Tinnitus

Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom resulting from a range of underlying causes. When you suffer from tinnitus, you perceive certain sounds that are generated by the nervous system of the ear and brain. The cause of tinnitus is not fully known and at present no medical treatment exists that can cure it. The sounds are often characterised as hissing, ringing, buzzing, humming or the like.

A large variety of methods exist to deal with tinnitus, the most common being the use of hearing aids or various sound generators, various types of psychological approaches, therapies etc. Widex offers hearing aids with a Zen system which can aid in the management of tinnitus.
 

Tinnitus and stress

Suffering from tinnitus can be stressful and this in turn can make it worse. So stress reduction is a vital element in effective tinnitus management.
Many people use music for relaxation and stress relief without ever thinking about it. In fact, music has a great influence on our body and psyche. Whether a certain piece of music is stressful or relaxing depends on a range of factors; for example, loudness and volume and sudden changes in pitch or tempo, and personal preferences and tastes.

Advice for dealing with tinnitus

The following advice can help you deal with tinnitus and its effects:

• Make use of sound. The amplified sound from your hearing aid for example, is often enough to make tinnitus less irritating.

• Avoid silence. For example, turn on the radio on when you’re home alone or listen to some music.

• Try to avoid the excessive use of alcohol, nicotine, caffeine and some types of painkillers.

• Be aware of food containing a lot of salt; it can worsen the effects of tinnitus.
• Try to be physically active or allow yourself some breaks during the day to reduce stress.

See Dr Sweetow explain how to deal with tinnitus

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