Sound advice on tinnitus

IT’s a condition that affects a massive six million people in the UK, yet many who have tinnitus suffer in silence, unable to find the right treatment. Tinnitus involves hearing noises in the ears that come from inside the head, rather than an external source.

This ringing, buzzing or humming can be in one or both ears and can seriously damage quality of life. It can be hard to find an underlying cause, but the disorder is associated with hearing loss in 90 per cent of cases. And, according to the British Tinnitus Association, studies have ‘strongly suggested that for a significant number of people, hearing aids do reduce the effect of tinnitus.’ The ability of hearing aids to amplify sounds around them can make the noises associated with tinnitus less noticeable.

New digital hearing aids like those offered by Amplifon, a global hearing specialist, mean that the devices can be tailored to suit a person’s individual needs and bespoke tinnitus programmes can be provided.

These work by producing relaxing sounds that distract the wearer from the unwanted noises in their ears that can cause everything from sleep deprivation to depression.

Wireless streaming now means that patients can choose from a range of sounds they prefer at the press of a button, and sound pillows, which generate sound via a connected smartphone or MP3 player, can also help those experiencing tinnitus get a good night’s rest.

So seeking good advice from an audiologist through Amplifon, which has 200 hearing centres in the UK, could be the first step to finding a professionally tailored solution.