Tinnitus: Symptoms and Treatment

02.07.2024

Created by Professor Rahul Kangaonkar, ENT Surgeon

What causes tinnitus?

We don’t have all the answers yet when it comes to tinnitus. Someone who is healthy and has normal hearing, is able to effectively filter out background static noise generated by the inner ear and hearing nerve.

If you suffer from hearing loss or there has been a recent change to your hearing, some of that background static would become noticeable at a conscious level.

What are the common symptoms of tinnitus?

The symptoms of tinnitus can vary from person to person, but is most commonly described as a:

  • ringing in the ears
  • buzzing sound in ears
  • hissing sound in the ears
  • high pitched squeal

Pulsatile tinnitus can be described as a:

  • rhythmic thumping
  • whooshing
  • throbbing in one or both ears

The vast majority of people who develop tinnitus find it is more noticeable late at night when it is very quiet. It can also become more noticeable when stressed or anxious.

How is tinnitus diagnosed?

Tinnitus can be diagnosed by an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist by conducting a thorough health history and hearing assessments such as an audiogram and/or tympanometry. These assessments will give a detailed understanding of the quality of hearing and ear health.

There are occasions where tinnitus is caused by an underlying health condition of a more sinister nature. If this is suspected, an MRI scan may be appropriate to exclude this concern, such as a benign swelling that presses on the hearing nerve, causing hearing loss.

Possible tinnitus treatments

There are a range of methods that can help you manage your tinnitus symptoms, including:

  • Education to understand why you may develop your particular symptoms and how to deal with them
  • Hearing aids for tinnitus – some people may benefit from wearing hearing aids as the additional environmental sound can suppress the tinnitus
  • Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy which can help you to effectively manage your tinnitus symptoms

If you are struggling to manage your tinnitus symptoms and want to book an appointment with Professor Rahul Kanegaonkar, please call our team on 01689 490 111.

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