 for your consultation with Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, one of NYC’s leading tinnitus treatment psychologists.

Holistic Treatment for Tinnitus

What is “Holistic Treatment?”

Holistic medicine is an approach to healing that takes the body, mind, spirit, and emotions into consideration when treating an illness to optimize all influences on health. Holistic practitioners use a wide variety of approaches to healthcare, including both conventional and alternative therapies. Stephen Katz, a leading Manhattan tinnitus treatment psychologist, finds that patients with tinnitus benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach.

The holistic approach to medicine looks at a person and their environment, taking all aspects of the person’s life into consideration. Since tinnitus is a disorder that results from interplay of different systems, patients benefit from a holistic approach. Stephen Katz, a leading New York City psychologist who specializes in treatment of tinnitus, finds that his patients are better able to cope with tinnitus by using a holistic approach.

Holistic Treatment Options Help Patients with Tinnitus

Many factors that increase tinnitus can be addressed by behavior modifications. Sleep deprivation and stress can increase the negative life effects of tinnitus, so Stephen Katz works with this patients to identify factors in their lives that can be changed to result in life improvement when living with this condition.

Some holistic therapies that Stephen Katz has used successfully when treating patients with tinnitus include behavior modifications like exercise, which reduces stress and also improves blood flow to the ear.

Because the brain generates tinnitus, it is alleviated sometimes by concentrating on external stimuli. Biofeedback is one holistic therapy that is very useful when used to treat patients with tinnitus. Relaxation and stress reduction are techniques that can be learned, and they constitute an important element of holistic treatment for tinnitus.

The technique of using white noise, whether on a machine or on an iPod, can be extremely helpful to patients suffering from tinnitus. White noise at a low level can mask the sensation of tinnitus.

According to Stephen Katz, studies have shown that avoidance of nicotine and caffeine both reduce the symptoms associated with tinnitus. Stephen Katz urges his patients to limit alcohol intake and to stop smoking.

Stephen Katz suggests that patients with tinnitus limit the use of aspirin-containing products or NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen.

tinnitusDiet and Supplements in Tinnitus

There is no hard evidence that certain foods are linked with tinnitus, but patients have found that certain foods and supplements have been effective to reduce symptoms.

Some foods offer a natural way to reduce tinnitus. Eating fresh pineapple can increase your blood flow, and eating garlic is a well-known natural way to reduce inflammation, which contributes to damage to the ear. Reduction of salt will help keep blood pressure normal, and this can reduce symptoms you may be experiencing if you suffer from tinnitus.

People who suffer from tinnitus can benefit from massaging oils of lemon, cypress, or rosemary into the scalp, which increases circulation. Aromatherapy has been helpful for some patients. Gingko balboa is thought to reduce dizziness associated with tinnitus in people with Meniere’s disease, and supplements like Fenugreek or Coenzyme Q are also very helpful, as they increase blood flow and reduce discomfort and inflammation.

Other Considerations

Stephen Katz may determine your tinnitus is caused by excessive buildup of earwax. Other mechanical causes include ear infections or dental problems. Trauma to the ear can result in tinnitus. If you have tinnitus, be sure to avoid loud noises and other triggers. You may decide to use earplugs to avoid further injury from noise.Holistic medicine is an approach to healing that takes the body, mind, spirit, and emotions into consideration when treating an illness to optimize all influences on health. Holistic practitioners use a wide variety of approaches to healthcare, including both conventional and alternative therapies. Stephen Katz, a leading Manhattan tinnitus treatment psychologist, finds that patients with tinnitus benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach.

Stephen Katz is a Leading Manhattan Tinnitus Treatment psychologist

Many of the behaviors that increase tinnitus can be modified. Stephen Katz, a leading NYC tinnitus treatment psychologist, uses a holistic approach to help patients reduce the symptoms of tinnitus that disrupt their lives. If you are suffering from tinnitus, call our office at 646-213-2321 for a consultation today.

Misophonia Treatment

What is Misophonia?

Misophonia means “hatred of sound.” This neuropsychiatric disorder results in negative emotions that are triggered by certain sounds to which the patient is sensitive. An experienced tinnitus treatment psychotherapist, like Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R, can help you adapt to this condition.

