Tinnitus: when the ringing won't stop
As many as one in 5 people will, at some time in their lives, experience tinnitus. Tinnitus is defined as ‘the sensation of sound in the ear(s) or head not due to a source outside the body’. Some people have tinnitus which significantly affects the quality of their life. About one in 100 people is severely affected by the problem.
Tinnitus may be a buzzing, ringing, roaring, whistling, or hissing sound. Sometimes it involves more complex sounds that vary over time. It may be there all the time, or come and go. Sometimes it is pulsatile (in time with heartbeat). An associated hearing loss is usually present.
The cause of tinnitus is not yet fully understood. Tinnitus can be a symptom of just about any problem with the ear, ranging from trivial matters such as wax in the ear canal to tumours. It can result from the overuse of certain medications, including aspirin, quinine and some cancer medicines. It can be due to a head injury or exposure to excess noise. People with high blood pressure or abnormalities in the blood vessels in their head might experience the pulsatile form of tinnitus.
Anyone bothered by tinnitus should see their doctor for a thorough examination. Tests and X-rays are often performed to exclude any of the more serious causes. In most cases, however, no underlying cause can be found. For these people, a wide variety of treatments have been tried. These include ‘masking’ the bothersome sound by continuous playing of more acceptable sounds, hypnotherapy, cognitive therapy, counselling, and the use of hearing aids or artificial hearing devices. Some people with tinnitus will develop depression which may need treatment with an antidepressant medicine.
In 2004, a new tinnitus treatment, called Neuromonics, became available in Australia. This involves around 6 months of treatment to bring about desensitisation to tinnitus. This is achieved through re-programming of nerve pathways to reduce awareness and disturbance by tinnitus. The treatment involves listening to a customised music programme (in the background) for 2-3 hours a day. The music is provided through a small, lightweight device with personal headphones.
Tinnitus is such a common and often distressing problem that in most parts of the world self-help groups exist at which sufferers can get together and discuss the various ways of combating this baffling problem. The Australian Tinnitus Association provides information to people with tinnitus and also organises a support network.
If your life is plagued by a constant ‘background’ noise, discuss it with your doctor. You may be one of the lucky people whose tinnitus has a treatable cause.
Last Reviewed: 05 November 2008
Sponsored links
