Asking yourself, is tinnitus dangerous? Audiology Director Rob Ormerod highlights critical tinnitus warning signs that mean you should seek medical advice.
By Rob Ormerod,
Audiology Director
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound, such as ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking, when no external noise is present. It can vary in intensity and may occur in one or both ears. Though tinnitus is often described as a constant ringing, it can also manifest as a low rumble, clicks, or even more unusual sounds like musical tones.
While tinnitus is a symptom rather than a disease, it can be deeply disruptive to daily life. Understanding its causes and triggers is the first step in managing it effectively. There is no universally effective cure, but many people find relief through coping mechanisms and targeted management strategies, which can vary based on your individual needs.
What are the Symptoms of Tinnitus?
Tinnitus affects 1 in 7 people, but you don't have to suffer in silence. Imagine a constant high-pitched whine that disrupts your sleep, causes irritability, and amplifies stress and anxiety. It can sometimes sound like a low rumble, clicks, or even resemble morse code or children's laughter. Regardless of its form, tinnitus can be exhausting, and finding relief is often a long road.
Some common tinnitus symptoms include:
- Persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating due to the noise
- Increased anxiety or irritability from the constant sound
- A sense of fullness or pressure in the ear
If you experience these symptoms, it’s important to seek professional help. A free Tinnitus Health Check can help to diagnose and manage your symptoms effectively.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be triggered by many different factors, and it is often linked to an underlying condition. While high levels of noise from concerts or loud environments is a more well-known cause, tinnitus can affect anyone.
Here are some of the most frequent tinnitus causes:
- Anxiety and Depression: Psychological stress and certain mental health conditions can make tinnitus symptoms worse.
- Hearing Loss: Age-related hearing loss and damage from noise are leading tinnitus causes.
- Medical Conditions: Conditions like thyroid problems, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis can contribute to tinnitus.
- Ear Infections or Blockages: Earwax buildup or infections can also cause tinnitus.
- Medications: Certain medications, including antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause or worsen tinnitus.
Understanding the root cause of your tinnitus is essential in finding the right management. Our audiologists will work with you to identify the most likely causes and discuss your best management options.
How Long Does Tinnitus Last?
The duration of tinnitus varies from person to person. For some, it may last only a few weeks, while for others, it can persist for months or even years. It's crucial to determine whether you're experiencing tinnitus and understand its duration to manage it effectively.
Our Free Tinnitus Health Check helps assess whether you're experiencing tinnitus and outlines the next steps for managing your symptoms. The sooner you take action, the sooner you can find relief.
Tinnitus Management Options
The best tinnitus treatment programme is one that’s personalised to your situation. We offer a wide range of treatment options based on your unique needs, including:
- Identifying Underlying Causes: If your tinnitus is caused by ear infections, earwax buildup, or hearing loss, addressing the root cause can provide relief.
- Hearing Aids: If you suffer from any type of hearing loss, hearing aids can amplify external sounds and mask your tinnitus, making it less noticeable in daily life.
- Sound Therapy: We provide devices and techniques that create soothing background noise, helping to mask your tinnitus and reduce its intensity.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT is a psychological approach that helps manage the emotional and mental health impacts of tinnitus, including anxiety and stress.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Reducing stress through yoga, meditation, and relaxation techniques can help alleviate symptoms.
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT): TRT helps retrain the brain to ignore tinnitus sounds, reducing their impact over time.
- Lifestyle Advice: We’ll provide tips on improving your sleep hygiene, managing stress, and avoiding silence, which might be aggravating your tinnitus.
Can Hearing Aids Help with Tinnitus?
Yes, hearing aids can be a highly effective treatment for people who experience tinnitus alongside hearing loss. By making external sounds louder, hearing aids help mask the internal noise of tinnitus, making it less noticeable. Many people find powerful tinnitus relief with hearing aids, allowing them to regain control over their daily lives.
At Bayfields, we offer personalised hearing aid solutions designed to help manage tinnitus symptoms. Our team will work with you to find the perfect device to improve your symptoms while fitting into your daily life.
If you want to learn more, our in-depth guide to how hearing aids help with tinnitus is full of helpful tips and interesting statistics from our UK tinnitus survey.
How to Manage Tinnitus at Home
Professional management from a trained audiologist is always the best option if you are living with tinnitus. However, there are some useful self-help tips you can use to help alleviate your symptoms at home:
- Sound Therapy: Use background noise from a fan or white noise machine to mask your tinnitus.
- Avoid Silence: Keeping some sound in your environment helps to reduce focus on the tinnitus sound.
- Stress Management: Mindfulness, yoga, and relaxation techniques can help reduce the stress that makes tinnitus worse.
- Sleep Hygiene: A quiet and comfortable sleep environment is vital in improving the quality of your rest, which can often be disturbed by tinnitus.
- Dietary Changes: Reducing caffeine & alcohol intake can help some people manage their symptoms.