Misophonia might cause people to have a negative emotional reaction like anger or disgust when they hear a sound like typing, throat clearing, or sniffling. The sound can be very innocuous, but the person who suffers from misophonia typically has a central nervous system reaction that is similar to what that person might experience from a more obviously negative stimulus, like a gunshot or a growling dog.

The type of reaction people experience when they are exposed to something threatening or frightening is known as a fight or flight reflex. This reflex can result in sweating, rapid heart rate, and tension in the muscles. People with misophonia may have this type of reaction to, for example, chewing sounds. Some people with misophonia may feel compelled to mimic the noxious sound, which appears to reduce their distress. These behaviors are similar to behaviors seen with obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Misophonia is a rare disorder, but if you suffer from misophonia, you will need effective treatment. Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R is a leading Manhattan, NYC, tinnitus treatment psychotherapist , and can advise you of your treatment options.

What Triggers Misophonia?

Misophonia is triggered by different sounds in each person. For this reason, the disorder is known as a selective sound sensitivity syndrome. Not only can sound trigger the disorder, but some people may have reactions to repetitive motion, such as when they see someone fidgeting. Dr. xxxx is a leading Manhattan tinnitus treatment psychotherapist who can help you reduce your neuropsychiatric reactions to noxious sounds, using special psychotherapeutic techniques.

What Causes Misophonia?

Current medical thought about misophonia is that the disorder may be both related to how your brain reacts to specific sounds, and how your body then reacts automatically to signals from the brain

How Can Misophonia Be Treated?

Because there is a psychological and a physical component to misophonia, doctors like Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R successfully use sound therapy combined with psychological treatment like counseling and even antidepressants. Lifestyle changes are very important to help you manage your disorder. People with misophonia benefit from reduction of stress, and Dr. xxxx also advises his patients with misophonia to exercise regularly and to get an adequate amount of sleep.

Treatment of misophonia may include sound therapy. Sometimes Dr. xxxx will use a machine to generate white sound in order to minimize the person’s awareness of the sounds that trigger the discomfort. Cognitive behavioral therapy may be appropriate for management of the patient’s reactions to the offensive sounds.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R Treats Patients With Misophonia

If you suffer from “hatred of sound,” help is available. Dr. xxxx, a leading tinnitus treatment psychotherapist in New York City, can advise you of your options. Misophonia has a significant effect on your life, and we can help.

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R specializes in treatment of patients with misophonia, a rare condition. If you suffer from this condition, consider a consultation with an experienced tinnitus treatment psychotherapist in NYC. Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R can make an accurate diagnosis and will help you find the best possible treatment for your misophonia.

Call Stephen Geller Katz for treatment of misophonia, at 646-213-2321, to schedule your appointment today.

Top Causes of Tinnitus

One of the most common causes of tinnitus is inner ear cell damage. Tiny, fine hairs in your inner ear oscillate in relation to pressure of sound wave pressure. This causes cells to signal auditory nerves to your brain. The brain then reads these signals as sound. If the hairs inside your inner ear are damaged, they can emit random electrical signals to your brain and trigger tinnitus.

Other causes of tinnitus include other auditory problems, certain chronic health problems, brain injuries and injuries or conditions that have an impact on the nerves in your ear or the hearing brain center.

Common causes of tinnitus

In many people, tinnitus is caused by one of these conditions:

  •  Cumulative exposure to loud sounds. As stated earlier, loud sounds, such as from certain equipment, gunshot and artillery, power saws, are common causes of hearing loss. Portable music devices, used with ear buds, headphones or loudspeakers, can also cause hearing loss if played at high volumes for long periods of time. Listening to loud music with unprotected ears in bars, clubs or amplified music from concerts or shows, or listening to music from home loud speakers can also cause tinnitus. Tinnitus following short-term exposure, going to a loud club or concert, will in most cases be a short-term consequence. Long-term sound exposure can cause more long-term damage.
  • Hearing loss. For many of us hearing worsens as we get older, with the onset being around age 60. Reduced hearing capacity can also cause tinnitus.
  •  Earwax.  Your ear canal is shielded by earwax which traps dirt and slows the growth of bacteria. A buildup of too much earwax may cause hearing loss or irritation to the eardrum, which can also lead to temporary tinnitus, easily remedied by removing the earwax blockage.
  • Ear bone changes. Otosclerosis, or hardening of the middle ear bones, may have a negative impact on hearing, and also trigger tinnitus as well. Otosclerosis, research has shown, tends to be hereditary.
  •  Meniere’s disease. Tinnitus may also be a symptom Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disorder that can also cause vertigo and other symptoms.
  •  TMJ disorders. Jawbone problems at the tempero-mandibular articulation point, where the jawbone meets your skull, can cause tinnitus.
  •  Head injuries or neck injuries. Head traumas, concussions or neck injuries can affect the inner ear, usually causing tinnitus in only one ear.
  •  Acoustic neuroma. Is a non-cancerous benign tumor developing on the cranial nerve that runs from your brain to your inner ear, and controls balance and hearing functions. Also called vestibular schwannoma, this condition generally causes tinnitus in only one ear.

