Tinnitus — hearing a sound such as ringing, buzzing or whooshing that is not coming from outside — is remarkably common, and for most people it is a nuisance rather than a danger. The two questions people most want answered are what is causing it and whether anything can be done. There is no single magic cure, but the honest, encouraging answer is that a great deal helps, and most people find their tinnitus becomes far less intrusive over time.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the experience of hearing a sound — ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming or whooshing — without an external source. It can be constant or come and go, affect one ear or both, and vary from barely noticeable to genuinely intrusive. It is very common, especially as we get older, and it is a symptom rather than a disease in itself.
What causes it?
Tinnitus has several common causes, and often more than one plays a part:
- Hearing loss — age-related or noise-induced — is the most common association
- Exposure to loud noise, from concerts and power tools to loud music through headphones
- A build-up of ear wax blocking the ear canal
- Ear infections or other middle-ear problems
- Stress and tiredness, which do not cause tinnitus but reliably make it more noticeable
Very often, tinnitus and hearing loss go hand in hand — which is why a good assessment starts by checking both your hearing and the health of your ears.
Is tinnitus dangerous?
For the vast majority of people, no. It is a symptom, not a disease, and while it can be distracting or distressing, it is usually harmless in itself. A few particular patterns, though, are worth getting checked promptly.
When to seek prompt advice
Please see your GP or seek prompt advice if your tinnitus:
- Is only in one ear
- Pulses in time with your heartbeat (pulsatile tinnitus)
- Comes on suddenly
- Comes with sudden hearing loss, dizziness, or facial or neurological symptoms
These are less common patterns that deserve a closer look, sooner rather than later.
What genuinely helps
There is no single cure, but there is a lot that helps — and most people’s tinnitus becomes much easier to live with:
- Treating the cause — for example, removing a build-up of ear wax can settle it
- Hearing aids — where there is hearing loss, these are often remarkably effective (and nothing like the ones you may remember), because bringing back everyday sound makes tinnitus far less noticeable
- Sound therapy — gentle background sound that takes the focus off the tinnitus
- Relaxation, sleep and stress management — since stress makes tinnitus louder, managing it makes a real difference
- Talking therapies such as CBT, which help with the distress tinnitus can cause
How we help at STOTTS.
We start with a full hearing assessment (here is exactly what that involves) and a look inside your ears, identify anything treatable such as wax, and talk through what would help — including hearing aids with tinnitus features where appropriate. It is calm, unhurried and pressure-free: our job is to help you understand your tinnitus and quiet it down, not to sell you something.
Tinnitus rarely has a single switch-off cure — but it is very manageable. For most people, understanding it, treating any cause, and the right support make it fade into the background.← Back to the Journal
