Is there a cure for tinnitus?
One of the most common problems that people speak to me about is tinnitus.
Tinnitus is also known as ‘ringing in the ears’. According to the Australian Tinnitus Association, more than 4 million people in Australia are affected by the condition.
The constant noise in the ear can make people irritable, frustrated, depressed and result in sleep problems, poor concentration and mood swings.
So what Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a symptom of other problems with your hearing system.
The 7 most common causes are:
- Exposure to loud noise (like machinery or music).
- Extreme stress or trauma is another common cause.
- Wax pressing against your eardrum can also cause ringing in the ears.
- Otosclerosis – which is where there’s an abnormal growth of bone on the middle ear.
- Meniere’s disease, which is a swelling of a duct in the ear. This is also a common problem.
- A tumour pressing onto the hearing nerve can also cause tinnitus.
- Finally, some prescription and non-prescription medications can affect your hearing and cause tinnitus.
Is there a cure?
Unfortunately, there’s no permanent cure.
If you have the problem, I always recommend that you visit your GP (or ENT), or a hearing care professional to check that there’s no underlying health condition for you to worry about. Although tinnitus can sometimes be very distressing, it’s usually not life-threatening.
You may not be able to get rid of the problem completely, but you can gradually reduce or eliminate the way tinnitus affects you, so that you hardly notice it.
Many people learn to manage it through doing things for themselves, such as self-awareness exercises and seeking counselling. However, it may take several months. This is quite normal, so don’t feel disheartened.
If you need help overcoming your tinnitus it’s a good idea to see a qualified hearing care professional who is specially trained to help.
So, if you have any questions about tinnitus treatment and would like some advice, get in touch.