Tinnitus -ringing in the ears

It can happen anywhere and at any time - while talking on the phone, during a presentation at work, or even when you’re simply sitting in silence. You hear a noise that no one else seems to hear and that doesn’t seem to have a source. While others may not experience the exact sound, you’re not alone. You may have tinnitus - one of the most common health conditions that affects between 10 and 15% of the global population on a regular basis.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus has been described as ringing, buzzing, clicking or hissing, among others, in your ears that only you experience. The type and intensity of noise varies from person to person and you may even experience it in different ways. It can be a high-pitched, deep, low-pitched, or even a tone that changes.

Whether the sound is mild or severe, occasional or constant, tinnitus can keep you from concentrating and hearing what you want to hear.

Causes of tinnitus

Tinnitus can develop in people of all ages and backgrounds, but people who are older or who've had a lot of exposure to noise are especially at risk.

Possible causes of tinnitus include:

Exposure to loud music, construction noise, or gunshot sounds
Side effects of medication
Injury to the ears, neck or head
Aging
Neurological disorders
Degeneration of bones in the middle ear

Tinnitus and hearing loss

If you have tinnitus, you probably also have some degree of hearing loss; 80-85% of people with tinnitus do.

In fact, hearing loss may affect the signals sent from the ear to the brain. Those signals are then bounced back as the sound known as tinnitus. While tinnitus doesn’t cause hearing loss, the perceived sound can be distracting and make it hard to concentrate on other sounds. That’s why hearing aids can be an effective way to treat tinnitus as well as hearing loss.

Tinnitus can present itself in many ways.

Do you think you might have hearing loss?

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Tinnitus treatment

Tinnitus can be frustrating and take attention away from your family, friends, and the requirements of your daily life. There's no cure for most types of tinnitus, but there are tinnitus management options that can give you relief.

Sound therapy involves introducing sound to teach the brain to classify tinnitus as a background noise.

Tinnitus app: ReSound Relief™

We understand that tinnitus is individual. That's why we’ve created a solution you can personalise. ReSound Relief™ is a free tinnitus app that provides sound therapy (‘soundscapes’), relaxing exercises and soothing meditation clips, to ease tinnitus whenever you want and wherever you are. It can be used by anyone suffering from tinnitus, and you don’t have to be a hearing aid user.

The app provides a wide range of sounds that you can ‘mix and match’ and control the volume for. Playing up to five sounds simultaneously means you can create the perfect of background ‘scene’ to relieve your tinnitus.

Hear how soundscapes work by clicking on the buttons below. First, click on the tinnitus description to hear the example tinnitus sound. Then select the recommended soundscape to hear the tinnitus disappear into the background. Get more information about the app and check your smartphone’s compatibility on our tinnitus relief app page.

Tinnitus 1

Play

00:02 / 00:17

Without Soundscape: Cicadas

Tinnitus 2

Play

00:02 / 00:17

Without Soundscape: Heavy Rain

You can download ReSound Relief™ for free from the Apple App Store or
get it on Google Play and be on your way to a more comfortable life with tinnitus.

Get relief

Think of a candle in a dark room. Since there’s such a contrast between the candle and its dark environment, the candle really stands out. But the same candle in a well-lit, busy room blends into the background. The same is true for tinnitus. The introduction of other sounds masks the tinnitus so that it blends with the background and is less prominent.

Get relief from your tinnitus with the ReSound Relief app. A combination of sound therapy and relaxing exercises help you focus on the sounds that matter.

Tinnitus Relief

Tinnitus management programme

Another option is a tinnitus management programme, which aims to teach the brain to be less distracted by tinnitus sounds while learning to focus on other more important things in life.

Tinnitus can’t be completely eliminated and there are no fast fixes. But with help from your hearing care professional, you can set the right goals and learn to manage your tinnitus. It takes commitment and time, but managing your tinnitus can help you be more comfortable.

Your treatment is just as individual as your tinnitus. Which option is best for you?

Find a UK Audiologist

Take the first step in managing your tinnitus by visiting your local hearing care professional.