Tinnitus is a name given to ringing or buzzing which a person can hear from within their ears rather than an outside source. 

The cause of tinnitus is often unknown, however it can be linked to conditions such as Ménière’s disease, anxiety, depression and hearing loss. 

Although tinnitus is often referred to as a ringing, it can also be described as a buzzing, humming, grinding, clicking, hissing or whistling. Some people say they hear sounds similar to singing or music on the beat. 

Some people find that their symptoms come and go and are relatively mild, but for others it can have an impact on their daily lives. Severe tinnitus can cause insomnia, anxiety, depression and can affect the ability to concentrate. 

Often tinnitus will improve over time as the body gets used to it or by if disappearing. However it’s important to seek help when you notice the signs of tinnitus to find out if there is a treatable cause. 

Sometimes people with earwax blocking their ear canal will have the symptom of tinnitus or will notice a worsening in already present tinnitus.

Middle ear infections can also cause tinnitus, these can be identified at an ear consultation appointment or by a GP and easily treated with a course of medicine. 

Hearing loss is another reason people may experience tinnitus and going for a hearing test will establish if this is the case. If so, hearing aids, cochlear implants and in some cases surgical procedures are treatment options. 

If a specific cause cannot be found then often patients are directed to things which may help them manage the symptoms day to day. Some people find that listening to white noise or neutral sounds can distract them from the tinnitus, this is called sound therapy. Some people find that counselling is helpful as it acts as a way for people to become educated about tinnitus and helps them with coping mechanisms to manage it.  Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is also used to aid people in changing the way they think about their tinnitus which in turn makes it less noticeable for them. Another interesting method of management is tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) which aims to retrain the way the brain responds to tinnitus so that a person can begin to tune out from it. 

To find out more about earwax removal, read our blog post ‘microsuction vs ear syringing’ or go to our webpage on earwax removal.