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Tinnitus Week 2022
7th – 13th February is Tinnitus Week, a week used to raise awareness about tinnitus, what it is and what causes it. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for tinnitus, meaning sufferers must use different strategies to help manage the condition.
In this blog, we answer some frequently asked questions about tinnitus.
What is Tinnitus?
“Tinnitus is the perception of noises in the head and/or ear which have no external source.” Often described as ringing, buzzing, and humming, tinnitus comes in various forms and can be constant or intermittent and vary in volume.
What Causes Tinnitus?
It is difficult to say exactly what causes tinnitus, but it is believed to be caused by some sort of change either mental or physical and not necessarily ear related. Potential causes of tinnitus include hearing loss due to age, exposure to loud noises, stress and anxiety, ear infections and wax build up.
Why Do I Hear Noises in my Head?
Although it is thought tinnitus is an ear problem it is generated by the brain. The perception of tinnitus will vary for each individual with soe experiencing noise in one ear, both ears or the middle of the head.
What Do I Do If I Have Tinnitus?
If you have a continuous buzzing or ringing in your ears or it has been ongoing for a long period of time you should consult your GP. The GP will assess your ears for signs of infection or build-up of ear wax before referring you to a specialist if these investigations have no results.
How Can I Treat Tinnitus?
Although there is no cure or tinnitus, there are several strategies you can use to help manage the condition.
- Find out more about the condition
- CBT can be helpful
- Correcting hearing loss with hearing aids
- Sound therapy such as environmental or natura sounds playing in the background
- Relaxing
For more information about tinnitus, or any other ear health queries, contact us today.