Tinnitus

  • Tinnitus is a phantom noise without an external sound source. Nearly a million Canadians suffer from this discomfort. The noises can sound like they are either from within or outside the head. Tinnitus sounds can include ringing, roaring, buzzing, clicking, whooshing, whistling, humming, or other noises. You may hear the tinnitus all the time, or only in certain situations. Tinnitus can hurt a person’s quality of life. Patients may experience symptoms at different levels of severity. Common patient complaints include difficulty sleeping, struggling to understand other’s speech, depression, and problems focusing. These experiences can lead to problems with both work and family life.
  • What causes tinnitus?
  • Most tinnitus is considered ‘primary’ and occurs from damage to the microscopic endings of the hearing nerve in the inner ear. Researchers suspect that when specific tones are no longer transmitted to the brain, the brain attempts to compensate for the unavailable sound by creating them. Therefore, a sound often develops in the ear that is affected by hearing loss. The hearing loss can be from aging, genetics, trauma, or noise exposure. In certain cases, tinnitus may be secondary, where a cause is known. This includes impacted earwax, high or low blood pressure, vascular causes, a tumor, diabetes, thyroid problems, and medications (e.g. anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, sedatives, antidepressants).
  • Tinnitus Treatment
  • In most cases, there is no specific treatment. If your otolaryngologist finds a specific cause of your tinnitus, he or she may be able to eliminate the noise. However, most causes of tinnitus cannot be identified. The following is a list of DOs and DON’Ts that can help lessen the severity of tinnitus

  • • Avoid exposure to loud sounds and noises (wear hearing protection)
  • • Get your blood pressure checked
  • • Decrease your salt intake
  • • Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, pop - caffeine can may tinnitus worse
  • • Exercise daily
  • • Get adequate rest and try to avoid fatigue

  • Management of Tinnitus
  • Noise Suppression: Using a white noise machine is often effective for treating tinnitus, especially at night. Fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers and air conditioners in the bedroom can produce white noise and may help as well. You can also download applications on your phone that can produce sounds ranging from static to falling rain or ocean waves.
  • Hearing Aids: If you have hearing loss, you may benefit from hearing aids as it increases noise in the environment. There are also masking devices available that are like hearing aids, these devices produce a continuous white noise that can suppress tinnitus. However, a thorough trial before purchase of a hearing aid/masking device is advisable to see if this option is right for you.
  • Counseling: Behavioural treatment options aim to help you live with tinnitus by helping you change the way you think and feel about your symptoms. Over time, your tinnitus may bother you less. If you are interested in this option, speak with your otolaryngologist for more information on where you can obtain tinnitus retraining therapy.
  • Stress Management: Stress can make tinnitus worse. Stress management, whether through relaxation therapy, biofeedback or exercise, may provide some relief.
  • Alternative Medicine: There is little evidence that alternative medicine treatments work for tinnitus. However, some alternative therapies that have been tried include: acupuncture, ginkgo biloba, melatonin, zinc supplements

  • For further information, the American Tinnitus Association has some excellent resources: http://ww.ata.org