We also provide self-help guides and tips to help you cope with tinnitus on your own terms.
When Should I See a Tinnitus Specialist?
If your tinnitus symptoms are significantly affecting your day-to-day life, or if you notice any sudden changes (like hearing loss, dizziness, or pain) it's time to see a specialist. Our experienced team of Bayfields audiologists are always here to assess your symptoms and provide the very best in personalised care.
Book Your Free Tinnitus Health Check with Bayfields
We offer comprehensive tinnitus care, combining advanced audiological technology with a compassionate, understanding approach. We begin with a free 15-minute check to discuss your symptoms and determine the most appropriate next step. If further assessment is needed, you can then book a longer 45-minute consultation with one of our professional audiologists, who will take the time to understand your tinnitus and discuss tailored management options.
Whether you need a hearing test, sound therapy, or counselling, we're here to help you live more comfortably with tinnitus.
Why Choose Bayfields for Your Tinnitus Management?
We understand the challenges that come with tinnitus, and we’re dedicated to providing you with personalised care to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Here’s why Bayfields should be your choice for tinnitus management:
✔ Experience and Exceptional Service
We begin with a free 15-minute check to understand your concerns and determine the most appropriate next step. If a more in-depth assessment is needed, we offer 45-minute appointments as standard, giving our audiologists the time to understand your unique needs. Our team is rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot, and all audiologists are HCPC-registered, ensuring a high standard of care at every stage.
✔ Bayfields Connect Membership Plan
For just £12 a month, enjoy free eye exams, hearing support, and exclusive discounts. Bayfields Connect makes managing your health simple and affordable.
✔ 60-Day Money Back Guarantee
We want you to love your tinnitus management and hearing aids. With our 60-day money-back guarantee, you can buy with confidence, knowing we’ve got your back.
✔ Refer a Friend and Get Rewarded
Refer a friend and earn a £50 Amazon voucher. Your friend also gets a free eye exam or hearing check.
Wondering if earwax can cause tinnitus? Audiology Director Rob Ormerod explains how tinnitus caused by earwax happens when trapped wax presses directly against your eardrum.
Here's what our clients think of Hearing & Tinnitus Services at Bayfields
More on Tinnitus
“Don’t let anyone tell you there’s nothing you can do about tinnitus”
Laura James, 30, an audiologist from Leeds, shares her journey with severe hearing loss and tinnitus. Diagnosed at 16, Laura struggled with constant tinnitus but found relief through therapy, advanced hearing aids, and coping mechanisms. She emphasises managing stress and accepting tinnitus as key to improving life quality.
Hearing Aids for Tinnitus: How They Can Help
Discover how hearing aids can relieve tinnitus symptoms and improve your daily life, with personalised care from Bayfields.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tinnitus
Do hearing aids help with tinnitus?
Hearing aids can be highly effective in managing tinnitus, which is the sensation of ringing, buzzing, or whistling in the ears when no external sound is present.
For many people, especially those who also experience hearing loss, hearing aids improve overall hearing clarity and help the brain focus less on internal sounds. This can significantly reduce the impact of tinnitus and improve your quality of life.
Can Ear Plugs Help Tinnitus?
Ear plugs can help manage tinnitus in noise-triggering environments such as concerts, festivals, or construction sites. Custom-made or high-fidelity ear plugs protect your ears from loud noise, which can worsen tinnitus or cause further hearing damage.
However, overuse of ear plugs in quiet settings may actually make tinnitus seem louder. This happens because blocking external sounds can make internal noises more noticeable. Our audiologists can advise whether ear plugs are right for your specific tinnitus triggers.
What are the different types of Tinnitus?
There are three different of types of tinnitus - subjective, objective and pulsatile. The information below explains each type in more detail.
What Is Subjective Tinnitus?
Subjective tinnitus is the most common form and is heard only by the person experiencing it. It can sound like:
• Ringing
• Buzzing
• Humming
• Hissing
Subjective tinnitus is usually caused by hearing loss, loud noise exposure, or auditory nerve issues. It may also stem from how the brain processes sound. Hearing aids and sound therapy can offer effective relief.
What Is Objective Tinnitus?
Objective tinnitus is rare and can sometimes be heard by a clinician during an examination. It’s usually caused by a physical source, such as:
• Muscular movement
• Vascular issues
• Other internal bodily sounds
Treatment depends on identifying and managing the underlying medical condition. Our audiology team may refer you for further medical assessment if objective tinnitus is suspected.
What Is Pulsatile Tinnitus?
Pulsatile tinnitus is a rhythmic sound in the ears - often in sync with your heartbeat. It's typically caused by changes in blood flow near the ear and may indicate an underlying vascular or neurological condition.
If you notice a pulse-like sound in your ear, we recommend booking a Hearing Health Check with Bayfields Audiologists. We’ll assess your hearing and refer you for additional testing if needed.