Why am I hearing things that aren’t there?
STARS Audiologist Katrise Eager
If you’ve ever noticed a ringing, buzzing, hissing, thumping or static noise in your ears when there isn’t a physical sound present, you may have experienced tinnitus.
This common condition affects two in three Australians at some point in their life, with around 10-20% of people finding that it severely impacts their quality of life.
Tinnitus is highly individualised and can be a single sound or a combination of different sounds, can come and go or be constant, and can change over time or with other health factors.
STARS Audiologist Katrise Eager said that tinnitus has a range of causes and is often a symptom of ear or hearing issues or other health issues.
“Hearing loss, exposure to loud noises, ear wax buildup, problems with the jaw, neck, ears or head, circulation issues, stress and anxiety or some medications can all bring on tinnitus,” Katrise said.
“For many, tinnitus can happen for no known reason or cause. People with normal hearing or no other health condition can experience tinnitus.
“Medical issues can have an impact on people’s tinnitus and they can perceive their tinnitus to be worse than in times when they have minimal external stresses or pressures.”
Anyone experiencing tinnitus should be assessed by an audiologist to assess the best course of treatment or management.
“At the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital/STARS Tinnitus Clinic, our multidisciplinary team explores different management techniques alongside a psychologist, including techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in combination with sound therapy,” Katrise said.
“If the person has hearing loss, we may suggest they have a hearing aid trial with an audiologist in the community, which acts as a form of sound therapy for the tinnitus.
“Tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, so we always encourage individuals to use hearing protection in loud environments to help prevent the condition and permanent hearing loss.
“Although there is no cure for tinnitus, it’s important to know there are effective strategies to help manage it.”