Tinnitus may be an accompaniment of sensorineural hearing loss or congenital hearing loss, or it may be observed as a side effect of certain medications. It is a subjective phenomenon, such that it cannot be objectively measured.Occasionally people may experience tinnitus in the form of recognisable musical sounds

rather than the ‘normal’ associated noises. This is referred to as musical imagery tinnitus or auditory imagery tinnitus. The exact mechanism by which this form of tinnitus occursis unknown, but probably involves the auditory memory parts of the brain.

What causes Tinnitus?

Tinnitus can start suddenly or materialise gradually. Due to the non-specifity of the symptom, there are hundreds of aetiologies associated with tinnitus, most, but not all, associated with hearing impairment. Among the causes are noise induced hearing loss, neurological damage (multiple sclerosis), emotional stress, tiredness, oxidative stress, wax build up, ear infections, foreign objects in the ear canal, exposure to loud sounds (noisy equipment, concerts etc.), head trauma or some diseases of the ear, however, for some people the cause isn’t clear. Activities such as smoking, drinking alcohol or caffeine, and taking ‘excessive’ amounts of

aspirin or antibiotics may exacerbate tinnitus. As there are so many different factors that can lead to, or worsen tinnitus, there is a plethora of ongoing research in to the exact cause of the condition. There are many theories regarding the generation of tinnitus. It is clear that regardless of the initial cause, it is ultimately perceived and processed in the brain. The fact that most people with tinnitus also show at least some deficit in hearing leads to the speculation that tinnitus perception is related to auditory deprivation.

Tinnitus Management

At Audiology Services we offer a professional tinnitus evaluation. Counselling with an experienced hearing health care professional can improve your success in regaining your quality of life. We will be happy answer your queries and provide specific solutions that may be tailored to help with the management of your tinnitus, For some, the effects of tinnitus can often be minimised by a combination of counselling and sound stimulation. Your appointment will involve investigating the cause, type and affects of your tinnitus along with determining whether a treatable medical condition exists or whether further evaluation from your local ENT department is necessary.