Facial Nerve Palsy
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus describes any noise that can be heard internally but is not made by an external sound. The noise may be a high-pitched ringing, buzzing, chirping or other noise in one or both ears. It may be continuous or it may come and go. In some cases, it can get so loud that it affects concentration, mood and sleep. It is extremely common, reported by three in ten adults.
What causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is thought to be due to an alteration in the way that sound is processed by the hearing system. The brain searches for sound internally and interprets subtle electrical activity in the neural circuits of the brain as noise.
Hearing loss is the most recognised cause of tinnitus. It can also be brought on by earwax, ear infection, loud noise exposure, some medications, emotional or physical stress and neck or jaw joint problems.
In rare cases, tinnitus may sound like a rhythmic pulsing or whooshing sound that happens in time with your heartbeat. This is called pulsatile tinnitus and may indicate a number of conditions affecting the ear and blood vessels of the head and neck.
How is Tinnitus treated?
It is important to get tinnitus assessed by a specialist to exclude an underlying ear problem. Treatment depends on the cause and how much it impacts a patient’s quality of life. If the condition is caused by hearing loss, you may benefit from a hearing aid. A wide range of apps can be useful to manage tinnitus. Other treatment is aimed at habituation or drawing negative attention away from the tinnitus and avoiding further triggers.
