Does cutting the hearing nerve cure tinnitus?
Unfortunately, cutting the auditory nerve does not relieve tinnitus often enough to recommend it as a treatment. In fact, cutting the nerve produces total deafness in the operated ear, may cause balance problems, and in some cases may make tinnitus worse. Q: How many people have chronic tinnitus? A: According to Seidman & Jacobson,1 approximately 40 million Americans have chronic tinnitus. For 10 million of these people, tinnitus can be a debilitating condition. However, for 30 million Americans with tinnitus, it is not bothersome. Tinnitus does not interfere with the enjoyment of life for the majority of people who experience it. Q: What can be done to help people who are bothered by chronic tinnitus? Duckro et al2 wrote: ”As with chronic pain, the treatment of chronic tinnitus is more accurately described in terms of management rather than cure.” Therefore, the goal of tinnitus management is not necessarily to mask or remove the patients physical perception of tinnitus. Successful
