About Tinnitus:
Perception of noises in the ear
Most people will experience ringing in their ears at some point during their lives. Maybe after a concert or night out at a club, you feel like you can still hear the sounds reverberating around your head. However, sometimes the ringing or buzzing can last longer than usual – this is known as tinnitus. While both men and women are affected by it, tinnitus is most common in men aged 65 to 74. But don’t think of it as a disease; it’s more of a reflection of something else going on in your hearing system or brain.
What are the treatments of tinnitus?
If you think you’re suffering from tinnitus, contact an ear, nose and throat specialist immediately to check it’s not a more treatable problem. If tinnitus is confirmed, our experienced, caring and compassionate team of audiologists will be more than happy to help you.
If you’re suffering from a combination of tinnitus and hearing loss, you may find tinnitus more stressful because you’re not used to hearing so many sounds. A hearing aid is an excellent way to help give you some relief from this frustration, improving your ability to communicate while partially masking your tinnitus.
One of the best products we have available is a tinnitus masker. These look very similar to hearing aids but produce a mixture of external sounds to stimulate the fibres within the hearing nerve. This helps to move attention away from the tinnitus sounds to make your day-to-day life more comfortable.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is another treatment option for relieving the stress and frustration caused by tinnitus. A clinic psychologist will help to focus your attention away from tinnitus sounds to help you to relax in any situation.
At Hearing Matters, we understand that every tinnitus condition is different. The only way we can really determine the right treatment for your personal situation is through an initial assessment and consultation.
Causes of Tinnitus
The key causes of tinnitus are:
- Loud noise exposure
- Jaw joint misalignment
- Benign intracranial hypertension
- Pregnancy, anaemia and an overactive thyroid
- Stress, fatigue, caffeine, smoking and alcohol can also worsen the symptoms of tinnitus