What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a condition which causes the sufferer to hear a noise in their ears which does not come from an external source. The noise often resembles ringing or whooshing and can vary in pitch, however other sufferers have described hearing a droning sound or even gun fire and singing. It can occur in either ear or as a ringing in your head and can be temporary or permanent. There is currently no cure for the condition, which means that people who are permanently affected by it are unable to hear silence. Tinnitus can have a negative effect on your quality of life, while affecting your professional capacity, mental health and sociability.
How can you get tinnitus?
Although there are many different causes of tinnitus such as old age, an underlying condition or an ear infection, young people are most at risk of developing the condition as a result of over exposure to loud noise.
Exposure to loud noise can be as a result of going out to bars, nightclubs or listening to music through headphones. Exposure to loud noise can also cause other hearing related conditions such as hearing loss and hyperacusis. For more information on sound levels and how to protect your hearing check out our Protect Them Ears section or click here.
Living with Tinnitus.
Although there is not a specific cure for tinnitus there are many coping strategies and support available to minimise the effect that it can have on your day-to-day life. For more information and support please check out our very good friends at the British Tinnitus Association. www.tinnitus.org.uk