Tinnitus Management
Do you hear buzzing, ringing, pulsing or whistling?
Tinnitus is defined as a perception of noise or ringing in the ears. In other words, there is no external sound source, but rather the sounds are in your head. Tinnitus affects approximately 20% of the population.
Tinnitus is not a disease, but a condition that occurs as a result of a dysfunction in the auditory system which includes the ears, auditory nerves and the hearing centres in the brain.
Tinnitus can result from a wide range of underlying causes such as hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, excessive noise exposure, ototoxic medications, neurological conditions, ear infections, stress, foreign objects in the ear or wax build-up. Approximately 20% of Australians will report some degree of tinnitus. The large majority of tinnitus will be described as mild having little or no impact on the life of the person. A small percentage of people will describe their tinnitus as severe and having a significant negative impact on their quality of life.
Temporary or transient tinnitus can occur as a result of noise exposure, ear infections, ear blockage or when exposed to loud noise. Often this will pass once the infection or medication is ceased. It may also resolve after noise exposure. However, transient tinnitus can become more permanent if exposure to noise is recurrent or if permanent damage to the auditory system occurs.
What is negative impact of tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be frustrating. Sometimes, the sounds you hear can interfere with hearing real sounds around you.
The constant noise can be an ongoing concern and frustration affecting concentration and interfering with your sleep. Tinnitus may differ from person to person in terms of sound, pitch, volume and level of perception. It can be perceived in just one ear, or more centrally, such as in the middle of the head. Tinnitus can occur intermittently, in wave-like intervals or be a permanent, ever-present noise. Tinnitus is commonly associated with hearing loss as well.
Tinnitus Management
A consultation with your GP is the first step in investigating tinnitus. Following that a referral to an Audiologist and/or ENT specialist may be recommended. It is important to establish if there is any underlying treatable cause of the tinnitus.
Our Audiologists have extensive experience in assisting clients to manage their tinnitus. A number of treatments have been clinically shown to reduce the negative impact that tinnitus can have on people’s lives. As tinnitus is frequently aggravated by stress and anxiety some treatments are designed to assist in the management of stress.
If medical conditions, apart from hearing loss are ruled out, the next step is recommending ways to manage the impact of tinnitus on your life. Here are some examples:
- Hearing aids
- Sound generators
- Environmental enrichment devices
- Relaxation techniques
- Counselling options
Schedule An Appointment With Our Audiologist
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