The Beginners Guide to Tinnitus
Our best articles on tinnitus
Are you suffering with ringing, whooshing or other unwanted sounds?
Tinnitus, Causes, Research and Treatments
Tinnitus is a frustrating problem that many people across the world deal with everyday. For most of us it is just a transitory annoyance that passes after a few seconds or minutes. However, for many, it is a constant companion, a companion whose impact can be anything from slightly distracting to devesatating. We thought it was a good idea to cover the problem in an in-depth manner, offering all of the information we know in one easy reference. So here goes.
I know a song that’ll get on your nerves, get on your nerves, get on your nerves…
Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? – An unwanted earworm that keeps playing over and over? A catchy piece of music that continually repeats through your mind, long after it has finished playing? This is similar to how I would describe my tinnitus. But instead of the notion of the song, there is actual ‘noise’, and the music never stops playing. There is no end to the record.
The Connection Between Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
Assessing the connection between tinnitus and hearing loss can be difficult. There are measurable tests to determine between the varying degrees of hearing loss, but no such tests exist for tinnitus. Yet, many audiologists promote hearing loss treatments to assist those who are suffering from tinnitus.
Tinnitus, A Personal Perspective
Yesterday was the two year anniversary of my hearing loss. I suffered a sudden sensorineural loss after a night out with friends which would seem to have been the result of a virus that attacked my inner ear and left me with a moderate to severe loss in my left ear. The virus caused me no other symptoms and my hearing disappeared in the time that it took for me to sit down on the sofa. Much of that I have come to terms with. It’s frustrating not to hear as I once did and there are days when it is more debilitating than others, but it is what it is and I move forward.
How Can Hearing Aids Help Tinnitus?
While much research has been undertaken in the last few years, tinnitus is still a little-understood condition. However, we do understand that the impact of tinnitus can range from mildly irritating to devastating. While an effective cure has evaded medical science, we do know that there are several treatments that can work very effectively. One of those treatments is hearing aids, and they can work very well in specific circumstances. Let me explain.
Is hypnosis/hypnotherapy a good way to treat tinnitus?
The most common form of tinnitus (subjective tinnitus) is where only the sufferer can hear the noise – i.e. there is no noise being produced by the physical body, it’s all the mind. Common suggestions to alleviate tinnitus include TRT, de-stressing, noise therapy and relaxation techniques like yoga.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT)
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a treatment that aims to reduce the perceived loudness and severity of tinnitus. Tinnitus isn’t a disease and TRT isn’t a cure as such, it is perhaps better described as a way to train someone not to hear the ringing in their ear any more or at least to be less aware and less irritated by it.
Does Coffee Affect Tinnitus or Hearing Loss?
Drinking coffee was once considered something of a vice almost akin to smoking that we should try to cut down or give up. However, in recent years, research has increasingly revealed that, on the contrary, coffee – and especially caffeine – is full of health benefits.
Anti-Depressants May Make Tinnitus Worse
In a recent study published by researchers at OSHU (Oregon Health & Science University) they found that the serotonin spike caused by anti depressants may in fact make Tinnitus worse. In essence, the very treatment given for anxiety may in fact increase that anxiety by making Tinnitus worse.