Search
Search

Tinnitus

Tinnitus (“Ringing ears”)

Tinnitus, or the hallucination of sounds, is generally described as ringing, buzzing or hissing sounds in the ears. It can be temporary (acute) or permanent (chronic) and can also be constant or intermittent. It is a common condition and about 1 in 8 adults experience tinnitus severe enough to seek medical attention. The prevalence increases with age and affect men more than women.

Types of Tinnitus

Subjective tinnitus: The most common form of tinnitus. It is the perception of sound that is only heard by the affected individual. This is normally caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises.

Objective tinnitus: A very rare form of tinnitus where the sound can be heard by the affected individual as well as the doctor.

Somatic tinnitus: A form of tinnitus that is linked to the sensory system. It is caused or influenced by certain body movement or touch, usually of the head and/or neck area.

Neurological tinnitus: Usually caused by another medical disorder such as Meniere’s disease that affects the auditory functions within the brain.

Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus can develop gradually over time or occur suddenly. Rather than a condition, it can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying problem.

  • Hearing loss
  • Loud noise exposure
  • Excessive ear wax
  • Certain medication
  • Jaw joint dysfunction (TMJ)
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Acoustic neuroma, which is a (generally benign) tumor that grows on the nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain.
  • Stress and anxiety

Treatment of Tinnitus

If the underlying cause of tinnitus can be found, effective treatment such as removing a build-up of ear wax can typically return hearing to normal and any temporary tinnitus goes away too.

Our comprehensive approach to tinnitus care involves a combination of diagnostic tests, counselling and medication as deemed appropriate by our specialist doctors and hearing health team.

For patients with persistent tinnitus, rather than just telling them to “just live with it”, we offer the Widex Zen Tinnitus Therapy to help manage their tinnitus condition and find relief. This sound therapy uses fractal tones which are customized to include broadband noise that suit each patient’s preferences and needs. The goal of Widex Zen Therapy is to help patients manage the associated tinnitus distress, and to facilitate better sleep.

Widex Zen Therapy

Widex Zen Therapy
The Widex Zen Therapy is a FDA approved sound therapy tool that uses patented fractal technology. It is based on a mathematical system that allows chime-like tones to be played at random intervals. These chime-like tones are created from relaxation points of music and helps to relief stress and anxiety more effectively than broadband noise generators.

The effect of using Zen can be immediate but for most it will take some time. With stress named as one of the most common factors involved in tinnitus, relaxation and stress reduction are vital elements in effective tinnitus management.

Find out more about tinnitus in the Ask Our Doctors section.

whatsapp icon