Is Tinnitus an alarm bell?

Tinnitus is a ringing or buzzing in one or both ears and although many people have experienced this after being in a noisy environment or whilst suffering from a head cold, it is thankfully, only a brief intrusion to their hearing.

If it develops into constant tinnitus, this should not be ignored. In these cases, further advice, diagnosis and possible treatment should be sought, as it can be a symptom of other problems and an early warning of more serious underlying hearing loss. It is estimated that over seven million people in the UK are affected by tinnitus, yet only three million people have consulted their GP or a hearing professional with the condition. Many people choose to do nothing and simply resign themselves to live with the problem.

We now know that tinnitus is not a single problem, but can be a common symptom of underlying causes. This can be anything from noise-induced hearing loss from exposure to loud environments; a side effect of certain drugs and medicines; or in some extreme cases, more serious medical conditions.

In many cases, hearing aids have been shown to be helpful in coping with tinnitus. Tinnitus can be commonplace in those who are diagnosed as having a hearing dysfunction, possibly due to the damage to the hearing system, which is associated with its onset. For those people, a hearing aid may not only help to make external sounds more audible but may, in several cases, reduce the level of the tinnitus.