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Tinnitus

At Mackay Hearing, we understand firsthand the frustration and discomfort that tinnitus can bring to your daily life. Our goal is to not only alleviate your symptoms but also to improve your overall quality of life by addressing the underlying causes and helping you develop effective tinnitus coping mechanisms.

What is tinnitus?

The term tinnitus is Latin in origin and means ‘ringing’ or ‘tinkling like a bell’. Tinnitus is a condition where people experience noises or ringing in one or both ears or head when no physical noise is present. Tinnitus can often be the first sign of a hearing loss but can occur in absence of a hearing loss.

Everyone’s tinnitus experience is unique and can be a single or several different sounds and is commonly described as a ringing, hissing or insect-like (especially cicadas) noise but can also be described as static, roaring, whistling, pulsing, humming. It can also develop suddenly or gradually. Tinnitus can be experienced intermittently or constantly, in one or both ears, at a soft or loud volume and at a high or low pitch. It can be difficult for those not experiencing tinnitus to understand how challenging it can be.

For many people, the tinnitus provides a mild annoyance and is experienced intermittently or temporarily. It is also common for the tinnitus intensity to fluctuate depending on anxiety and stress levels, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine consumption and other factors. Poor concentration and sensitivity to loud sounds also exacerbate the condition. Tinnitus is often more noticeable in quiet situations where it is not ‘masked’ by background noise.

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How common is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is very common. Most people would have experienced some form of ringing in their ears at some stage, even if temporarily heard after being exposed to loud noise after using power tools or loud music.

Approximately 18-20% (1 in 5) of the people in Australia experience some form of tinnitus permanently. For people over the age of 55 the incidence of tinnitus increases to over 30% (almost 1 in 3).

Cause of tinnitus

Tinnitus is a symptom of a problem within your auditory system. Anything that causes harm or damage to the cochlear and the hearing nerve may result in the production of false signals which are interpreted by the brain as sounds. Hearing loss accompanied by tinnitus is common.

Research suggests that tinnitus sounds may be generated by the brain as a substitute for sounds no longer reaching the brain due to hearing loss. However, tinnitus can also affect people with no hearing loss and can be caused or aggravated by a variety of factors. Once the signal is generated in the auditory system (no matter the cause), the limbic system attaches an emotional response to the tinnitus.

Therefore, tinnitus becomes more than just a sound!

There are several possible causes of tinnitus, and tinnitus can be a symptom of other underlying health issues.

Examples of potential causes and aggravators of tinnitus include:

  • Exposure to loud noises

  • High dosages of certain medications and drugs

  • Hearing loss

  • Undiagnosed medical problem

  • Trauma/physical injury to the ear such as a head injury, changes in barometric pressure during diving or air travel

  • Head or neck injuries

  • Unhealthy lifestyle factors – stress, poor sleep patterns, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise

  • Stress and/or high blood pressure

  • Outer and middle ear pathologies – wax blockage in the ear canal, infections, virus, calcification of the eardrum or ossicles (middle ear bones)

  • Possible Meniere’s Disease

  • Possible tumour of the auditory nerve

  • Cranial, dental or jaw health concerns

  • Idiopathic (no known cause)

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The sound of your tinnitus can sometimes determine the possible underlying cause.

  • Suggests that the cause of your tinnitus may be the musculature around the ear

  • Suggests that the cause of your tinnitus may be vascular

  • Suggests ear wax blockage or an ear condition such as Meniere’s Disease

People with tinnitus may experience:

Tinnitus can be an unpleasant condition which can have a negative impact on work, family, socializing and general quality of life. Approximately 5% of the population is severely affected by tinnitus. 90% of people with severe tinnitus have hearing loss.

People experiencing tinnitus may also experience:

  • Fatigue and stress

  • Trouble relaxing

  • Depression, anxiety and irritability

  • Sleep problems

  • Poor concentration

  • Sensitivity to loud sounds (hyperacusis)

What can I do if I have tinnitus?

Treatment for tinnitus can vary from person to person and can depend on what is causing your tinnitus. It’s recommended to have a full comprehensive hearing assessment, to exclude any underlying medical issues that could be the cause.

A hearing assessment will determine if the tinnitus is accompanied by hearing loss. We can also help to quantify the tinnitus sound you experience, gauge the impact it has on your life and discuss management strategies and options for further support.

Don’t ever think that there is nothing that can be done to help relieve the tinnitus. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, there are many strategies that are easy to implement that you can use to less the effects and reduce the loudness of your tinnitus.

Mackay Hearing is experienced in reducing the loudness of tinnitus.

If you would like further information or wish to make an appointment, please contact our friendly local staff directly on (07) 4952 4649, email us at listening@mackayhearing.com.au, or leave us a message on our website.