Tinnitus is a fairly common condition, affecting around 1 in 8 people, according to the NHS. It's a condition where a person can hear a noise that isn't found in the outside world - it's actually internal. It can affect people at any age, but it's often found in people who suffer some form of hearing loss.

What are the symptoms of tinnitus?

Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing in the ears that may be soft or loud, high or low pitched. In some cases, the sound can be so loud it interferes with your ability to concentrate or hear. However, tinnitus can also cause other types of phantom noises in your ears, including:

• Ringing
• Buzzing
• Whooshing
• Humming
• Hissing
• Throbbing

What treatment is available for tinnitus?

We first recommend getting your hearing and tinnitus assessed to determine the best method of treatment. If your tinnitus is accompanied by a hearing loss, hearing aids may help. However, there are also ways in which you can help yourself to deal with tinnitus:

• Keep active, as it is easier to forget about tinnitus when your mind is occupied
• Regular exercise helps people to ignore and cope with tinnitus as it helps with mental and physical well-being
• Relaxing can help you reduce the loudness of tinnitus and helps you to become indifferent to it
• Use sound to help disguise tinnitus. When there is no background noise tinnitus can be more noticeable because there is no noise to distract you. It may help to have some sort of sound i.e. music or a clock, to help distract you from it

How do I get help?

Book an appointment and see one of our experienced Hearing Aid Audiologists if you think you might be suffering from Tinnitus.