CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD

Tinnitus affects one in seven of us at some point and it can wreak havoc on your mental health. Here are strategies that can help – from an audologist who experiences it herself

- BY DR GLADYS SANDA

MOST of us have experienced a ringing in our ears, perhaps after a concert or a loud party. Usually, it's temporary. But imagine living with that buzzing noise in your ears constantly. That's the reality for people with tinnitus.

This hearing condition can also seriously affect mental health - two percent of people who have it suffer from “tinnitus distress”, a condition that can lead to severe anxiety and depression.

I first noticed my own symptoms in March 2020. The constant buzzing felt as if a tiny insect had penetrated my inner eardrums and become trapped.

I'd feel an overwhelming urge to claw at my head, agitated by this sound that was imperceptible to others and simply refused to stop. I knew exactly what it was. As an audiologist I'd been treating patients with similar symptoms for years.

WHAT IS TINNITUS?

Tinnitus is described as the perception of a sound in the ear that isn't caused by an external source, so other people can't hear it. It’s usually experienced as a constant high-pitched buzzing in both ears, but sometimes it’s just in one.

Only five percent of sufferers have “objective” tinnitus — meaning a doctor can hear the sound with a stethoscope. The majority have “subjective” tinnitus, and there's no test to confirm the condition — it can only be diagnosed based on the symptoms reported.

WHO'S MOST AT RISK AND WHAT CAUSES IT?

It can affect anyone, regardless of gender or ethnic background. As tinnitus is commonly linked to hearing loss, there can be a genetic element, and it often increases with age.

Exposure to loud noise is a common risk — I've treated many musicians and construction workers — but head injuries and certain medications can also trigger symptoms.