Tinnitus is a common symptom of a problem anywhere in the auditory system or less commonly, the head, neck or jaw. Many people experience it, usually briefly, at some point in their lifetime. However, for others it can be more of a protracted issue, varying greatly in degree of disturbance.

Tinnitus can be described as conscious awareness of a sound in the absence of any external auditory stimulus. In other words, it is the perception of sound, when there is no sound - it is generated inside the head. Tinnitus can vary a lot in terms of the type of sound, severity and the degree to which it causes annoyance. It is commonly referred to as 'ringing in the ears,' however the sound itself can be anything; for example, whooshing, chirping, clicking, and can be intermittent, constant or even pulsating. The sound can change pitch or volume and there may be more than one sound present at a time.

While the perception of tinnitus is a relatively simple concept, its effects on one’s well-being can be quite varied and complex. For this reason, your Hello Hearing Audiologist will be interested to discuss not only the tinnitus sound, but how bothersome or annoying the sound is to you.

Key points:

• Tinnitus is the perception of sound when there is no sound, generated inside the head.
• Tinnitus is very common, with up to 10-15% of the population having had tinnitus that is intrusive or longer lasting; of these, around 10% seek medical attention.
• Tinnitus can become problematic when the brain perceives it as a threat to one’s well-being and triggers an automatic stress response.
• There are generally no ‘quick fix’ treatments for tinnitus, however, a number of strategies can be effective in breaking down the vicious cycle sometimes caused by tinnitus and supporting the brain to habituate to it.

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