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Audiology |
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TinnitusTinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head where no external source is present. The word comes from Latin word tinnire and means "to tinkle or to ring like a bell." In almost all cases, tinnitus is a subjective noise, meaning that only the person who has tinnitus can hear it. Someone with tinnitus often describes it as "ringing in the ears," but people report hearing all kinds of sounds: crickets, whooshing, pulsing, ocean waves, buzzing, even music. Many people will experience it occasionally. Other people experience tinnitus for long periods of time. Various studies have shown that it can occur at any age, even in quite young children. Mild tinnitus is common - about 10 per cent of the population have it all the time. The exact causes of tinnitus are not known. Research suggests that the tinnitus arises due to changes in the electrical signals in the hearing system and due to changes in people’s hearing levels. There are, however, several likely sources, all of which are known to trigger or worsen tinnitus, e.g. hearing loss and exposure to loud noise. What you should do if have persistent or troublesome tinnitusIf you have persistent and troublesome tinnitus, you may want to visit your GP for an examination to rule out any possible medical and physiological problems associated with tinnitus. The doctor may refer you to the Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) specialist. The ENT may refer you to the Audiologist for a hearing assessment. The Audiologist may discuss management options with you regarding your tinnitus. Counselling sessions and information booklets, which contain tinnitus support group contact details and helpline numbers, are also offered. Helplines are available through the BTA (British Tinnitus Association) on 0800 018 0527. Otherwise, the BTA’s website www.tinnitus.org.uk offers a lot of information on tinnitus as well as useful links. Relaxation to relieve tensionTension caused by worry about your tinnitus is natural, so learning to relax is part of the relief process. The noises in your head often create a vicious cycle of tension and worry about the cause and the effect on your lifestyle. This vicious circle of tension can make tinnitus worse. You can break this circle! To relieve the tension in your body, use simple relaxation exercises that involve consciously telling your body to relax. This is one way. Find a comfortable position. Now breathe in slowly and clench your fist. Feel the tension in your hand and wrist. Now breathe out, and as you do so relax your hand and feel the difference. Repeat this by tensing and relaxing each group of muscles in your body in a systematic way. Check that you don't have hidden tensions that keep your hearing system tense. Once you have tensed and relaxed all the major groups of muscles just rest and breathe quietly for a while. It will take practice and time to feel the full benefits. You can practice quiet relaxation at any time because it helps if you keep each part of your body as calm as possible. Some people find aromatherapy, massage, or other complementary therapies helpful. The key is to find what helps you the most and practice it often, at least daily. Also, improving posture can be helpful with some forms of tinnitus. For more information about tinnitus visit: www.tinnitus.org.uk |
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