Tips on coping with tinnitus

For many people, the onset of tinnitus can really have a debilitating impact on their lives. Although there is no established cure for tinnitus, as its causes can be so varying, there are ways to make it easier to cope with.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the medical name for ringing in the ears. The term comes from the Latin word ‘tinnire’, which means to ring.

Anyone who suffers with prolonged tinnitus will know that the symptoms are continual sounds within the ears, even when there is no external noise present. Some people describe the sounds as ringing, others hissing, whistling or whooshing. It can affect one or both ears.

Around 10-15% of the population is affected by tinnitus, with it being equally prevalent in both sexes. Tinnitus is more commonly associated with age, but it can also occur in childhood and at any stage of adulthood. Some cases of tinnitus have been triggered by exposure to loud noises.

Tips for managing tinnitus

There is a strong link between stress and tinnitus as stress can heighten the symptoms that a person experiences with tinnitus. Therefore, if you are stressed and suffer from tinnitus, taking positive steps towards relaxation such as having acupuncture or trying hypnosis could help relieve the symptoms as well as reducing your stress levels.

Tinnitus has also been linked to hearing loss – both as a cause and a symptom. Good hearing provides us with lots of day-to-day background noise (TV, traffic, etc.) that would distract us from the sounds that tinnitus produces, as the brain focuses on external noises over internal sounds. If you lose some of your hearing, then there is less background noise available to distract you from the tinnitus. If you are suffering with tinnitus, it may be worth getting your hearing tested and finding out if you need a hearing aid. The hearing aid could help in two ways – both improving your ability to hear conversations and environmental noise going on around you, but also as a way to distract your brain from the tinnitus sounds. Find out more about hearing and hearing aids here.

Night-time is often the worst for tinnitus sufferers as external noise is reduced to a minimum. At that point, the tinnitus sounds will seem louder than ever, and sometimes make it difficult for the tinnitus sufferer to go to sleep. Playing quiet music or having the radio on at a low volume may make it easier to relax and fall asleep. It’s also advisable to cut out stimulants such as coffee and tea, as they will make it harder for you to switch off and go to sleep. If you still have trouble sleeping because of your tinnitus, you should seek advice from your GP, who may prescribe sleeping tablets.

When it comes to tinnitus, different people find that different approaches will help their symptoms. But one thing you should never do with tinnitus is simply put up with it. There are lots of coping strategies out there – see which ones help you the most.