Although people from all walks of life get tinnitus, veterans are turning up with tinnitus symptoms more often than the general population.
Regrettably, veterans often cannot get the kind of care for tinnitus that they need.
Firstly, because tinnitus is seen as something minor in comparison to other veterans' problems, not enough money is set apart for treating tinnitus.
Furthermore, because tinnitus symptoms are usually subjective, perceptible only to the person experiencing them, diagnosing tinnitus properly is problematical.
Consequently, even though tinnitus can be a serious condition, our veterans often are not getting the treatment they need, despite the service they have provided selflessly for their country.
Acoustic trauma is the primary cause for the noise-induced tinnitus that our veterans experience.
Many veterans have experienced frequent exposure to very loud sounds, not only during training, but also in combat.
While the noises that they have been subjected to are not always prolonged, they are often repetitive, intense high decibel sounds that can damage the sensitive hearing sensors of the inner ear.
It is well-established that tinnitus is caused most frequently by acoustic trauma.
In most civilian situations where loud noise exposure is a problem, such as factories, construction sites, or airports, people can protect their hearing by wearing ear plugs or ear muffs.
Military personnel, whether in training or combat, usually do not have that option, because they must be at peak awareness of their teammates and their enemies at every moment.
As a consequence, veterans are turning up with tinnitus more frequently than other people.
This problem for our veterans needs to receive attention, because it is not a condition that will just vanish.
Although tinnitus may be subjective, for the victim the symptoms can really take their toll.
Ear ringing or buzzing that just goes on and on can sap one's spirit for living, upset relationships, interfere with sleep, and generally ravish one's quality of life.
For those who have not experienced tinnitus it can be difficult to understand just how bad it can be.
Our veterans need not resign themselves to just existing with tinnitus, because remedies are available for alleviating symptoms in most circumstances.
Numerous forms of treatment are possible for tinnitus today, some more desirable than others.
In some instances, anti-depressants, anti-convulsants, or anti-anxiety drugs are prescribed.
While such drugs can suppress symptoms, they can also produce unwanted side effects.
Sound therapy is sometimes used, by which white noise is used to mask tinnitus.
Some people have found relief using various herbal or homeopathic remedies.
Numerous alternative therapies are available, too.
Natural holistic treatment, which can be combined with a variety of other remedies, very often yields the best outcomes for noise-induced tinnitus.
Holistic medicine works by tuning up one's own immune defense system, unleashing the body's own healing power to help reduce or eliminate the tinnitus noise.
Such treatment options need to be made available to our veterans who need them.
Nonetheless, currently the difficulties posed by tinnitus among veterans is frequently ignored.
Veterans are confronted with many health matters that are deemed to be more critical, so tinnitus issues become a low priority.
Nonetheless, tinnitus treatments should be offered to our veterans, who have served their country with honor, that they might be able to live life to the fullest.