Tinnitus Awarenss Week – 5 February 2024
Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises that are not caused by an outside source. They come from inside your body.
Tinnitus can sound like ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing, whooshing, throbbing, singing or music. It is often described as ‘ringing in the ears’ and can occur in one or both ears or in your head.
The symptoms may come and go or you may hear them all the time. It may only be a minor irritation or in severe cases it can be very distressing and cause difficulty sleeping and depression.
It isn’t always clear what causes tinnitus but it is often linked to some form of hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, anxiety, depression or certain conditions sch as thyroid disorders and diabetes.
Hearing Loss
In many cases tinnitus is linked with hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea in the inner ear. In older people this damage may happen with age, but with younger people damage can be caused by repeated expose to loud noises.
As well as inner ear damage other causes of tinnitus could be earwax build up, middle ear infection or a perforated eardrum.
Other Causes
Tinnitus can sometimes be a side effect of taking certain medication for example antibiotics, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, asprin or some chemotherapy drugs.
Less Common Causes
Sometimes tinnitus can be caused by a head injury, sudden loud noises, acoustic neuroma, high blood pressure, under or over active thyroid and anaemia.
Diagnosis
You should see your health provider if your tinnitus is constant or is getting worse. Or for example if it is affecting your sleep or concentration. Always see your GP after a head injury or with sudden hearing loss, or if you have a spinning sensation eg vertigo.
Your GP may refer you to an audiologist who will carry out a hearing assessment and talk to you about treatments.
Treatment
There is no single treatment for tinnitus that works for everyone.
If your tinnitus is caused by another condition, treating that condition will help. For example if your tinnitus is caused by a buildup of earwax, ear irrigation may be used.
If the cause is unknown or can’t be treated your healthcare provider may refer you for tinnitus counselling, cognitive behavior therapy that aims to help change the way you think about your tinnitus and help it become less noticeable to you.
Managing Tinnitus Yourself
You can try the following things to try to ease tinnitus:
Try to relax – deep breathing or yoga may help
Follow some tips for a good sleep if your tinnitus affects your sleep
Join a support group as it may help you to cope
Try not to focus on it as it can make it worse. Try some activities that may take your mind off it
Listen to soft music as it can distract you from your tinnitus
We can help by carrying out a hearing assessment and examining your ears for a buildup of ear wax and removal. We can talk to you about the noises that you hear and offer tinnitus counselling.
Support Groups
Tinnitus Australia has information and support for people with tinnitus www.tinnitusaustralia.org.au
Tinnitus Association Victoria also has useful information to help you manage www.tinnitus.org.au
You can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 for support and advice about anxiety and depression.
You can also call the Nurse-On-Call helpline on 1800 022 222
Book a hearing test or wax removal today either by calling us on 1300 787 792 or pop in and visit us in person at 321 Main Street, Lilydale or email us at admin@hearsmart.com.au