Tag: disability

That Constant Ringing in My Ears

There is no cure.

I hear the ringing, the buzzing, the clicking that noise sometimes throughout the day but it happens mostly at night before bed when everything is quiet.  This is called Tinnitus and many people young and old suffer from this condition.

I work as at a hearing clinic as a Hearing Specialist and I’ve noticed since the flu season began several people have visited the clinic with symptoms of tinnitus. Most are getting over the flu virus and report that the tinnitus was strongest when they were laid up with the flu and now they’re “better” the tinnitus is still present.

I know my tinnitus began with a virus and never went away even after I got better and that was over 10 years ago.  The ringing in my ears gets more prevalent when I am stressed or I’m lacking sleep and then calms down when I sleep better and take my vitamins.  That works for me so far, but it may not work for others.

At the clinic before I suggest any kind of solution to help the client with tinnitus, I take a case history and I do a full hearing assessment.  You see tinnitus and hearing loss go hand and hand but there is also a percentage of people suffering from tinnitus who have no hearing loss.

Step #1  get your hearing tested by a registered Audiologist or a Hearing Instrument Practitioner.  These people can help you and guide in the right direction.

Recently, I learned of a tinnitus workshop at Sunnybrook Hospital and check out their website called Your Health Matters @ health.sunnybrook.ca/wellness/tinnitus-ringing-ears/ This is a great resource.

I’ll write about Step #2 next time

Ringing in the Ears

Ever heard some buzzing, hissing, ringing or even a chirping sounds in the ear? If your answer is yes, then you may have experienced something called Tinnitus.

Tinnitus pronounced tin-a-tus or tin-eye-tus is a medical term derived from the Latin word “tiniere” which means to ring.  It refers to any sort of sound heard by the individual, but with no external source.

No, you aren’t going crazy but tinnitus can be heard constantly and can cause a great deal of stress, frustration and mental anguish.  Some neuroscientists describe it as “phantom auditory perception” whereas the ordinary folks call it noise.  Noise that can be managed.

Tinnitus is not uncommon. Today in the hearing industry as the number 1 disability for military veterans and it affects 1 in 5 persons.  With or without hearing loss, no matter the age at some point in everyone’s lifetime tinnitus may occur.

There are tons of information on the internet about tinnitus but I will break it down with ease and compassion because I too suffer from tinnitus.

What causes tinnitus?

Can tinnitus be treated?

Where can you go for help?

Stay tuned for my next entry….