Worried about ringing in your ears?
Do you hear a ringing, roaring, clicking or hissing sound in your ears? Do you hear this sound often or all the time? Does the sound bother you a lot? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have Tinnitus and you should see a Hearing Professional.
Nearly everyone has experienced it at one time or another, but for some, it can be a constant companion. Tinnitus is the Latin word for ‘ringing’: it is the perception of sound in the absence of any corresponding external sound.
It can be heard in one ear or both or, on occasion, unable to be perceived anywhere other than inside your head. It can be a ringing noise, a shushing noise and has even been perceived as a concerto!
What causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a symptom associated with many forms of Hearing problems. In fact it can also be a symptom of other health problems.
It is typically caused by:
- Hearing Loss – Most people who have Tinnitus also have some form of Hearing Loss.
- Loud Noise – Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent Hearing Loss and Tinnitus. Continued exposure can make the conditions become worse.
- Medication – More than 200 medicines, including Aspirin, can cause Tinnitus. If you have Tinnitus and you take medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine could be the cause.
Hear4U offers a consultation to discuss your Tinnitus and provides information and techniques on how to control the symptoms Tinnitus can cause.
Add in Tinnitus Video
We have a wealth of experience in hearing assessments, providing Ear Nose and Throat Specialists with audiometric support at the Coventry and Warwick Hospital in Warwickshire for 6 years. She also provides Tinnitus Counselling at the hospital, utilising her diploma in hypnotherapy and psychology to teach skills in diversion techniques, and stress management.
Tinnitus Therapy & Management
As part of our therapy, we carry out a complete Hearing Assessment including Puretone Audiometry, Tympanometry, Acoustic Reflexes, Otoacoustic Emissions and Speech Discrimination.
Specifically for a Tinnitus assessment, we conduct an interview using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). This helps us to grade the severity of your condition based on a scoring system recognized across the globe.
Based on your evaluation, we will discuss and implement a treatment plan designed for you. Your management plan could include the use of Hearing Aid Amplification, Sound Therapy and/or Behavioural Modification Therapy.
The Causes of Tinnitus
Tinnitus can be associated with disease of the ear and other anatomical diseases – it is important that we find out what the underlying cause of your problem is.
More often than not, it is caused by underlying hearing loss. However, it can be caused by other problems that are not appropriate for treatment with us.
If we find that your case is not suitable for treatment through Hear4U, we would refer you on to an ENT Specialist to rule out any health-related conditions that could be the cause of your Tinnitus or that which could be treated through medical and/or surgical intervention.
Hypnosis
We can help you take back control with Hypnosis Treatments. Firstly Hypnotherapy can be a quick form of therapy when compared to other forms of psychological help or counselings. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) can take many sessions to work effectively.
Sound Therapy Treatment
In cases where there is no hearing loss or it is not severe enough for treatment, we would prescribe Sound Therapy devices. Sound therapy has proven to be an effective management tool for many people who suffer from Tinnitus that isn’t associated with underlying hearing loss.
Hearing Aids
There are many options for treatment with Tinnitus, depending on the severity and the underlying cause. In many cases, correction of a hearing loss with well-fitted Hearing Aids will eliminate the symptoms. In the cases where this isn’t enough, we also prescribe Sound Therapy.
Tinnitus FAQ
It is in fact not a disease or an illness. It is a symptom of an underlying problem. Due to the fact that it is a symptom, it is important to understand what the underlying cause is. Unfortunately, there is no known cure, however, there are many treatment options. One of the best treatments at Hear4U is the counselling we offer.
The answer is nearly everyone! Believe it or not, it is common in all age groups, especially as a result of exposure to loud noise. Usually, it is transitory and not a long-term issue. Continual Tinnitus is actually quite common as about 10% of the population suffer from it. However, it is usually mild and a non-issue for the people who suffer with it. Unfortunately for up to one percent of adults, it is a serious issue that has wide-ranging effects on their ongoing quality of life.
First of all, let’s make it clear that it is only very rarely an indication of a serious problem, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a serious problem by itself. It is a good idea to come and see us and have it checked out particularly if the onset was sudden or if it is only present in one ear. The key thing is that you shouldn’t worry about it as stress can actually make it much worse.
Finding out what exactly is going on will help to settle your fears. The condition is very common and there are treatment options available.
Ready To Get Clearer Hearing?
- Home Appointments
- Expert Audiologists
- In-Depth Examination
- Friendly & Relaxed
- Completely Free!
Thoroughly recommend them. The ability to hear clearly and immediately was brilliant.
Jane H
Call 0800 369 8600 or
Book Your Hearing Test Online
Tinnitus is a condition characterized by a ringing in the ears that emanates from inside the body; although it may feel like an external sound, this is actually not the case. It is an increasingly common condition in the United Kingdom, with 7.1 million adults estimated to suffer according to a study by the British Tinnitus Association in 2019.
