Do You Have Tinnitus?

Many people complain of hearing noises that don’t appear to be caused by an external source. But although these sounds are similar to tinnitus, they are not necessarily caused by the condition. Transient, internally-generated noises can be the result of injury, exposure to loud noises and infection whereas tinnitus is something different.

So what is tinnitus? Essentially, tinnitus is a chronic medical condition characterized by incessant ringing, whistling, scraping or rasping noises that are not caused by an external source. Unlike transient ringing in the ears, tinnitus continues for prolonged periods of time and can affect sleep, relationships and ability to perform at work.

Do you have tinnitus?

To decide whether you have tinnitus, it’s worth asking yourself a series of questions. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, then you may be suffering from the condition.

• Do unexplained noises in the ear prevent you from relaxing? Tinnitus can make you feel uneasy, even distressed. The sound can continue incessantly, causing you to worry that it might not end. Worse still, it can interrupt your regular relaxation routine, whether that’s slumping in front of the TV, having a bath, or hanging out with friends.
• Do unexplained noises affect your sleep? People who suffer from tinnitus often find it hard to drift off, leading to insomnia.
• Does tinnitus prevent you from living life to the full? People with tinnitus often want to engage in life-affirming activities, but feel that they can’t because of constant sound in their ears. The noise prevents a person from doing all the things that they would like to do with their life, leading them to feel as if they are missing out.  
• Has tinnitus affected your enjoyment of more than half of your waking hours in the last week? Answering “yes” to this question may indicate that tinnitus is taking a severe toll on your life and that it is not just a temporary issue.
• Does ringing in your ears make you irritable? Not only is it distressing to have constant, unexplained noises in your ears, but it is frustrating too. These sounds can interfere with your regular activities, making you feel irritated.

What should you do if you answered “yes” to any of the above?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then it’s a good idea to see a hearing health professional. Hearing specialists can help you identify the source of your tinnitus (if there is one) and offer strategies to help manage and treat the condition.

Often, tinnitus is the result of hearing loss. The brain creates its own sound to make up for the deficit coming in through the ears. Fitting hearing aids is a great way to reduce symptoms of tinnitus because they can help stimulate the auditory cortex again – the part of the brain responsible for processing sounds.

Finally, even if you answered “no” to all the above questions, it’s still a good idea to get your hearing tested. A hearing test can spot any problems early, improving long-term prospects.