30/05/2025
If you’ve ever experienced a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in your ears that no one else can hear, you might be familiar with tinnitus.
What Causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus isn’t a disease on its own—rather, it’s a symptom of an underlying condition. There are various factors that can contribute to tinnitus, including:
- Exposure to loud sounds: Tinnitus can result from extended exposure to loud noises, such as concerts, machinery, or loud music played through headphones. These events can harm tiny hair cells in the inner ear. This is among the condition’s most frequent causes.
- Age-Related Hearing Loss (Presbycusis): As we age, the hair cells in our inner ear naturally deteriorate, leading to hearing loss and potentially triggering tinnitus.
- Ear Infections or Blockages: Temporary tinnitus can be brought on by ear infections, earwax accumulation, or fluid in the ear, which can obstruct sound pathways or induce inflammation.
- Medical Conditions: Some medical conditions, such as Meniere’s disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid problems, can also contribute to tinnitus.
- Medications: Certain medications, particularly ototoxic drugs, can cause or worsen tinnitus.
Managing Tinnitus
While there is no definitive cure for tinnitus, several strategies can help reduce its impact and improve quality of life:
- Hearing Aids – If tinnitus is associated with hearing loss, hearing aids can amplify external sounds, making the ringing or buzzing less noticeable.
- Phonak Lyric™ is a state-of-the-art, 24/7 extended wear hearing device that has been proven to relieve tinnitus faster and by a greater degree than standard hearing aids.
- Sound Therapy – Background noise, white noise, or soft music can help mask tinnitus, especially in quiet environments.
- Stress Management – Techniques like mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation exercises can help lower stress levels, which may, in turn, reduce the intensity of tinnitus.
- Hearing Protection – Limiting exposure to loud sounds by using earplugs or noise-canceling headphones can help prevent tinnitus from worsening.
📞 Contact us at 1300 432 793 or info@audiohearing.com.au to book your tinnitus consultation.