HEARING CARE
WHAT IS
TINNITUS?
Tinnitus is a conscious awareness of a sound in the
ears or head that is not due to an external noise.
Many people experience tinnitus as a ringing in their
ears but, in fact, it can take a variety of forms.
You may hear a buzzing, whooshing or a humming.
The sound can be continuous or it can come and go
and you might experience it in one ear or both.
What causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease or an illness and
there are many possible causes. It can be caused by a
gradual development or it can occur suddenly.
The causes are often associated with
damage to the inner ear, which can occur
naturally with age, or by prolonged
exposure to excessively loud noise.
It can also occur as a side effect of
medication, an ear, head or neck
injury - or by emotional distress.
Things that can help...
Relaxation
When you first
experience Tinnitus it is
common to feel anxious
or scared. When we get stressed,
anxious or excited, this can increase
our awareness of our tinnitus. By
relaxing, you may feel less stressed
and therefore notice your tinnitus
less. Breathing exercises can also
help by making you feel calmer and
more able to manage the tinnitus, so
you may not notice it as much.
Sound
Tinnitus treatment
through sound therapy
can help by reducing
the contrast between tinnitus and
a quiet environment. This can allow
you to blend the tinnitus into the
background along with other sounds.
Additional background sounds can
come from a pleasant low level
sound such as the radio, television,
or a fan; or listening to nature sounds
such as the sound of gentle waves
and the rain.
Hearing aids
If you have a hearing
loss, wearing hearing
instruments can be
beneficial for tinnitus as they restore
what you can’t otherwise hear. When
environmental sound is heard better,
tinnitus may be less noticeable. With
more natural sound, the tinnitus may
move to the background. There are
many hearing aids with special sound
programmes for specific tinnitus
relief. There are a variety of sounds
available and many can be selected
and fine-tuned to accommodate
the individual’s sound preference.
Did you know...
Mild Tinnitus is common – about 10%
of the population have it all the time
and in up to 1% of adults, this may
affect their quality of life. BTA, 2014.
Tinnitus is often present alongside
a hearing loss. If you have tinnitus,
please ask about a hearing test. Your
Hearing Healthcare Professional may
be able to help further by helping
you to understand what your tinnitus
is and what you can do to help
yourself forget about, or overcome it.