Tinnitus is the name for the ringing (or other sounds, such as buzzing) you may hear in your ears.

What are the signs & symptoms of Tinnitus?

People experience tinnitus in different ways, but generally the main sign is a noise in one or both ears. There are two types of tinnitus that someone may experience: Subjective tinnitus – this is when someone can hear a sound in their ear(s) that is not caused by an external source, and cannot be heard by anyone else. This is the most common form of tinnitus, and is usually experienced as a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. Objective tinnitus – this is when someone can hear a sound in their ear(s) that can be heard by someone else, such as a doctor examining the ear. Objective tinnitus only affects around 1% of people experiencing tinnitus, and is usually heard as a pulsing sound.

What lifestyle changes can help with Tinnitus?

Reducing stress – tinnitus can often be brought on or worsened by stress or anxiety, and so taking time to unwind and relax can help alleviate some of your symptoms. Avoid loud noises – if you regularly listen to loud music or attend concerts, try wearing earplugs to reduce the risk of damaging your ears. Quit smoking – the nicotine found in cigarettes, and some vapes, can worsen tinnitus by narrowing the blood vessels in your ears. Cutting out nicotine can help reduce your symptoms of tinnitus.

Tinnitus & Ear Wax – A Complete Guide

29 Sept

Written By Jason Curtis

Tinnitus is the name for the ringing (or other sounds, such as buzzing) you may hear in your ears. It is generally considered a symptom of another condition, rather than being a condition itself. If you suffer from tinnitus, then read on for some helpful information advice on how to deal with it.
Signs & Symptoms of Tinnitus
People experience tinnitus in different ways, but generally the main sign is a noise in one or both ears. There are two types of tinnitus that someone may experience:
**Subjective tinnitus** – this is when someone can hear a sound in their ear(s) that is not caused by an external source, and cannot be heard by anyone else. This is the most common form of tinnitus, and is usually experienced as a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears.
**Objective tinnitus** – this is when someone can hear a sound in their ear(s) that can be heard by someone else, such as a doctor examining the ear. Objective tinnitus only affects around 1% of people experiencing tinnitus, and is usually heard as a pulsing sound.

Is there a cure for Tinnitus or is it permanent?

While there is no direct cure for tinnitus, in most cases the symptoms will lessen over time. This depends entirely on the underlying cause in each case, and so can vary between individuals. There are treatments available to help ease the symptoms of tinnitus and to lessen the chances of it sticking around or affecting your day-to-day life.

What does Tinnitus sound like?

Tinnitus can sound different to everyone; however, the most common symptom is a ringing in the ear. Other annoying sounds such as hissing, whooshing, buzzing, wind-like roaring and whistling. Those suffering from objective tinnitus may experience a pulsing or thumping sound in time with their blood flow.

How is Tinnitus diagnosed?

A doctor or audiologist may be able to hear if you have objective tinnitus, however a diagnosis for subjective tinnitus relies largely on the symptoms you experience. There are several different ways in which a medical professional may identify tinnitus and its cause:

Visual examination – one of the first things your GP might check for is a build-up of earwax or an ear infection.
Checking medical history – tinnitus can be brought on by another medical condition such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), anaemia, vitamin deficiencies, heart conditions, thyroid problems, Ménière's disease, or even stress and anxiety. Certain medications such as antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen, or chemotherapy medication can include tinnitus as a side effect as well.
Hearing tests – tinnitus can be a symptom of hearing loss, and so a hearing (or audiological) test may be carried out to identify tinnitus and a possible cause.
Imaging tests – a medical professional may recommend a CT or MRI scan to diagnose the cause of tinnitus if it is serious.

Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a common condition, and can be caused by a variety of different things. Different causes can lead to different symptoms for those who experience tinnitus. The most common causes of tinnitus are:

Ear Wax Issues

A build-up of earwax in the ear canal is a common cause of tinnitus in one or both ears. Compacted or excess earwax can block sounds from coming through your eardrum, and as a result your ears may make up certain noises such as ringing or buzzing to compensate. This is one of the most treatable causes of tinnitus, and if you suspect you might be experiencing this then contact us to discuss treatment.

