Stressed? The Tinnitus Link
by Kenneth Greenspan, MD
Hearing Health Magazine
Vol. 14, No.2 Mar/ Apr 1998
Hearing Health magazine recently reported on the development of a multiple
therapy treatment plan designed by Dr. Kenneth Greenspan to reduce stress
in patients suffering from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or hyperacusis
(extreme sensitivity to sound), which he said helps relieve their symptoms.
Dr. Greenspan uses a combination of relaxation therapy, biofeedback, supportive
and cognitive psychotherapies, transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS),
craniosacral therapy, and sometimes anti-depressant medication / tranquilizers
over the course of a 20-week program.
TENS affects sensory and motor systems by relieving tension in the head,
neck, or facial area. Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on form
of bodywork that relaxes cranial and cervical bones. Both of these treatments
are accomplished through direct physical intervention. All aspects of
the multiple therapy treatment program help reduce stress, which in turn
reduces the emotional distress associated with both tinnitus and hyperacusis. The effectiveness of Dr. Greenspan's program
is in testing now by Dr. Jack Wazen, an otolaryngologist at Columbia-Presbyterian
Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Greenspan is director of The Center
for Stress and Pain Related Disorders at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical
Center.
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