So what is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of any corresponding external sounds. It may be perceived in one ear or both, or ‘in the head’. It is often described as ringing, whistling or buzzing or even like a roaring ocean. It may be soft or loud; composed of a single sound or multiple components; it may be continuous or intermittent.
There are two kinds of tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus is tinnitus only you can hear. This is the most common type of tinnitus. Objective tinnitus is tinnitus your doctor can hear when he or she does an examination. This rare type of tinnitus may be caused by a blood vessel problem, an inner ear bone condition or muscle contractions.
Nearly 80% of people with hearing loss will have some degree of tinnitus. While about 80% of people are not overly bothered by tinnitus, the remainder will seek help for tinnitus.
We encourage you to book a tinnitus appointment* if you are concerned about your tinnitus.