Tinnitus Relief.

Experienced by up to 15% of the UK Population, Tinnitus is a condition often described as a ‘ringing in the ears’ or ‘ear noise’ in which a person perceives sound that is not actually present in the environment.

Tinnitus can manifest itself as virtually any type of sound including ringing, whooshing, hissing, buzzing and whistling and can vary in severity.

Tinnitus can often have a significant impact on day-to-day activities and for many tinnitus symptoms can worsen to the point that getting a full night’s sleep is barely possible. It is important therefore that symptoms of tinnitus are addressed as it can affect overall health.

What Causes Tinnitus?

There are many possible causes of Tinnitus but most cases are related to damage to the auditory system. Your ear receives sounds as vibrations through the outer and middle ear, this move into the cochlea in the inner ear, which then sends the information to the brain through the auditory nerve.

If this part of your inner ear becomes damaged it can stop sending complete information to your brain. Your brain, expecting this information, will then seek out information from the parts of the cochlea that are not damaged. This information is not complete and can be confused by the brain and cause Tinnitus.

Tinnitus Key Facts

Tinnitus is perceived sound in the absence of an external stimulus and is experienced by up to 15% of the population. The sound is usually unformed, such as buzzing, hissing or ringing.
Main risk factors for tinnitus are hearing loss, increasing age and gender (male)
In most cases tinnitus is associated with hearing impairment due to sudden hearing loss, noise trauma, age-related hearing loss or administration of ototoxic drugs.
Sufferers of tinnitus and hearing loss often report psychological problems: frustration, annoyance, distress, irritability, anxiety, depression, insomnia and poor concentration.
Tinnitus can be managed but not cured. Treatment focuses on symptom reduction, such as hearing aid fitting.

Can hearing aids help?

While the exact cause of tinnitus is unclear, research shows that you are more likely to hear ringing if you have a hearing loss. The hearing loss in the ear will prevent the brain from receiving the proper stimulation it needs. As a result, the brain starts to produce its own phantom sounds.
An interesting fact – the pitch of your tinnitus is usually the same pitch where there is the most hearing loss.

It is important to note that hearing aids are not a cure for tinnitus but they can dramatically help.
Once you have been fitted with hearing aids your brain will start to receive stimulation at the pitches you have had hearing loss.
Over time, and with consistent hearing aid use, the perception of the tinnitus can be reduced.