It comes in various different forms:
- Ringing
- Buzzing
- Roaring
- Clicking
- Hissing
- Humming
Some individual sufferers can even hear a form of music or singing, whilst others still can hear the beat of their pulse, a.k.a. pulsatile tinnitus. Whichever form it takes, it can be a seriously debilitating and life-altering condition.
Seriousness of the symptoms
Thankfully, tinnitus is seldom the sign of an acute underlying condition. For some people, it can be a fleeting thing that comes and goes. That said, it can become more serious over time and start to impact your everyday life and sense of wellbeing. In severe cases, it can cause a great deal of distress and render you unable to concentrate, lead to depression and even cause insomnia. The strength and intensity of the condition may also depend on the root cause of the condition.
Even though most cases will solve themselves to a degree, it is always important to contact your GP and seek further medical attention should there be an unaddressed source of the issue.
When to see your GP or a specialist
If you find that you’re constantly suffering from prolonged bouts of tinnitus (a week or longer), then it is strongly advised that you seek further assistance. Your first step should be contacting your GP for a check-up, who may then refer you onto a specialist.
What causes tinnitus?
There are a variety of different reasons for why you might have tinnitus, ranging from those that develop over time or sudden, unexpected bouts. Let’s look at some of the most common factors:
- Working in a noisy environment
If you’re working in heavy industry with loud machinery, then you are far more likely to develop tinnitus. This can be gradual; however, a single event can spark the condition should you experience a noise loud enough.
- Stress
Perhaps the least understood but one of the more intense (and common) forms of tinnitus comes from stress. Symptoms may appear suddenly, triggered by a particularly traumatic moment, and become progressively worse over a short space of time.
- Ear canal blockage / Earwax buildup
Foreign bodies trapped in the ear canal as well as a blockage caused by excess wax can both lead to tinnitus by changing the pressure levels in your ears. You should also watch out for a build up of fluids, dirt and dust – all can have troublesome effects.
- Aging
Most of us – if we’re lucky – get older. Unfortunately, aging also causes the number of functioning nerve fibres in your ears to decline, resulting in a multitude of hearing issues, including tinnitus.
- Prescription Drugs
Certain medications can either cause or exacerbate tinnitus symptoms. Higher doses often lead to a worsening condition. These include:
- water pills (diuretics)
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- antibiotics (particularly the E-Mycin group)
- cancer drugs
- antimalarial drugs
- antidepressants
- Head and neck injuries
Sometimes injuries can affect hearing nerves, the inner ear and brain functions linked to hearing, resulting in a knock-on effect that causes tinnitus. Most of these types of injuries cause it in one ear only.
Uncommon causes of tinnitus may include chronic health conditions, injuries, conditions and ear problems which affect either the nerves in your ear or the hearing centre of your brain. Some of these rarer causes are as follows:
- Ménière’s disease
An acute inner ear condition that can cause rapid and sudden bouts of vertigo and nausea.
- Eustachian Tube dysfunction
A small tube that connects the throat to your middle ear which when blocked can cause a variety of hearing problems not limited to tinnitus.
- Blood vessel disorders
Any condition which affects your blood vessels, like high blood pressure, atherosclerosis or disfigured vessels can result in blood flow changes which in turn either cause or aggravate a ringing in the ears.
- Otosclerosis
This is a malformation which occurs between the different segments of the inner ear by an excess build up of calcium, causing the individual parts to fuse. It is known to occur most often in first-time mothers due to rapid hormonal change, but it can also be hereditary.
- Muscle Spasms
The inner ear has tiny muscles which can tense unpredictably, and for no discernible reason. These spasms can result in tinnitus and indeed hearing loss. Neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) can also be a predictive factor.
- Acoustic Neuroma
A noncancerous (benign) tumour that develops along the cranial nerve (from your brain to inner ear), Acoustic Neuroma can seriously interfere with your balance and hearing. Other tumours, however benign, are also likely to cause tinnitus if they are situated in and around your head and neck.
- Temporomandibular joint disorders
The joint located on each side of your head in front of your ears, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can cause tinnitus if it has problems.
- Chronic conditions
Migraines, anemia, diabetes, thyroid issues and autoimmune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can all contribute to tinnitus.
It should be noted that there are a whole host of contributing factors that may make you more susceptible to tinnitus. These include continual exposure to loud noises (like prolonged use of portable music devices), tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, heart problems and lastly, if you are male you also have an increased chance of developing the condition.
Treating tinnitus
There will never be a single perfect way to treat tinnitus – everyone is different, and each case is individual. One persons’ underlying cause will not be another’s. Treating the origin of the condition is the best way to combat the symptoms.
However, if you find that your GP or doctor cannot definitively diagnose your predicament, then don’t worry – there is help available.
At Hear4U we offer the following treatments:
- Sound therapy
This involves listening to various different ambient sounds to distract your mind from the tinnitus.
Check out our range of tinnitus products at Hearing Aid Accessories >>
We have specially trained in-house counsellors that can help you come to terms with your tinnitus and deal with it more effectively.
- Earwax Removal
If earwax build up (compaction) is the main cause of your tinnitus, we provide a range of different ear wax removal methods to help you.