What do you know about tinnitus?
Often referred to as ‘ringing in the ears’, tinnitus can be many different types of sound such as hissing, buzzing or whistling. What these sounds all have in common is that they are only audible to the person who is suffering from tinnitus. This is because tinnitus is a symptom of damage or dysfunction inside the hearing system. There are many possible causes, one of which is exposure to loud noise. More than 80% of people with tinnitus also experience some degree of hearing loss. By treating the hearing loss with hearing aids you can minimize the symptoms of the tinnitus. Experts don’t know exactly what causes us to hear sound that isn’t there but many suspect that it happens when the auditory system reacts to damage by trying to compensate for missing signals. Sometimes people who experience tinnitus don’t have any hearing loss and so there may be other causes. This could include:
Lack of quality sleep – If you don’t get enough sleep, your blood circulation can be reduced, which affects both hearing loss and tinnitus. In addition, using an extra pillow to keep your head raised can reduce congestion, which can also aid your tinnitus. Stimulants – Alcohol, cigarettes, coffee, and artificial sweeteners (aspertane) may contribute to hearing loss and tinnitus.
Stress - Sudden, or prolonged periods of stress have been shown to cause hearing loss and tinnitus. Although there is no cure for tinnitus, it pays to be aware of these factors and try to notice if they affect your symptoms. How you feel about your tinnitus may also have an impact on how much it affects your life. Initially, it may be annoying and cause stress and sleepless nights but many people find that they get used to the noises in their head and so don't notice it so much.
If you have any questions about tinnitus or hearing loss please phone me on 0787 218 3742 or email ears11@sky.com
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