Tinnitus can be experienced in a different ways but it can usually be described as a ringing sound.  While it may feel like it sometimes, these sounds do not come from the outside world but actually inside the ear or head. Some people may hear different sounds like whistling, humming, buzzing or even tunes. It can come in many different forms, such as pulsatile tinnitus which beats in time with the body’s pulse.
 
Tinnitus is not a disease and not life-threatening, but can have an impact on quality of life in severe cases. In a study conducted in 1987 by the MRC Institute of Hearing Research in Nottingham (UK) found that:

10% of all adults surveyed have experienced Tinnitus for longer than five minutes.
7% of adults have seen a GP about their Tinnitus.
4% of adults experience tinnitus that irritates them moderately or severely.
1% of adults have tinnitus that severely affects their quality of life.
0.5% of adults have tinnitus that affects their ability to lead a normal life.

How tinnitus works

Views at present suggest that if there is no clear cause for a case of tinnitus, then it may be due to the workings of many of the body’s systems combining to produce a complex repetitive rhythm or sound which may be experienced in the ears or head.

Can tinnitus be cured?

When there is no underlying cause for someone to experience tinnitus, unfortunately there is no specific medication to prevent it. However our Advance Hearing Care professionals are able to offer expert guidance and help. While no single treatment works for everyone, it is possible to manage it properly. The Advance Group’s specialist Hearing Therapist can provide a tinnitus clinic to give people the information they need to understand the condition more clearly. Dealing with tinnitus in a positive way requires better understanding and using particular methods to cope with it, such as sound therapy, relaxation techniques, hearing aids and counselling.