Has Anybody Noticed a Connection Between Tinnitus and Wheat?

Introducing myself... I have had tinnitus for over 20 years. It is mild, in both ears, and mostly caused me a problem in hearing the students when I was working as a high school counselor. I had mentioned it to my primary care physician many years ago, and he didn’t seem too worried, did a “hearing test” with a tuning fork, and said I didn’t have hearing loss!

So things chugged along until I lost hearing in my right ear suddenly in March 2018. Since then, I have been misdiagnosed with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Meniere’s Disease, and ultimately diagnosed with Cochlear Endolymphatic Hydrops, possibly caused by a latent virus. The condition could have been treated early, except for the misdiagnosis, so it was six months before I was referred to an expert in inner ear diseases. I have a mild to profound hearing loss in one ear, and although I wear a hearing aid, my word-recognition score is so low, it doesn’t help with understanding what people are saying. My other ear is fine, so it’s not a huge issue right now.

Here’s my question for the group: has anyone found a link between wheat and tinnitus? I recently began a specialized elimination diet (FODMAP) for an unrelated issue, and noticed a slight decrease in the tinnitus when I began it four days ago. Anyone else have this happen?

 

No.

 

I'm someone that's had celiac disease, if you are suspicious it's doing bad things to you, you can get the gene test and if it's positive it would be best to just not eat it.

 

What gene test are you referring to? I don’t have celiac disease—I was tested for that. Is it for gluten sensitivity?

 

There's specific genes that enable you to become celiac. When they test to see if you have celiac disease it's often only the blood test... (some doctors will order both the blood and gene test).. The blood test which if you test above a certain amount of antibodies against gluten they say you have celiac disease. But IMHO if you have any of the genes let alone a double pair you shouldn't be eating gluten.

 

Thank you.

 

No.

 

Hello,

I have had many levels of ringing to mild crickets in both ears for many years. I also have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

After much reading about gluten/wheat, I decided to quit eating it for the benefits others have had with inflammation/arthritis. Three weeks in and I noticed that the tinnitus went nearly completely away. At times it is completely gone. I have completed 4 weeks now and the arthritis has improved and the tinnitus relief was a very unexpected consequence. Only very slight ringing now.

I will now try to dial in/isolate perhaps another food/chemical trigger that caused me to go with zero to a slight amount of ringing... any other stories?

 

Amazing.

What does your audiogram look like?

Are you taking anything for your rheumatoid in relation to immune modulation?

 

A dear friend of mine recently learnt she may have cochlear hydrops.

I think her doctor suspects it is autoimmune driven.

She has responded favorably to low dose naltrexone.

 

Gluten is very bad and clogs up your gut. Your gut and your ear and tied together. I suggest going gluten free for a few months and see if that helps you.

 

Hello,

I did not know where to post this to do the most good.

I have had tinnitus for many years from crickets to whirring sounds. Level 7-8?

I was able to bring it to basically zero thru diet modification. I hope this may help others. I follow Dr Joel Wallach's recommendations. I eliminated all wheat, rye, oats, barley from my diet. Not easy but doable. He also advises not to eat any oils... any. So, I have slowly eliminated these parts of my diet. No fried anything... bake or broil only.

I follow this diet to help minimize the affects of arthritis. It has helped tremendously. I am not taking any medication for the arthritis. As a surprise consequence my tinnitus went away during the first 3 weeks of the elimination diet. I have tested the method by trying a small amount of oil from a can of sardines/smoked oysters/bottle hot pepper oil and yes it will cause mainly the left ear to ring at a low level after 6-18 hours of ingestion and will dissipate to close to zero after 24-36 hours of ringing onset.

TRY this. Eliminate all wheat, rye, oats, barley and all oils (butter is good) from your diet.

Best wishes,
Petey

 

Thank you for posting this, I also have an autoimmune condition, I will try this elimination diet.