TINNITUS:
CAUSES, DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT
Tinnitus is often caused by hearing damage and or by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system. Tinnitus can be a continuous source of discomfort that can be difficult to cope with on a day-to-day basis. Fortunately, there are solutions to reduce the harmful impact of tinnitus on the daily lives of sufferers.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the head or ears in the absence of an actual sound source, and it is often described as ‘ringing’ or ‘buzzing. It is a common condition that affects almost 1 in 10 New Zealanders1. Tinnitus can vary in pitch and intensity, and it might be present in one or both ears.
What causes Tinnitus?
Most people who are diagnosed with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss, but the exact cause of tinnitus is not fully understood. It is thought that as the damaged cochlea hair cells do not send their information as effectively as they should, the hearing centre of the brain overcompensates for the missing information by generating its own sound.
As a result, a ‘phantom’ sound – ringing or buzzing – is perceived. The volume of tinnitus can range from barely audible to loud enough to be bothersome or even debilitating.
Elements that facilitate the development of Tinnitus.
To delay or avoid the development of tinnitus, you need to be aware of a number of factors that can lead to its appearance:
- Loud noise exposure: Exposure to loud noises, such as concerts, machinery, or firearms, can damage the cochlea and trigger tinnitus.
- Trauma and Injury: Head or neck injuries that affect the auditory system or cause damage to the nerves involved in hearing can lead to tinnitus.
- Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor diet can contribute to conditions that increase the risk of tinnitus.
- Genetics: There may be a genetic predisposition to tinnitus, making some individuals more susceptible.
How do you treat Tinnitus?
Although there is no “cure” for tinnitus, it can often be managed by a combination of measures to reduce its audibility and annoyance:
- Sound therapy : By using a noise-generating device, usually white noise, you can focus your hearing on a noise that is less annoying than the tinnitus. This is particularly useful for people with sleep disorders linked to tinnitus.
- Stress management: Techniques such as relaxation therapy, yoga, and meditation helps the patient to detach his or her attention from the noise provoked by the tinnitus.
- Hearing Aids: Amplifying external sounds can help reduce the perception of tinnitus.
Tinnitus and hearing aids
Can hearing aids help Tinnitus?
If you experience both tinnitus and hearing loss, you’re not alone—this is the most common combination. Tinnitus often happens because of a lack of sound stimulation, causing the brain to focus on the ringing or buzzing sounds.
By treating hearing loss with hearing aids, you bring back the missing sounds your brain needs. This helps the brain pay less attention to tinnitus, making it less noticeable. Over time, many people find that hearing aids can reduce the impact of tinnitus by shifting focus away from the internal noise and back to the sounds of everyday life.
If you’re struggling with tinnitus and hearing loss, Book an appointment with an audiologist for a Full Diagnostic Hearing Assessment to discuss to find a solution that works best for you.
Can hearing aids cause Tinnitus?
When fitting patients for their hearing aids, it is sometimes difficult to tell whether a patient has tinnitus or has had tinnitus in the past. A lot of people ask, “can hearing aids cause tinnitus or make their existing condition worse?”. Hearing aids are not known to directly cause tinnitus. However, certain factors related to using hearing aids may contribute to experiencing tinnitus-like symptoms in some cases.
That said, hearing aids can also be an effective option for managing tinnitus, especially when combined with other strategies such as stress management and sound therapy. If you are suffering from symptoms of Tinnitus, Book an appointment for a Full Diagnostic Hearing Assessment today.
Appointment Details.
The first step to tinnitus management is a Full Diagnostic Hearing Assessment which will allow the audiologist to assess your hearing.
During this appointment the audiologist will also ask a range of questions to fully understand the nature of your tinnitus and based on the these they will then recommend a management plan that is tailored to you.
This assessment is approximately 60-minutes in duration and will include your audiologist also assessing your overall hearing.
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Reference: 1. Tinnitus. New Zealand Audiological Society. https://audiology.org.nz/for-the-public/other-hearing-conditions/tinnitus-and-reduced-sound-tolerance/