What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound within the ear without the presence of the sound in the environment. It can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head. It can be continuous or intermittent and the loudness may vary from one person to another. It is usually described as a ringing sound but to some patients it may be perceived as hissing, humming or even roaring sound.

Approximately one in five adults may experience tinnitus from time to time. For those severe cases where tinnitus can affect their lifestyle e.g. affect sleeping pattern or work ability, it is a sign that they need to seek professional medical advice from ENT Consultant or Audiologist.

Here at The Hearing Specialist Clinic, you will have access to both ENT and Audiological Services for tinnitus management.

What are the Causes?
There are many, ranging from loud noise exposure, diseases or be a symptom of other health related problems. The common cause is noise-induced hearing loss but very often, the cause is unknown.

What type of Tinnitus treatment can I seek?

• Patients with tinnitus AND hearing loss
  Patients with tinnitus and hearing loss will benefit significantly from the use of hearing aid amplification. Not only does the hearing ability improved, the amplified environment sounds will also help to mask off the tinnitus sound.

  Some advanced digital hearing aids are equipped with hearing aid function and noise generator features. Such devices can be programmed to function both as a hearing aid and a noise generator. When programmed as a noise generator, it can generate white noise signal or narrow band noise signal to help in masking off the tinnitus. This unique two-in-one feature will help address both issues; hearing loss & tinnitus throughout day and night as they can be turned on independently or together.

• Patients with tinnitus only
  A masker or noise generator could be the solution for this group of patients who only need to address tinnitus issue. A masker is a device that generates noise to mask out the tinnitus sound in the ear.

  Counselling done by an ENT or audiologist is strongly recommended to complete tinnitus management for both patients’ categories.

  In addition to the above, it is also important to learn to relax. Relaxing improves your ability to deal with the tinnitus sound and also lower your stress level. Some new digital hearing aids are now equipped with relaxing music function that can generate a continuous music tone to help in relaxation.

  Talk to our experienced audiologist to get the best advice to overcome your tinnitus problem.