What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus affects between 15% to 20% of people, especially as they age. If you’ve ever experienced a ringing, buzzing, or roaring in your ears when there’s no external sound, you may be familiar with it. While it might start as a minor annoyance, tinnitus can gradually become more disruptive—affecting your focus, sleep, and ability to relax. For some, it can also lead to anxiety or a low mood.
Though the exact cause of tinnitus isn’t always clear, there are ways to manage it. In some cases, tinnitus can be accompanied by vertigo, making the world feel like it’s spinning, which only adds to the frustration. If you’re noticing these symptoms, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor. They can help identify the cause and recommend effective management strategies.
Managing Tinnitus
- Sound-Masking Devices: White noise machines or hearing aids can help mask the sound and make it less noticeable.
- Relaxation Techniques: Mindfulness, deep breathing, and other relaxation exercises can help reduce the impact of tinnitus.
- Medical Treatment: In some cases, medications or specific therapies may help manage symptoms.
If you’ve been hearing persistent noises in your ears, don’t ignore it. Reaching out for support can help you regain control and find relief.
13% of adults - around 7.1 million people - endure persistent tinnitus
Men and women are affected equally
Excessive noise exposure is the primary cause of tinnitus
Tinnitus is the most common service-related disability among veterans in the UK
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus, the sensation of hearing sounds when no external noise is present, can feel confusing and frustrating. It’s often linked to hearing loss, but even those with normal hearing can experience it. In quieter moments, the brain may amplify random signals, creating the sensation of hearing sounds that aren’t really there.
Common Causes of Tinnitus
- Hearing Loss: Often linked to damage to the tiny hair cells in your inner ear.
- Loud Noise Exposure: Prolonged exposure to loud environments can trigger or worsen tinnitus.
- Stress and Anxiety: High stress levels can amplify tinnitus and make it harder to cope.
- Ear Conditions: Ear infections, wax build-up, or conditions like Meniere’s disease can contribute to tinnitus.
- Certain Medications: Some medications, particularly in high doses, may induce or worsen tinnitus.
Understanding the root cause is key to finding relief. Identifying the underlying factors helps you and your healthcare provider determine the best treatment plan.
The symptoms and effects of tinnitus
Living with tinnitus can feel like having an unwelcome guest who never leaves. Whether it’s ringing, buzzing, or hissing, the constant noise can make everyday tasks more difficult. Concentrating at work, enjoying social situations, or even simply relaxing can become exhausting when your mind is always distracted by sounds that aren’t there.
Common Symptoms
- Constant or Intermittent Sounds: Ringing, buzzing, hissing, or roaring sounds in the ears.
- Difficulty Focusing: The noise can make concentration difficult, impacting work and other activities.
- Sleep Disruption: Tinnitus can make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep, leading to fatigue.
- Emotional Effects: Stress, frustration, anxiety, or irritability can arise from dealing with constant noise.
Impact on Daily Life
- Social Challenges: Following conversations, especially in noisy environments, can become harder, leading to withdrawal from social activities.
- Well-being: Tinnitus can affect your ability to unwind and get a good night’s sleep, leading to irritability and low mood. Stress and fatigue can also worsen the tinnitus, creating a difficult cycle.
Recognising these effects is the first step toward managing tinnitus. There are ways to regain control, so you don’t have to face it alone.
How can it be managed?
Managing tinnitus may feel overwhelming at first, but there are steps you can take to make it more manageable and bring some peace back into your life. Start by identifying any underlying causes—sometimes, it’s something as simple as a build-up of earwax or a medication that needs adjusting.
Effective Management Strategies
- Address Underlying Issues: Earwax removal or medication adjustments may alleviate symptoms.
- Sound Therapy: White noise machines, hearing aids, or other sound-masking devices can reduce the prominence of tinnitus.
- Therapies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), sound therapy, and solution-focused hypnotherapy can help change how you react to tinnitus and reduce its impact on your mental space.
- Lifestyle Changes: Reducing caffeine and alcohol, practising mindfulness, and incorporating stress-relief techniques into your routine can make a significant difference.
If your tinnitus is related to a head injury, affects only one ear, or sounds like a pulsing beat, consult your doctor, as these cases may require further investigation. Avoid unproven remedies and focus on a balanced plan that combines medical advice with supportive therapies and lifestyle adjustments. This approach can help you regain control and live a more comfortable life.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Solution-focused hypnotherapy is a gentle yet effective way to manage tinnitus by helping you shift your focus from the constant noise to a more peaceful state of mind. Rather than fixating on the frustration tinnitus can cause, hypnotherapy encourages you to visualise a future where the noise becomes less intrusive.
Benefits of Hypnotherapy
- Shift in Focus: Hypnotherapy helps you tune out the noise and reduces your awareness of tinnitus, much like background noise that fades into the distance.
- Emotional Support: It’s particularly effective for managing anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances that often accompany tinnitus.
- Personalised Approach: Each session is tailored to your personal goals, helping you feel more in control of your tinnitus, rather than letting it control you.
Long-Term Benefits
- Resilience: Hypnotherapy helps build emotional resilience, so you’re better equipped to handle the emotional and physical effects of tinnitus.
- Practical Tools: You’ll learn relaxation techniques and be provided with guided hypnosis audios to support ongoing progress.
Solution-focused hypnotherapy not only helps reduce the intensity of tinnitus but also promotes long-term emotional well-being, allowing you to enjoy a more balanced life even with tinnitus in the background.
Our Tinnitus Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Victoria Anderson
Sunderland
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
