Do You Have Tinnitus?

Do you have tinnitus? This might sound an obvious question, but not everyone who suffers from tinnitus recognizes it as such.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is an awareness of sound in the ears, which is not generated by an external source.  Typically, those sounds are only heard by the sufferer and cannot be heard by others. Some people experience tinnitus temporarily, such as after attending a noisy concert when they hear ringing in the ears for a while afterwards. For others, the noises are constant and can be intrusive.

What does tinnitus sound like?

Everyone’s tinnitus is different. For some people, tinnitus sounds the constant drone of an air conditioning unit or the hum of a fridge motor. For others it’s a high pitched squeal or the pounding sound of blood pulsing through the inner ear.

High or low pitched, soft or loud, intermittent or constant, the sounds of tinnitus vary widely, as does the effect the sounds have on the person hearing them.

Where causes tinnitus sounds?

Tinnitus represents ‘phantom’ sound. This doesn’t mean you imagine the noise, it’s real enough; the sound is generated by the hearing mechanism or nerves associated with hearing, rather than an external source of noise. This is a reflection of the complexity of how we hear. When we hear, a sound wave vibrates the eardrum, which causes mechanical movement of bones in the middle ear that transmits sound to the cochlea in the inner ear. The later converts movement into electrical impulses which activates the nerves passing messages to the brain.

In some people the neurons or nerves which should transmit sound, become fired up for no reason. The result is nerve ‘chatter’ to the brain, which is interpreted as sound. This is one reason why some people may experience tinnitus.

Why do I have tinnitus?

There are lots of reasons a person might develop tinnitus. Several trigger factors are recognized, and these vary in individual cases. Examples of triggers include exposure to loud noises, ear infections, hearing loss, emotional stress or the side effect of medication.

In the first instance, especially if you feel dizzy or suffer balance problems, get checked over by a physician. If your blood pressure is fine and you are otherwise well, the doctor will then suggest a hearing test with an audiologist. An audiologist is a hearing healthcare professional and best placed to diagnose health issues with your hearing and suggest corrective action.

What can I do about tinnitus?

The first step is to recognize the problem. A hearing test with an audiologist is a positive action as correcting mild hearing loss may resolve the issue of tinnitus.

Alternatively, if your hearing is normal the audiologist can suggest strategies and devices that help cancel out intrusive tinnitus. Tinnitus is a common problem, but one that you don’t have to suffer in silence. From correcting your hearing, to white noise machines or mindfulness techniques, your audiologist can help you find a solution.