Tinnitus advice

Symptoms, causes and how to prevent and treat Tinnitus

Tinnitus

Tinnitus, that is intermittent or constant ringing in one or both ears, or inside your head, affects 1 in 10 people in the UK.

It affects all ages and can be a symptom of other underlying conditions so should never be ignored.

People with tinnitus are often told that there is nothing that can be done and that they just have to learn to live with it. This is not the case. Whilst there is no cure, treatment options are available and tinnitus can be managed to the point where it is no longer a concern.

The symptoms of tinnitus

Classically, tinnitus is a continual ringing, buzzing or hissing sound in the ear, and it can vary in severity. Symptoms of tinnitus can begin suddenly or gradually.

Tinnitus affects people in different ways and can leave them feeling stressed, anxious, depressed or tense. It can also lead to insomnia and difficulty sleeping. As stress is a contributing factor in worsening the symptoms of tinnitus, sufferers, unfortunately, find themselves in a vicious cycle of cause and effect they can’t break free from.

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Causes of tinnitus

Tinnitus causes are not fully understood and unfortunately, the condition can develop without any obvious cause or explanation. However, common causes of tinnitus can be:

Exposure to loud noises
Infection in the ear or from a common cold
Injury to the ear or head
Hearing loss
Side effects of medication
Stress
Earwax blockages

How to help prevent tinnitus

Prevention is better than cure so the simplest way to lower the risk of tinnitus is to protect your ears from damage. This means not only damage from loud noises, by wearing earplugs or ear defenders, but also damage from infection. Our ears have natural self-protection and self-cleaning process in the form of ear wax. Inserting objects like cotton buds into the ear canal only serves to risk damage to the eardrum, increases the risk of infection and possibly pushes earwax further down into the ear channel, compacting it.

If you experience an ear infection, it’s important not to leave it untreated. Quickly clearing up any infection reduces the risk of any long-term damage that could lead to tinnitus, so always consult your GP if you suffer from symptoms of ear infection or earache.

Treating tinnitus

Whilst there is no cure for tinnitus, there are ways to help manage it and the impact it has on your life:

As difficult as it may be, try to relax! Stress and anxiety can make tinnitus worse
Consider counselling to help you cope with tinnitus – the British Tinnitus Association can help you in finding a local hearing therapist
Relieve the symptoms with sound therapy, that gives you something else to listen to and distracts you from the constant buzz or hum of your tinnitus.
Book a free hearing test with your True Tone local audiologist who can advise you on hearing aids specifically designed to help tinnitus sufferers and which may help you through amplification. A lot of people suffering from tinnitus find hearing aids helpful in amplifying the sounds in their surrounding environment as well distracting the brain from hearing the tinnitus sounds

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What our patients say

Paddy Miskelly

“Myself and my wife go to see Katie most helpful explained everything in simple terms would highly recommend to anyone”

Peter Simpson

“I recently had a tricky hearing problem. Nicole quickly identified the problem and how to fix it. She was friendly and professional. A great experience and she went well over and above the call of duty.”

Damian Fitzsimons

“I expected today on my hearing test for the person to pop a device into my ears and say you’re good there is no wax or anything else they could see, but not in this case, the lady called Ciara went through my history relating to my job and what it entailed then checked my ears as I watched the screen then got me to go into a sound proof inclosure and did another test and finally got me to do a visual test on a computer screen and I am happy to say I passed and my hearing is perfect which I am delighted about and going forward Ciara was able to give advice on wearing hear protection while using power tools, if any one has concerns about their hearing just book an appointment with this lady.”

Mairead Diamond

“I am delighted to leave a review for Katie, Optometrist at BH McKeague, Ballymena. I was very unsure about choosing my hearing aids and about how these would perform better than my NHS ones. I cannot believe how good my Starkey AI bte hearing aids are. Katie had such patience, gave me very explicit instructions and I was completely confident I had chosen the right ones. Having no batteries was a big plus. I know if I have any issues Katie has assured me to get in touch at any time.“

Helen Murphy

“Had my first ever hearing test with Ciara Donnan at True Tone hearing today. I was put at ease immediately and the assessment process was outlined so I was aware of what was going to happen. Each part of the assessment was explained at each stage and Ciara went over my results with me, explaining the results and recommending options where required. I can’t recommend Ciara highly enough; she was very friendly, knowledgeable and put things in terms I could understand. An excellent experience.“

Michael Blake

“Ciara, thank you so much for your support and expertise. I will be happy to let you know how I get on and keep you posted. Your interest and commitment to what you are doing with great professionalism is beyond question. All the best in the future.“

Ann Malley

“Had an appointment with brogans ear testing today. Ciara was fantastic ,great sense of humour and put me at ease explaining all procedures. Great facility and information to assist my decisions. I’ll be back for regular check ups! Thanks Ciara“

Michael Cullen MBE

“I have tried 4 different types of hearing aids in the past, but none came close to the Starkey hearing aids Conor fitted for me. So many helpful features. I am able to listen to the TV, group conversations and converse on the phone with ease. Just a vast improvement to my everyday life. Thank you!”

Francis Hickinson

“My wife and mother in law was in on Wednesday and Katie could not have been more helpful and caring during our treatment. We would highly recommend for anyone needing this service.she really made my mother in law who is 93 feel very comfortable and well looked after.the best service and care I have ever received. Very professional and caring”

N Scott

“The advice offered by True Tone was excellent. They explained everything brilliantly and put me at my ease. Importantly, they did not make me feel self-conscious about seeking advice about my hearing and convinced me. of the benefits of exploring acquiring hearing aids. I realise that there is a link to developing dementia if a person feels cut off from conversations and social interactions if they cannot hear properly. I witnessed this in my own family and wish I could have persuaded my father to explore hearing aids. Thank you True Tone and Katie and her colleagues for their great service.”

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