We get confronted with tinnitus patients on a daily basis and wanted to point out a few things about this condition. Tinnitus is the conscious awareness of a sound sensation in either a person’s head or ear/s in the absence of an external sound source. Tinnitus is not limited to ringing in the ears. Some people it as a buzzing sound, a hiss, or even a repetitive musical tone. Tinnitus may be constant or sporadic and the pitch and intensity may vary.
Why does one have tinnitus?
Tinnitus occurs in 15 to 35% of people with normal hearing and presents in approximately 50 to 60% of individuals with hearing losses. Different types of hearing losses are more typically associated with tinnitus. Age-related hearing loss and hearing losses caused by significant noise exposure are the commons ones. Tinnitus can be experienced by both adults and children. While many people experience tinnitus, only a few of these people will find it very annoying or unbearable.
The mechanism underlying tinnitus is a complex one. Tinnitus originates from damage occurring to the primary organ of hearing and asynchronous activity at the auditory nerve. This asynchronous nerve activity is experienced as tinnitus and often occurs at a pitch corresponding to the region responsible for interpreting that specific pitch in the cochlea, which has been damaged.
Can tinnitus be cured?
Although the sound of tinnitus may not always be eliminated, it need not be as annoying to the person, and its impact on a person’s quality of life can be minimised or managed.
Which professionals should be consulted?
Should you be experiencing tinnitus, it is recommended that you consult an audiologist, such as us at Strauss Audiology so that we can do a hearing evaluation. Thereafter, consultation with an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist is highly recommended if we think it is necessary.
We at Strauss Audiology are involved in the hearing conservation or the prevention of hearing loss, through auditory training, counselling, guidance and the provision and fitting of hearing protective devices such as noise plugs. We are here to better your hearing health and in essence your quality of life.
About Strauss Audiology
Strauss Audiology is a professional audiology business in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, offering expert, effective hearing advice that is tailored to clients’ unique hearing needs. We conduct hearing evaluations, hearing tests and vertigo assessments, and provide a range of solutions to improve and protect clients’ hearing. This includes providing hearing aids to Cape Town clients. With 16 years of experience, and with the qualifications and certifications to deliver leading hearing care, you can trust us to take care of your hearing needs.
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