Learn more about tinnitus and current therapies

Tinnitus is a hearing condition where people hear noises, hisses or hums that have no external source. It can be constant or occasional, loud or soft, mild or severe and can be heard in one or both ears or "in the head".

The impact of tinnitus can be devastating. In 2017, the International Tinnitus Journal reported that 45 per cent of tinnitus sufferers experience anxiety and 33 per cent have major depression.

Yet, despite its ubiquity, tinnitus is poorly understood and frequently underestimated as a cause of suffering and distress.

Chris has never know silence. As far back as he can remember his life has been governed by the incessant background sound of tinnitus.

"Its (tinnitus) intensity varied. I only noticed it when my day was quiet, when I stopped, or when someone mentioned it, and then it would take over my whole thoughts. I could not run from it. And even if I ran, exercise only replaced it with noisy breathing and a pounding pulse.

"Like many of my relatives, I started to lose hearing in one ear. The hearing in my other ear was normal. I was told it was nerve deafness and a hearing aid would not help. Later, I was offered a cochlear implant but I'd had so much surgery in other areas that I could not even bear the thought of having more.

"My hearing got worse. Suddenly, I realised I could no longer detect where a sound came from. I had lost directional hearing. 'I am here', they'd say. 'Thanks very much. Where's that?', I would reply.

"Then the vertigo attacks came.... Intermittently, then frequently until I had the trio of tinnitus, vertigo and deafness. I had to leave my job as I was getting an attack of vertigo every two days. I could not read for more than 60 minutes a day. It was torture.

"I sought help, as just being stoic was not enough. My doctors were kind but blunt. 'It's not a cancer, it's not a tumour, it's not Alzheimer's, although you're old enough for it.' Thank you', I said. But they said that they would do what they could for me. They could progressively use a series of treatments until I responded. After 18 months away from the surgery, the vertigo stopped. The medication and time finally helped.

"I've got my life back now. The tinnitus is still there and I'm still deaf in one ear but I know the benefit of distraction, of background noise and the use of mindfulness.

"I'm told that many people have tinnitus, and one of my colleagues did a study where he placed people in an ultra-quiet room and detected that 25 per cent of people will have tinnitus. For me, it was obvious since I was a child..."

Although often associated with an underlying condition such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system, there are many other factors that influence the occurrence and perception of tinnitus.

Stress, in particular, can be both a trigger and an intensifier of tinnitus and Tinnitus Australia has seen a huge increase in the demand for advice about tinnitus during the pandemic with the anxiety and disruption associated with lockdowns, increased isolation and lack of accessible support.

Australian health website Health Direct says other causes of tinnitus can be ear wax, exposure to loud noises, ear infections, tumours, head injuries, Ménière's disease and some medicines.

According to Tinnitus Australia it is not unusual for health care practitioners to tell people suffering with tinnitus that there is no cure or that they will have to learn to live with it.

Although research has not (yet) found a way to stop all forms of tinnitus from occurring, there are effective tinnitus therapies available that can provide significant benefit.

Reassuring people that tinnitus is common and referring them on for assessment can be a crucial first step in validating what can be a frightening and traumatic experience.

Tinnitus Australia is launching a campaign during Tinnitus Awareness Week (February 7-13, 2022) to raise awareness about tinnitus and advocate for all primary care practitioners to be proactive when tinnitus is reported.

www.tinnitusaustralia.org.au