ABOUT TINNITUS

Tinnitus is perceiving sound when there  is no external source. Common causes of tinnitus are hearing loss and earwax. There are other causes that are relatively rare and need further investigation. However tinnitus is common and 'normal' for many.  The inner ear sends signals to the brain, these are the sounds we hear. But this is not a one-way street. The brain sends electrical impulses back to the inner ear to change how the inner ear responds. In a quiet room or when hearing is impaired (earwax or hearing loss) cells in the brain increase the amplification of signals from the brain to compensate for the lack of external sound. For 5-15% of people tinnitus is constant. For 1-3% of people it leads to sleepless nights, impaired performance at tasks and distress. There is a big difference between those experiencing tinnitus in the quiet and those that have suffered for 10 or more years from a cacophony of noise that has destroyed their quality of life.