Suffering from tinnitus isn't the pain in the ear it used to be

Abi Jackson says there is hope for sufferers of tinnitus

MANY of us will have experienced the sensation of hearing sounds that seem to be coming from nowhere other than deep inside our own heads and ears — perhaps a high-pitched ringing, or hissing sound.

Thankfully for most of us, these sounds will be nothing more than a mild and temporary irritation — but for some people, tinnitus can become a significant problem.

CAN’T SWITCH IT OFF: Not everybody who experiences tinnitus will be severely affected, but in some cases, the relentless noise can have a big impact on quality of life and psychological wellbeing, causing distress, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, in turn affecting work and relationships and, as experts point out, it can be linked with anxiety and depression.

However, while there’s no cure, audiologist Tony Kay, is keen to highlight that support is out there — and there is hope.

“The first thing is not to be alarmed, but if you think you may have tinnitus, you should see your doctor, who will check your ears and offer general advice. You may also get referred to a consultant,” he explains.

BETTER WITH TIME: Often, when ‘hidden’ problems are causing us distress, the simple step of talking to a doctor, or anyone with an understanding of your problem, and openly acknowledging that it’s getting you down can be a huge weight off the shoulders.

Kay notes that a number of things can really help with managing tinnitus.

“In the vast majority of cases, tinnitus is managed rather than cured, and modern therapies are effective for most,” he explains. “Studies have shown that over time, tinnitus becomes less intrusive as the brain loses interest in it — this process is called habituation.”

WHAT CAUSES IT? Tinnitus is actually considered a symptom, rather than a single disease, “related to changes in activity or connectivity within the hearing system and brain”.

Although often seen as something that affects older people, anybody can experience tinnitus, even children. However, it’s far more common in older age groups, affecting around one-in-10 of adults.

“The main risk factor is hearing loss,” adds Kay. “Exposure to loud noise, ear infections, some medications, stress and head injuries are some of the other risk factors.” Where infections, or blockages with wax, are involved, treating these can relieve tinnitus. The link with stress is more complex, but it’s generally recognised that stress and anxiety may act as a ‘trigger’, or make people more acutely aware of tinnitus.

Exposure to loud noise, however, is a major factor — and one we can all try to prevent, by being aware of what amounts to ‘dangerous’ noise levels and taking steps to protect our hearing, by using ear guards and earplugs. This is something everybody should be aware of, as even the volumes of our TVs, and listening to music with headphones, could be putting us at risk of hearing loss and tinnitus.

TAKE ACTION: “Prevention is better than cure, so being ‘sound aware’ should be your aim,” stresses Kay. “We’re not saying avoid, just be more aware of the potential hazards of loud noise. Our ears tend to be tough in most cases, but we only have one pair, so looking after them will enable us to go on enjoying music for a long time.”