Ageing

As we get older, some people may experience age-related hearing loss. This is known as presbycusis, and is caused by the degeneration of the cells in your ear as you age. Presbycusis loss comes on gradually, and gets worse over time. Tinnitus is a common symptom of age-related hearing loss.

Infections & Illness/Congestion

Tinnitus can be caused by an ear infection, but most of the time it will go away once the infection is cleared. However, severe or recurrent ear infections can lead to chronic tinnitus. Other medical conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), anaemia, vitamin deficiencies, heart conditions, thyroid problems and Ménière's disease can be linked to tinnitus.

Exposure To Loud Noises

The exposure to loud noises can cause damage to your ear, which in turn can cause you to experience tinnitus. Prolonged exposure such as listening to loud music through headphones or at a concert, or a loud sound such as an explosion, can cause damage to your ears and thus cause tinnitus.

Medication

As mentioned previously, some medications list tinnitus as a possible side effect. These include anti-inflammatory painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen, antibiotics, antihistamines, or chemotherapy medications. Always check the leaflet included with your medication for the list of side effects the product may cause.

Foreign Objects

Foreign objects in the ear such as dust and pieces of ear plugs or cotton buds can have a similar effect on your hearing as an earwax build-up: blocking the ear canal from external sounds, causing the ear to overcompensate and produce an internal ringing sound. In more severe cases, foreign objects in your ear can cause damage that leads to tinnitus or hearing loss.

Medical Treatments for Tinnitus

If you find yourself suffering from tinnitus, don’t worry! There are ways in which you can ease your symptoms or eradicate the cause of tinnitus entirely. These include:

Ear Wax Removal

If your tinnitus is caused by compacted or built-up earwax in your ear canal, then removing the problematic earwax can help alleviate or eradicate tinnitus. Contact us to speak to our audiologist to help with tinnitus resulting from earwax problems.

Therapy & Counselling

Tinnitus counselling is designed to help you learn about your symptoms and find helpful ways of coping with them. Cognitive behavioural therapy (or CBT) is a type of talking therapy that aims to change the way you think about your condition and build techniques to help you cope with your symptoms. For those with persistent or severe tinnitus, then tinnitus retraining therapy may be recommended. This aims to use sound therapy in order to ‘retrain’ your brain to tune out or ignore tinnitus.

Surgery

In rare and severe cases of tinnitus, you may be referred for surgery. Surgery may help if your tinnitus is caused by problems with the blood vessels in your ear, tumours or cysts, or a condition called otosclerosis (i.e. calcium deposits on the ear bone).

Lifestyle Advice To Help With Tinnitus

Reducing stress – tinnitus can often be brought on or worsened by stress or anxiety, and so taking time to unwind and relax can help alleviate some of your symptoms.
Avoid loud noises – if you regularly listen to loud music or attend concerts, try wearing earplugs to reduce the risk of damaging your ears.
Quit smoking – the nicotine found in cigarettes, and some vapes, can worsen tinnitus by narrowing the blood vessels in your ears. Cutting out nicotine can help reduce your symptoms of tinnitus.

How To Prevent Developing Tinnitus

The best way to prevent developing tinnitus is to avoid exposure to loud noises. You can do this by listening to music at a quieter volume through speakers or headphones, wearing earplugs or noise-reducing ear coverings when attending concerts or working with high volumes.

Keeping on top of earwax build-up can also help prevent tinnitus, and if this is a concern then we recommend you speak to Ear View for advice or to book in an appointment for earwax removal.

Jason Curtis

Jason trained as a Hearing Aid Audiologist and is fully qualified in ear irrigation and microsuction. Prior to setting up Ear View Ltd, Jason spent 6 years working for a local hearing care provider in Suffolk gaining a wealth of experience.

Jason prides himself on making his patients feel comfortable with his kind and caring nature, and is passionate about maintaining professional standards.