Introduction
Many Australians experience troublesome tinnitus - in fact this has been estimated to impact 8% of the adult
population (1.5 million people). Tinnitus experiences can include hissing, sizzling and ringing, but can also be experienced as grinding or
machine like sounds. In some cases the sound can be a pulsation, at times in time with the pulse. The sound
can be just in one ear, or in both, and several different sounds may be heard together.
For many people these sounds are just a background experience, and not bothersome, but for some tinnitus
can become very burdensome indeed. In such cases there can be problems with sleep, and with concentration,
and in such instances therapy and support is urgently indicated.
In some cases there is an obvious cause for the tinnitus, such as a noise induced hearing loss, medication,
or ear disease. In other cases however there is no obvious cause, and the tinnitus can develop insidiously
without clear reason. If a person is concerned about the cause of their tinnitus, then a consultation with
an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist is advisable.
Duration of tinnitus
Many people experience temporary tinnitus, usually lasting seconds, several minutes or sometimes lasting a
few hours, after hearing loud noise such as a pop concert, gun shots or in association with a particular
medical treatment or condition.
This temporary tinnitus, although annoying at the time, does not cause the same distress that is associated
with continuous, loud and long lasting tinnitus.
The long lasting or permanent tinnitus can continue for months, years, or a life time. Sometimes it is absent
for short periods of time and is then referred to as intermittent tinnitus.
The cause of tinnitus
Many conditions are either suspected or known to cause tinnitus or make it worse. Among these are:
Noise - long sudden noises such as an explosion, enduring noises with lower volume such as factory noises, or very loud music for extended periods.
Medicines - anticancer drugs, antibiotics, antidepressants, antihypertensives, antihistamines, diuretics, anticonvulsants, and ear drops.
Other - head injuries, some viral infections, ear infections, ageing, stress, or any type of hearing loss.
Coping with tinnitus
The early days of coping with troublesome tinnitus can be very stormy, with disruption to quality of life.
Over time however many people find that they experience recovery, and are able to deal with the tinnitus,
leading a happy and fulfilling life. Others though require support and tinnitus therapy to make this journey.
Self help is the first stage. Getting good, clear and trustworthy information about tinnitus is essential:
see the links below. For many, an important step is having treatable or serious disease excluded, and an
interested and well-informed ENT opinion can be useful in this regard. Using sound at quiet levels in the
bedroom, or when one needs to concentrate, can reduce the starkness of tinnitus. The use of relaxation
techniques can break an association between the tinnitus and tension, which for many is an important step
forward. Support from others in self-help groups can be an invaluable source of information and peer support.
For some, self help does not suffice, and formal tinnitus therapy is needed. This can involve discussion of
the causes, and the impact, of the tinnitus. Hearing aids and sound generators can be used, and formal
relaxation techniques can give benefit. Following extensive research, the Lions Hearing Clinic offers an
innovative and validated treatment for people affected by tinnitus called Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment.
What is the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment?
Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment has been developed in Australia over the past 10 years and is a new approach
to treating tinnitus. The treatment involves providing customised stimulation to auditory pathways that have
been affected by hearing loss or tinnitus. The treatment is delivered via the Neuromonics processor - a small
device about the size of a mobile telephone. The aim is to reduce awareness of tinnitus through desensitisation,
which involves listening to the processor 2-3 hours per day, in addition to education and behavioural strategies
for managing tinnitus.
Results of clinical trials involving over 200 people have shown that approximately 90% of subjects noted
significant relief from their tinnitus within 6 months.
Tinnitus Assessment
A comprehensive tinnitus assessment is conducted by an audiologist who specialises in tinnitus and who is
accredited to provide the Neuromonics tinnitus treatment. The assessment takes 2 hours and includes an
extensive hearing test (including audiometric testing up to 12.5kHz), and assessment of tinnitus loudness
and pitch match. The results are discussed in depth with each client and a full written report is provided
for each client and their doctor if required.
From the results of the assessment, we can make recommendations appropriate to each client. These may include
education and coping strategies, a hearing aid trial or proceeding to the full Neuromonics tinnitus treatment.
For more information please contact our Winthrop Clinic on 9313 7000.
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