Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the name given to the sensation of sound when there is no external physical sound present.  It is not a disease, it is just the ability to hear sounds that the hearing system generates itself. The problem is the distress it can create - not the type of sound heard.

Tinnitus doesn't sound the same for everyone.  People hear ringing, whistling, buzzing, hissing, locusts, cicadas - you name it!  Some people hear more than one sound.  Usually people say they hear the sound in their ears or in their head.   

It has been suggested that in around 90% of cases, tinnitus is present alongside hearing loss and that it is the hearing loss, even if very small, that may be the underlying cause of the tinnitus. 

Having tinnitus will not affect your hearing ability or make your hearing get worse, though it can affect your ability to concentrate on sound and therefore it might seem to stop you hearing well. 

Studies have shown that tinnitus is not intrusive or disturbing for about 85% of people who hear it persistently .  The main difference between these people and the 25% who do find it troublesome, is that those 25% perceive the tinnitus as an annoyance, or threat, rather than something of little consequence.  The tinnitus has been classified by the person as some sort of warning signal and when heard, the person reacts to it in a negative way. 

Some people worry that hearing tinnitus means that they are developing a serious illness. Other people think the tinnitus will cause permanent damage to the ear. Some people worry that hearing tinnitus indicates that they might have a brain tumour, blood clot, or a serious mental illness.

People often worry that their tinnitus will get louder with time, that it will be there forever, and that it can't be cured.   These anxieties can make the problem worse.  This is because the loudness of the tinnitus often relates to aggravating factors such as worry, stress, poor sleep or lack of sleep, illness and loud sounds.  Sometimes people find that muscle tension around the neck/shoulders/head, certain foods, caffeine, alcohol or particular medications can excerbate their tinnitus.

What can you do about tinnitus?

Some of the most effective treatments for tinnitus include directive counselling, retraining therapy and use of hearing aids.  As many people find that their tinnitus is most bothersome at night or at times when it is quiet, the easiest treatment for tinnitus is to avoid silence by adding soft sounds to your environment. This is called sound enrichment.  Sounds of nature are recommended as the best sounds to help with tinnitus.

Sound Enrichment - finding the right sound to use may take a bit of trial and error.  Nature sounds are best because the brain is used to hearing them and often they can make you feel relaxed and calm.  It is important to have the sound present during the day and night, but the volume must not be louder than that of the tinnitus.  Sound enrichment is thought to improve everyone's quality of sleep - whether they hear tinnitus or not.  Therefore it is unlikely to negatively affect anyone other people sleeping in the same room. 

It can take a few days to get used to sleeping with a sound playing through speakers when you're used to it being quiet, but give it a try.  The following website www.peterhirschberg.com/mysofware.html allows you to download free a sounds of nature programme called Aire Freshener which may be useful if you can't locate good nature sound CDs at your local music store or online.

Hearing Aids - it may seem an odd theory, using hearing aids to help reduce tinnitus, but it works in many cases.  As mentioned above, tinnitus is often heard by people who also have a hearing loss.  By using hearing aids, the person is able to hear everyday sounds in the background again, which acts as a kind of sound enrichment.  As a bonus, they also hear conversations clearly as the hearing aids work to overcome the hearing loss too.  Many people find that when they put their hearing aids in their ears, their tinnitus fades into the background and they hardly notice it. 

What should I do if I have tinnitus?

The best thing to do about tinnitus is to have your hearing and the tinnitus fully assessed by one of Clarity's Audiologists.  You will find out much more about how tinnitus arises, its causes and effects and the things which can exacerbate it, as well as all the possible treatment options.  Feel free to contact us to ask any questions or to make an appointment, or request an appointment online.  Alternatively you could click on one of the following links to find out more information.