The Visual Guide To Tinnitus

THE VISUAL GUIDE TO TINNITUS People with hearing loss often experience tinnitus – noise that you hear in one or both ears or in your head that has not come from an external source, especially following exposure to loud noise. What sounds may a tinnitus sufferer hear? WHISTLING RUSHING RINGING HOW DOES TINNITUS HAPPEN? auditory nerve cochlea temporal bone stapes inner ear outer ear eustachian tube ear canal Noise-damage to the inner-ear causes tinnitus. This is due to the damage to the hair-cells which then leads to an eardrum upset or alteration in the tiny electrical signals that pasS up the auditory nerve to the brain. KEY FACTS Spending over 30 minutes in a noisy club where you need to shout to hold a conversation could damage your hearing 60 50 NORMAL 40 80 80-90 30 {WHISPER} BUSY BAR 100 100+ NOISY CLUB DECIBELS 10% population have tinnitus all the time 1.6% of adults are severely distressed by tinnitus 93% of Tinnitus sufferers do not consult a doctor 50% of patients with tinnitus find tinnitus moderately or severely distressing. PREVENTION Reduce length of time of exposure Keep hydrated Reduce the volume Prevention is better than any cure. Treatment often leads to disappointing results. In primary and specialist care settings this is best achieved through education, reassurance, relaxation and counselling. Statistics provided by The British Tinnitus Association – www.tinnitus.org.uk 20