with Sandra Razzaghipour Audiometrist Ear Studio

It is called tinnitus ; the perception of a ringing or other type of sound and can affect one or both ears . While most of us have anecdotally heard about tinnitus , it is often difficult for those who are not affected to fully comprehend the extent a ‘ noise in your head ’ can impact one ’ s day-to-day life .

Overall , we distinguish between subjective tinnitus – the type that only the individual can hear and objective tinnitus – the type a practitioner can hear during an examination . The type of noise can range from a high-pitched ringing or buzzing to a low frequency roaring or humming . Some people describe it like crickets or cicadas .

Around 15-20 per cent of the population is affected by tinnitus , for some periodically and others permanently . For about 2 per cent of the population tinnitus can have a wide ranging and debilitating effect on life and it is important to make sure it is not simply dismissed but properly investigated .

Why only some people develop tinnitus is not very well understood . What

is known though , is that stress , lack of sleep and especially noise exposure can trigger episodes of tinnitus . Often the symptoms get more severe the longer the stressful situation lasts .

But there is also a multitude of other reasons and contributing factors to why someone would experience tinnitus . These include ear wax , blocked sinuses , medication , and pathological causes . The path to relief can also vary from one person to another . But let ’ s look at it step by step .

To start getting to the bottom of a person ’ s tinnitus ’ origin it is helpful to know that tinnitus is not always a condition in itself but may be a signal of an underlying condition . A hearing care professional is a great place to start the investigation . One of the first steps when looking into tinnitus treatment options should be a consultation with tinnitus assessment .

The results will pinpoint the degree of impact the tinnitus has on which part of one ’ s life . For example , to what degree it affects the ability to rest or enjoy social settings . A comprehensive hearing assessment should also be part of this assessment as tinnitus is often , but not necessarily , related to hearing loss . Results may offer clues of the cause and potential treatment options .

Some clinics specialise in tinnitus

treatment and may offer further in-depth analysis . Depending on the result the hearing care professional may refer to a medical practitioner or might suggest a few options to investigate .

Dependent on the cause for the tinnitus and how each individual reacts to it the treatment can also be vastly different from person to person . Treatment options may include therapy by amplification with hearing aids or masking the tinnitus with external sounds . There are also a range of apps available and many of them are free .

The better ones can offer a choice of soundscapes to enjoy and mask the tinnitus . Another way to learn to deal with tinnitus includes CBT , cognitive behavioural therapy . This is a process during which a practitioner , often a psychologist , will use the neuroplasticity of the brain to learn to accept and therefore ignore the disrupting sound .

While there is not one specific ‘ cure ’ for tinnitus there are a range of things

that can be done to help and improve the situation significantly . A hearing care professional or GP is the best place to start to this journey to relief .

You can book an appointment with Ear Studio to begin your Tinnitus Assessment and Management .

Ear Studio is located at Suite 9-10 / 60 Cecil Avenue , Lawton House in Castle Hill .

TRADING HOURS : Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm . Contact us : 02 9159 6122 or reception @ earstudio . com . au or you can visit : www . earstudio . com . au

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