It's National Tinnitus Week - so we have compiled some facts about this debilitating condition which affect an estimated one in 10 people in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Tinnitus is the term for hearing sounds that come from inside your body, rather than from an outside source.
It is often described as "ringing in the ears", although several sounds can be heard, including buzzing, humming, grinding, hissing and whistling.
While Tinnitus is rarely a sign of a serious underlying condition, it can sometimes be continuous and have a significant impact on everyday life.
Severe cases can be very distressing, affect concentration, and cause problems such as difficulty sleeping and depression.
To coincide with Tinnitus Awareness Week starting on Monday, the BTA has released new guidelines for GPs to help improve support.
“There is a knowledge gap within the medical community about the impact tinnitus can have and many patients don’t feel listened to or supported enough,” says David Stockdale, BTA’s chief executive.
“ GPs have been telling us they want more support to help them provide tinnitus patients with the best care.
“Our new guidance has been designed with this in mind, providing them with practical advice, information and signposting to resources that are currently available.“
Here’s what you need to know:
What is tinnitus?
“Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing sounds in your ears or head but no external cause,” explains Gemma Twitchen, senior audiologist at Action on Hearing Loss.
“The sounds vary, from a hiss, whistle, whirr, ring or buzz to segments of music. The pitch can be high or low and the duration can vary from a few seconds at a time to continuous noise.”
Objective tinnitus – which is much rarer than the subjective tinnitus that affects most sufferers – can actually be heard by somebody examining the patient.
What causes it?
“The exact cause isn’t understood – though it’s often due to a problem in the hearing pathway and can be associated with hearing loss,” says Gemma.
Prolonged exposure to loud sounds is the most common cause of tinnitus because it causes permanent damage to the sound-sensitive cells of the cochlea, a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear – so carpenters, pilots, rock musicians and street repair workers are among those at risk.
Tinnitus can also be a side effect of ear or head injuries, ear diseases or infections, and can be triggered or exacerbated by emotional trauma, illness or stress.
Evidence suggests that tinnitus is linked to depression, which can worsen the perception of the condition. It can also be a reaction to certain medication and is cited as a potential side effect for about 200 prescription and non-prescription drugs.
What should I do?
“It’s crucial to see your GP,” advises Gemma. “They can check if there is an underlying cause, such as a build-up of wax or an infection and, if necessary, refer you to either an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist or an audiologist for further tests.”
If hearing loss is detected, hearing aids can also help with tinnitus, says Gemma.
How can I manage it?
“There is no cure – but there are several therapies available to help you manage your tinnitus,” explains Gemma.
- Medical counselling provided in specialist tinnitus clinics in hospitals can not only help you to understand your tinnitus but teach you how to ignore it using simple techniques.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can teach you coping techniques to reduce your distress. You start to tolerate the noises and they eventually become less noticeable.
- Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is based on the theory that it’s the part of the brain responsible for emotions (the limbic system) that gives importance and meaning to tinnitus sounds. Sufferers then duly perceive the sounds to be a threat or a danger which provokes an emotional response. Their awareness of tinnitus is heightened and so they perceive it to be louder or more persistent. It combines medical counselling and low-level sound therapy to reduce awareness of it.
- Sound therapy works to make tinnitus less noticeable by reducing the contrast between tinnitus sounds and background sounds. This ‘distraction’ can be achieved by wearing sound generators, which fit behind, or in, the ear and produce soft ‘rushing’ sounds, or by listening to soothing sounds – from CDs or other sound-therapy products.
- Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, herbal medicine, homeopathy, hypnotherapy, osteopathy, craniosacral therapy, reflexology and Shiatsu. There is little conclusive evidence to prove or disprove the usefulness of any of these but it’s thought they work by helping you to relax – which, in turn, can help manage tinnitus.
- Bedside and desktop sound generators (often known as ‘tinnitus relaxers’), play a range of environmental and soothing sounds to create a peaceful atmosphere and distract you from your tinnitus.
- CDs or downloads of relaxing sounds such as birdsong.
- Sound pillows (normal pillows that have speakers inside) and pillow speakers that connect to tinnitus relaxers or personal music devices are useful as they let you listen to sounds in bed without disturbing your partner.
- Tinnitus apps (software applications) for Android and Apple devices have a wide range of sounds to choose from, and some apps allow you to customise sounds for your needs. Visit actiononhearingloss.org.uk/shop for details and prices.
- Check out BTA’s new website: www.takeontinnitus.co.uk.