What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ear in the absence of external sound. It is commonly described as a ringing, buzzing, hissing, or sounding like "crickets". Although there is no cure for tinnitus, it can be successfully managed with various strategies. Tinnitus is actually quite common. 15-20% of the general population experience tinnitus and this increases to 30% in patients over 55.

The importance of History Taking

Usually bilateral, symmetrical Tinnitus is not concerning and may well be due to age-related hearing loss. One-sided tinnitus may require further investigation so other pathologies can be excluded. If tinnitus is pulsatile it could be due to abnormal circulation.

A thorough history should be used to identify if Tinnitus has any concerning features. By doing so, any further investigations by your GP or an ENT specialist can be recommended.

What investigations could be done?

Diagnostic hearing assessment is essential to assess hearing levels and middle ear function.

Following our assessment, if your doctor or ENT surgeon has any concerns, they may investigate for the following.

Blood workup for metabolic causes
MRI to visualise the inner ear and hearing nerve
Doppler ultrasound of the neck

Problems associated with tinnitus

Tinnitus can cause a variety of difficulties such as sleeping, poor concentration, sensitivity to loud noise, fatigue, depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulty relaxing. It can impact not only the person suffering from tinnitus but also those surrounding them. Tinnitus can affect work performance, our sense of wellbeing and our confidence.

Can Tinnitus be cured?

While there's no cure for most Tinnitus, this condition can be managed very well with appropriate advice and guidance. It can be managed so well that patients may not hear Tinnitus for long periods.

Avoidance of precipitants can help to reduce the loudness of tinnitus:

stimulants → caffeine, smoking and alcohol
loud noise → occupational and recreational
certain drugs → aspirin and NSAIDs

Medical intervention:

doctors may treat insomnia, anxiety, and depression
combination of medication and counselling

What can MPA do for your tinnitus?

1. Masking and hearing aids

White Noise - from a radio or a home masking machine
Hearing Aids - if you have an aidable hearing loss wearing a hearing aid/s amplify ambient noise which masks Tinnitus. It also stops you straining to listen which can also improve tinnitus.
Tinnitus Maskers – deliver narrow-band noise centred around the pitch of your Tinnitus, at low intensity. The idea is to give your brain a sound outside of your own tinnitus to drown out the internal sound and switch the focus to the external noise.

2. Tinnitus retraining therapy
This is a technique of habituation using a combination of masking with low-level broadband noise and counselling to achieve habituation of the reaction to Tinnitus and the perception of the tinnitus signal itself

Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment

The Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment was developed at Curtain University in Western Australia. It uses a customised devise based on the patients extended audiogram to develop an individual tinnitus treatment prescription. This is designed to provide a pleasant acoustic signal embedded in music. This is designed to stimulate a wide range of the auditory pathway and to engage the limbic (emotional) system & autonomic nervous system of the brain. The device is worn daily for at least 2-3 hours and over a period of approximately 26 weeks. It can decrease the disturbance caused by the tinnitus.

Angelique has undertaken training in Neuromonics treatment and has successfully helped many clients live better, sleep better and mange their tinnitus better. Make an appointment with her today.

Tinnitus Therapy