Tinnitus driving you mad? Local expert on how to get better

This is the reality of tinnitus, a symphony of buzzing, ringing, pulsing or whooshing that interferes with the quiet and amplifies the mundane.

Often entwined with its unwelcome partner hearing loss, tinnitus can turn everyday moments into a war against inner noise. 

Tinnitus plagues many of us (Image: Supplied)

“Hearing loss, whether age-related, noise-induced, or due to underlying medical conditions, can go hand in hand with tinnitus”, says Karen Finch, an award-winning Audiologist whose company, All About Hearing, is highlighting the condition as part of UK Tinnitus Week, which begins on Monday (5th February). 

Karen added, “Research suggests that over 90% of people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss².

This intertwined melody can significantly impact daily life, making it difficult to hear conversations, focus on work, and even enjoy quiet moments.” 

Damage to the hair cells in the inner ear responsible for translating sound waves into electrical signals, disrupts the normal auditory pathway.

This can lead the brain to misinterpret some signals, resulting in the phantom noises of tinnitus. 

While not a disease itself, tinnitus can be a debilitating symptom, impacting sleep, concentration and mental well-being.

The constant presence of inner noise can lead to anxiety, depression and isolation.

The frustrating fact that only the sufferer hears the "noises" adds a layer of loneliness and misunderstanding. 

Karen Finch RHAD FSHAA FRSA, Owner and Lead Audiologist for All About Hearing, conducting a hearing assessment (Image: Supplied)

Karen, who heads a team of three experienced audiologists, understands the challenges and frustrations that tinnitus can cause: “I saw a patient not so long ago who said that the noise in her ears was so loud, she told me she was surprised I couldn’t hear it,” said Karen. 

“We tested her hearing and discovered she did have a moderate hearing loss and we went on to fit her with some hearing aids. I won’t say it was a miracle cure because it wasn’t, but she told us it had changed her life.  Now, every day sounds she hadn’t been able to hear because of the noises in her ears, were clearly audible, and they in turn, suppressed the aggravation caused by the tinnitus.” 

Karen added: “I cannot emphasise how much difference identifying the hearing loss made to this lady.  At her first follow up appointment she said she had been to a number of gatherings over the festive period and heard conversations clearly – something she hadn’t be able to do for years.” 

She explained that unresolved tinnitus is more than just a noise:  it can make communication difficult for the sufferer and the unrelenting sounds can cause stress which in turn makes the condition worse.   

“It really is like a spiral; the condition causes stress and stress make the condition worse,” she says.    

Interestingly, experts believe that even those without significant hearing loss may find hearing aids are helpful. Straining to listen causes increased hearing sensitivity and this can allow tinnitus to emerge or, if present already, to worsen.

Correcting even relatively mild hearing loss reduces this central auditory gain and thereby reduces the level of the tinnitus.  Hearing aids are said to be useful even if the hearing loss is not at a point that hearing aids would normally be considered. 

Karen and her team run hearing care clinics from two locations in Ipswich; Two Rivers Medical Centre on Woodbridge Road East, and Gilmour Piper on Fonnereau Road.  

To mark Tinnitus Week (5-12 February), the All About Hearing team are offering half price hearing assessments (£30) to try and help people identify if they have hearing loss as well as tinnitus. Appointments can be booked between 1-29 February 2024 (over 18s only), by calling 01473 946444 or by visiting www.allabouthearing.co.uk/tinnitus  

The awareness week is organised by the independent charity Tinnitus UK. For much more information and support visit www.tinnitus.org.uk 

Sources 

¹ Prevalence | Background information | Tinnitus | CKS | NICE 

² A 2015 study published in the journal Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery found that 95.6% of participants with tinnitus also had hearing loss. 

² A 2018 review article published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology reported that the prevalence of hearing loss in people with tinnitus ranged from 76% to 97%.