Tinnitus Management

TINNITUS MANAGEMENT

Tinnitus is the term used for the noises that people can hear in their ear/s or within their head that are generated within the body and not by any external source. It may be present all of the time, or just in certain situations. It is not a disease or a disorder, but rather a condition that can be triggered by a number of different causes.

Tinnitus management/therapy has been around for 20 years or more.

It uses a very similar approach to chronic pain management, as both use the same information pathways in the brain.

What are the causes or triggers of tinnitus?

Tinnitus can fluctuate, often the more stressed the louder the tinnitus, or the quieter the environment the louder the tinnitus. For some people certain noises or situations, even foods can increase the tinnitus.

Others notice that their tinnitus fluctuates with their health so that if their health is worse the tinnitus is often louder. This may be due to not feeling well and having less ability to cope with the tinnitus. Or as with a cold because your head is blocked, so you hear internal sounds louder. Or it may be somatosensory too, that means that the tinnitus can be affected by movements of the head and neck, this can be related to arthritis in the head and neck or it can be caused by jaw problems too.

Below are some common triggers or causes of tinnitus:

Noise exposure
Ear infections
Circulation problems

Some ear diseases
Head or neck injuries
Stress

Side effects of certain medicines

Below are some common triggers or causes of tinnitus:

Noise exposure
Ear infections
Circulation problems

Some ear diseases
Head or neck injuries
Stress

Side effects of certain medicines

Understanding Tinnitus

Chances are you or someone you know experiences tinnitus—a persistent ringing, buzzing, or whistling sound heard in the ears or head, with no external source. While it may seem like a problem with the ears, tinnitus often originates elsewhere in the auditory system, with the ear being just one possible contributing factor.

In this video, Prince Punnoose, Owner and Chief Clinical Audiologist at Gatwick Audiology, explains the causes, impact, and management options for tinnitus.

If you’re struggling with tinnitus or simply want to understand it better, we’re here to help.
Call us on 0333 011 7717 or email hello@gatwickaudiology.co.uk to book a consultation or speak with a member of our friendly team.
Take the first step toward managing your tinnitus today.

Tinnitus Counselling

We have helped many patients to manage their tinnitus much better with a combination of counselling, reassurance and appropriate treatment approach. Some patients will need further onwards referral on to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to manage their anxiety and depression.

Combination Hearing Aids

Gatwick Audiology fit combination devices if these were identified as the best treatment approach. These are White noise generators within a hearing aid. These are fitted when people find that their tinnitus is still very intrusive even when they are wearing a hearing aid.

Tinnitus Treatment - Lenire

Lenire is a treatment device proven in large-scale clinical trials to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus. Use it from the comfort of home to manage your tinnitus with the help of a qualified healthcare professional. Soothing sounds and gentle electrical stimulation retrain your brain to pay less attention to your tinnitus. It uses bimodal neuromodulation to reduce the severity of tinnitus symptoms.

It uses a very similar approach to chronic pain management, as both use the same information pathways in the brain.

Headphones

Bluetooth headphones, which are provided, deliver customised sounds to activate the auditory nerve to the brain.

Tonguetip

The Tonguetip, specifically designed to treat tinnitus, sits comfortably in the closed mouth. Tiny electrodes on the Tonguetip deliver mild and safe energy pulses to the surface of the tip of the tongue.

Controller

A lightweight handheld device that controls the timing and intensity of the treatment. You can start, pause and resume the treatment session, adjust the volume of the sound, and adjust the level of the tongue stimulation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Tinnitus is more common in people with hearing loss; however, you can have normal hearing and still have tinnitus. Many people experience temporary tinnitus following exposure to loud noise, for example at a music/rock concert, fireworks or when working with loud machinery. It can fluctuate, often the more stressed the louder the tinnitus, or the quieter the environment the louder the tinnitus. For some people certain noises or situations, even foods can increase the tinnitus. Ear-related triggers can include but are not limited to, hearing loss or changes in hearing, infections of the ear, wax blockages in the ear, barotrauma, or excessive noise exposure. Whilst non-ear related triggers such as whiplash injuries, muscle tension, jaw pain and stress can also contribute to tinnitus development.

Currently, there is no known cure for tinnitus, but there are effective management strategies that can help reduce the impact of the condition on your daily life.

There is no set duration for tinnitus and as a result it can last for a variable period as it may depend on the underlying condition that is contributing to the tinnitus. For some, it may be a temporary condition, while for others, it can be a chronic, lifelong issue. The key is to seek professional help and explore management strategies to improve your quality of life.

There is no one tinnitus sound. Tinnitus can sound different to different individuals, a few common descriptions of how tinnitus can sound include but are not limited to; ringing, buzzing, whistling, humming, whooshing, beating, ticking or hissing. Some people also have a mixture of various sounds.

Tinnitus can affect sleep as the awareness of the sound might be intrusive and cause increased periods of wakefulness preventing sleep. Which in turn can lead to feeling anxious and frustrated. Treatments are available to help manage tinnitus and aid relaxation which include aiding relaxation despite suffering with tinnitus.

Tinnitus does not cause hearing loss but it can interfere with your hearing.

Yes, depending on your individual needs and circumstances. It’s advisable to book a Tinnitus Assessment in the first instance to understand your exact needs and severity of tinnitus to understand the type of therapy which will support you. Hearing aids may provide relief from tinnitus as they work to amplify sounds which may provide a distraction and make the tinnitus less noticeable.

There are a number of different options available to suit individual needs and requirements but sadly, we’re yet to find a cure for tinnitus.

It can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Common side effects include anxiety stress, difficulty concentrating and sleep disturbances

There is no set time period, it can vary greatly. For some it might be a temporary condition, while for others, it can be a chronic, lifelong issue. The key is not to suffer in silence, seek support as soon as possible to explore the right management strategies to suit you and improve your quality of life.