Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a sound that is heard in one or both ears when there is no external source for this sound present. Sounds can take many forms ranging from whistling, humming and tissue paper rustling to kettles boiling or even tunes or melodies.

The noise can affect concentration and cause insomnia. When it is very disruptive to someone’s life, it often causes great anxiety and sometimes depression.

It helps to understand that tinnitus is not a disease – but a symptom. Nearly all causes are benign and for many people it is part of the wear and tear of the ageing process which is more likely to occur after the age of 60. It can be intermittent or permanent and sometimes it vanishes as suddenly as it arrives.

One common misunderstanding is that the wearing of hearing aids only makes tinnitus worse. The truth is that when selected and set up correctly, they alleviate the condition. Hearing aids enable people with hearing loss to appreciate the normal sounds of everyday life again – giving the brain something else to listen to, so that the tinnitus seems quieter. It is not an instant fix so patience and perseverance is required.