Causes of Tinnitus

  • Dental Work. Dental work can also cause tinnitus. There is also research to indicate that dental fillings containing mercury and other metals are a cause of tinnitus.

 Other rarer causes of tinnitus:

Blood vessel disorders causing tinnitus – Pulsatile tinnitus is a rarer type of tinnitus caused by certain blood vessel problems. Pulsatile tinnitus may be caused by the following:

  •  Head or neck tumors. Pressure on a blood vessel as a result of a tumor in your head or neck, may result in several symptoms including tinnitus.
  •  Atherosclerosis.  An accumulation of cholesterol and other fatty deposits due to the aging process may also cause blood vessels to occlude in both the middle and inner ear resulting in loss of vascular elasticity. As a result, blood flow through the vessels is pumped with more pressure, enabling you to sometimes hear the actual beats. This type of tinnitus is generally experienced in both ears.
  •  High blood pressure. Emotional stress, caffeine and alcohol can aggravate hypertension and increase tinnitus levels.
  •  Turbulent blood flow. Narrowing or partial occlusion of a carotid artery or jugular vein in the neck can cause irregular blood flow and in turn cause tinnitus.
  •  Malformation of capillaries. Tinnitus may also be caused by arteriovenous malformation (AVM), when abnormal connections form between arteries and veins.

This type of tinnitus is primarily found in only one ear.

Tinnitus Symptoms

What are the Symptoms of Tinnitus?

The symptoms of Tinnitus and Tinnitus treatment options are as varied as the people who suffer from this condition. The first step to understanding the symptoms of Tinnitus is to understand that this condition is actually a symptom. Numerous things can cause Tinnitus, from an ear infection to working in a job where there is a great deal of noise.

Tinnitus merely means a ringing sound in your ears, which cannot be immediately explained by external stimuli. You have nothing ringing around you, yet you hear it constantly. It can also be a variety of other sounds including clacking, chirping, buzzing, hissing, and even roaring. It can range from being very mild and almost unnoticeable; to being so loud you cannot hear anything else. Severe cases are extremely rare, despite how commonplace the condition is, with 15% of all Americans suffering from some form.

Symptoms

Symptoms include a variety of sound options, roaring, hissing, buzzing, chirping, clicking, clacking, and ringing. The sound can be a single tone or multi-tonal. It can go up and down in volume, depending on a wide range of factors. This leads to a variety of other symptoms.

Additional Symptoms

Additional symptoms include depression, irritability, trouble sleeping, and problems with concentrating. It can contribute to or be caused by certain types of hearing loss, so people often attribute hearing loss to one of the symptoms of Tinnitus.

There are numerous treatment options available, although currently there is no cure for the condition. This may be due to the numerous causes. However, numerous ringing ears treatment options have proven to be effective.

If you are suffering from ringing ears or Tinnitus don’t delay, don’t put off treatment for another day. You could be missing an increased quality of life. A properly-trained medical professional can diagnose your symptoms and help you create the perfect treatment plan for your needs. For more information or to schedule an appointment in the New York City area, contact our office of professionals.

Tinnitus Cognitive Center™

Stephen Geller Katz, LCSW-R
19 West 34th Street
Penthouse Floor
New York, NY 10001

Call Today for a Consultation
646-213-2321

Convenient Online Sessions
Dr. Katz Speaks 5 languages