Tackling Tinnitus
Lessen the impact of tinnitus
Tinnitus can be maddening. Up to 10% of the population suffers from ringing in the ears or other obtrusive noises. In our Harrogate clinic we offer help, devices and management strategies to lessen the impact of tinnitus.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus, the Latin for ringing, is not an illness or disease but a symptom. It’s when you hear noises which have no external source. You may hear whistling, hissing, buzzing, ringing or another noise. It can be quiet or loud, occurring all the time or just occasionally. It could be in one ear, both ears or simply 'in your head'.
Who gets tinnitus and why?
Tinnitus occurs in all age groups, even young children. It can be caused by ear wax blockage, an infection or 'wear and tear' as you age. People exposed to loud noises are particularly vulnerable which is why ear protection is so important.
How do we assess tinnitus?
The first step is to pin down what sort of tinnitus you suffer from and why it might exist. We’ll look at other symptoms too such as hearing loss, experiencing pain hearing certain noises, and dizziness. We will measure your hearing thresholds outside the normal speech range. We will perform tests in our clinic to match the pitch – meaning how high or low the noise sounds. This helps to establish the location of your tinnitus.
Widening your understanding
We can’t magic tinnitus away. However, we find it can help clients if they know more about their tinnitus and the underlying mechanisms of the ear. We are here to answer any questions.
Tinnitus management strategies
This varies depending on you and your circumstances. Options include:
Sound enrichment
It may be that there’s a device or hearing aid that can stop you straining to hear sound over your tinnitus. We can adjust them with ‘maskers’ to build in additional sound such as white noise. We can also recommend apps.
Relaxation
Stress is the best friend of tinnitus so needs to be addressed. We might prescribe a session with an acupuncturist or suggest self-care techniques.
More help
There is an excellent website run by the British Tinnitus Association which features videos and audio guides about the condition.
Our Frequently Asked Questions about Tinnitus
Did you know that up to 10 to 12 percent of the population suffers from tinnitus? If you are one of these people, you know that this condition can be extremely frustrating. While many people describe tinnitus as a ringing in the ears, it can really be any perceived noise that is not coming from an external source. It can be exacerbated by triggers like stress, fatigue, and anxiety, and can affect one ear or both ears. Here, we take a closer look at tinnitus, answering some frequently asked questions about this common but annoying condition.
What should I do if I have tinnitus?
If you have tinnitus symptoms, you should schedule a consultation with an audiologist. By examining your ears, conducting audiometric testing, and talking to you about the health of your hearing, including symptoms like dizziness and hearing loss, your clinician can help determine what is causing your hearing disturbances. In doing so, he or she can determine the best tinnitus treatment options or refer you to a specialist if it is necessary to complete the diagnosis.
Does tinnitus go away on its own?
In some cases, tinnitus goes away quickly. It can be situational, happening because of loud noises and going away after a few hours. In other cases, there is no identifiable cause, and the tinnitus is continually present. For some people, tinnitus becomes a chronic condition that lasts for weeks, months, or even years. Just because tinnitus can dissipate on its own does not mean that you should wait for months to see if it goes away. Seek help if your tinnitus lasts for more than a week or two, so that your audiologist can come up with a treatment strategy to address the problem.
Can ear wax cause tinnitus?
In many cases, it is hard to say what causes tinnitus. However, a build-up of earwax or another type of blockage can impact your hearing, and overcompensation by your auditory system can result in tinnitus. Tinnitus can also be triggered by certain medical conditions, like Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, thoracic outlet syndrome, hypothyroidism, or Ménière’s disease. Stress can bring on tinnitus, as can certain medications, allergies, pulmonary issues, and head or neck trauma.
Can hearing devices help tinnitus?
Some hearing devices can build in white noise to mask your tinnitus and help you stop straining to hear over it. Then, too, even hearing devices that do not have this type of feature can sometimes be helpful because they amplify sounds so that they can be heard more clearly, and this can help compensate for tinnitus. While there is no cure for tinnitus, hearing devices can be an important part of a treatment plan to help people cope with this condition.
How do I train my brain to ignore tinnitus?
Self-care techniques that help you relieve stress can be useful, as can acupuncture. There is also a treatment known as tinnitus retraining therapy, or TRT, that helps teach your brain to cope with tinnitus. Because there is no proven method for eliminating tinnitus, retraining the brain to ignore it is a good alternative. This treatment works by using two components: directive counselling and sound therapy. Directive counselling helps you understand your tinnitus, which can reduce your stress and anxiety. It also teaches you coping mechanisms like breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques. Sound therapy uses external sounds to mask or drown out your tinnitus.
What are the two types of tinnitus?
The most common type of tinnitus is known as subjective tinnitus, but there is another, much rarer type, known as objective tinnitus. With subjective tinnitus, the person perceives sound even though there is no external cause and no one else can hear it. By contrast, with objective tinnitus, the sound can be heard by others. It can be the result of an inner ear bone condition, a blood vessel problem, or something having to do with muscle contractions, but a doctor can hear the noise the patient is describing during the examination.
What our clients say
Next steps
To book your consultation, please take a look at our book an appointment page. You can also call us in Harrogate on 01423 429 222 or email enquiries@thehearingsuite.co.uk
The Hearing Suite
Turn up the volume on your life. We offer unrivalled care to improve your hearing. We can also help with tinnitus, ear wax, noise protection and other hearing issues. We don’t just hear, we listen.
Call: 01423 429222
enquiries@thehearingsuite.co.uk
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