Tinnitus Treatment. What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus–the Noise in Your Head that Won’t Go Away

Almost everyone has experienced tinnitus— sometimes called ringing in the ears, roaring, clicking, hissing, buzzing, or fluttering in the ears —at least once. Usually it goes away. But for some people it doesn’t, and the noise can range from a soft whooshing to a piercing shriek that makes it impossible to think or concentrate, let alone fall asleep at night.

A person suffering from tinnitus hears ‘noises in the head’, created in the absence of any external sound. The noise may come from one ear, may be in both ears or appear to come from the middle of the head. People often find it difficult to pinpoint exactly where the noise is coming from, and that is because it is not from a sound being heard externally – the ‘noise’ is being created internally but is perceived as a real sound.

Tinnitus is a symptom associated with many forms of hearing loss. It can also be a symptom of other health problems. Some cases are so severe that it interferes with a person’s daily activities. People with severe cases of tinnitus may find it difficult to hear, work, or even sleep.

Although tinnitus may begin in the ear, chronic tinnitus continues in the brain. How that happens is still being debated among researchers. There are many places along the path a hearing signal travels between the inner ear and the brain where things can go wrong to cause tinnitus. If we can understand how and where that happens, and why it causes tinnitus, it might be possible to find places on that path where some kind of therapeutic intervention could stop tinnitus in its tracks.

What is tinnitus like to experience?

The sound of tinnitus varies from one person to another. The noises are usually described as ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming, which can manifest themselves at a range of volumes from low, ambient noise to a level that can seem overwhelming.

Some people hear the noise as a low frequency; others find it either medium or high pitched.  It can manifest itself as a single noise or two or more components. The noise may be continuous for some people and may come and go for others.

What causes tinnitus?

The cause of tinnitus is most commonly linked to frequent and/or prolonged exposure to loud noise, which can damage the auditory system and increases the risk of getting tinnitus or potentially make it worse.

However a host of other factors can increase the possibility of getting tinnitus including sudden mental or physical changes i.e. retirement, redundancy, depression, health concerns or bereavement.

The onset of tinnitus can either be sudden or become more apparent over time.

Most common causes for Tinnitus

Who does tinnitus affect?

Tinnitus can affect anyone of any age, sex, nationality or profession. Almost everyone experiences occasional, mild ringing in the ears, either without any clear trigger or after exposure to loud sounds, in work and social environments, which is normal. However it is highly likely that someone you know is affected by tinnitus, with a staggering 10% of the adult population estimated to experience episodes of tinnitus, half of which have persistent or troublesome tinnitus.

Are you suffering from tinnitus? Or someone you know?
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