about tinnitus

TINNISOOTHE

Understanding Tinnitus for a Calmer You

If you’ve ever experienced a persistent ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in your ears, even when there's no external noise, you're not alone. Tinnitus affects an estimated 740 million people worldwide and is a common condition that can be frustrating and disruptive.

The good news? Tinnitus itself isn't physically harmful, and there are some effective management strategies to help you cope and find relief. This page aims to help you better understand tinnitus and the different types and the factors that can cause it. We also provide some techniques that can enable you to take control of your tinnitus and manage your hearing health with confidence.

What is Tinnitus?

Subjective Tinnitus

This is the most common form, affecting over 99% of tinnitus cases. The sounds – ringing, buzzing, clicking, whooshing, or even musical tones – are perceived only by the individual. These sounds originate within the auditory system, not the external environment, although loud noise is a common trigger.

Types of Tinnitus

Objective Tinnitus

This is a much rarer form, occurring in less than 1% of cases. With pulsatile tinnitus, the sound can be audible to another person, such as an examiner with a stethoscope. This type of sound often comes from a physical cause affecting the auditory canal, such as a middle ear inflammation, blood flow problem or muscle contractions near the ear.

Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of factors, and in some cases, the exact cause remains unknown. Here's are some common causes:

Loud noises can damage the hair cells in the inner ear. This damage can lead to tinnitus as the auditory system tries to compensate for the lost function, resulting in the perception of phantom sounds.
Excessive earwax buildup can block the ear canal, affecting sound transmission and sometimes causing tinnitus. This type of tinnitus usually resolves once the earwax is removed by a doctor.
Certain medications can have a side effect of tinnitus. These medications can damage the hair cells in the inner ear, leading to tinnitus. It's important to discuss any concerns with your doctor if you're taking medications.
Head trauma can damage various parts of the auditory system, including the inner ear and auditory pathways in the brain. This damage can manifest as tinnitus.
There is emerging science to suggest that changes in certain hormone levels are linked to tinnitus. Oestrogen has been shown to play a role in the development and maintenance of auditory pathways in the brain. A decline in oestrogen levels - during menopause or after giving birth - may contribute to tinnitus.
In rare cases, tinnitus can be a symptom of underlying circulatory problems. Abnormal blood flow near the ear can sometimes generate tinnitus sounds
This inner ear disorder can cause tinnitus along with symptoms like vertigo (feeling of spinning) and hearing loss.
While not a direct cause, stress and anxiety can worsen tinnitus symptoms. When stressed, the perception of tinnitus can become more noticeable and bothersome.
As we age, it's natural to experience some degree of hearing loss. This can be associated with tinnitus as the auditory system tries to adjust to the reduced sound perception.
Problems with the temporomandibular joint, located near the jaw where it is believed that muscle tension or inflammation in the TMJ area may contribute to tinnitus symptoms.

Managing Tinnitus

The two most important things to do if you should find yourself suffering from tinnitus:

Visit your Doctor to ensure your tinnitus is not being caused by any underlying serious illness.
Try not to panic. Tinnitus doesn’t harm you physically and there are lots of things you can do to help you cope. Most people with tinnitus habituate to the condition. Habituation is where the brain no longer perceives the sound as a threat, resulting in less emotive reactions..

It is important to note that habituating to tinnitus doesn’t happen overnight, so be patient and compassionate with yourself. Please be aware that the internet can be a scary place, particularly for new sufferers. You may want to avoid searching for a cure, as none exists yet, so learn from reputable organisations like Tinnitus UK. This will help ensure you don’t waste money on the many scams out there claiming a ‘miracle cure’.

Different people benefit from different approaches to tinnitus management and there is no ‘magic fix’. Here are some management strategies to help you on your journey towards habituation.

Well Recognised With Some Clinical Evidence:

Sound Therapy
This involves either masking or soothing the tinnitus sounds with external noise. Common approaches include white noise machines, nature sounds, or music therapy. Sound therapy doesn't eliminate tinnitus, but it can significantly reduce its perception, improve overall well-being and facilitate faster habituation. Masking is not generally recommended as it does not facilitate habituation as effectively as setting other sound levels slightly lower than your tinnitus.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps modify negative thoughts and emotions associated with tinnitus. By learning coping mechanisms and changing your reactions to tinnitus, CBT can significantly reduce its impact on your life.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
TRT uses sound therapy in a specific way. Instead of simply masking the tinnitus sound, TRT employs carefully chosen external sounds to gradually desensitize the auditory system to the tinnitus itself.

Hearing Aids
While not a direct treatment for tinnitus, hearing aids can be very helpful. Amplifying external sounds can make tinnitus less noticeable and provide overall improved hearing, reducing the focus on the tinnitus sounds. Research shows significant improvement in tinnitus perception with properly fitted hearing aids.

Additional Strategies:

Relaxation Techniques & Mindfulness
Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can help manage stress and anxiety, which can worsen tinnitus symptoms. Relaxation techniques can promote better sleep and overall well-being, indirectly impacting tinnitus perception.

Dietary Changes
While not a proven treatment, some people find that limiting caffeine and alcohol intake can help manage tinnitus symptoms. These substances can affect sleep and potentially worsen tinnitus perception for some individuals.

Alternative Therapies
Acupuncture, massage, and yoga may offer some relief for tinnitus symptoms although their effectiveness may vary from person to person.

Where Does TinniSoothe Fit In?

TinniSoothe fits into the ‘Sound Therapy’ category above. It is a is a small, discreet, wearable white noise device that helps relieve your tinnitus 24/7, without the need for anything in your ears. Wearable throughout the whole day and dockable at night, TinniSoothe takes the edge off your tinnitus, giving you relief around the clock.

What makes TinniSoothe Different?

Continuous Relief: TinniSoothe is designed to provide continuous relief for tinnitus sufferers. You can wear it like a necklace, ensuring that you never have to experience silence, a common trigger for tinnitus discomfort. TinniSoothe serves as a constant companion, delivering subtle white noise throughout the day. Its discreet design means those around you won't even notice it, allowing you to regain control over your life. Unlike other solutions that may not be practical for all-day wear or require inserting something into or around your ears, TinniSoothe offers versatility. It can be used in various situations, around the house, at work, for outdoor activities, and even at night, where it can be placed in the docking cradle for night-time settings, providing genuine 24/7 relief.

Configurability: Over five years of engineering have gone into the product, allowing users to finely tune the white noise output, adjusting both volume and frequency to deliver the perfect level of tinnitus relief. Unlike cheaper alternatives that offer less presets, TinniSoothe offers a wide range of options. With 60 volume increments and 40 frequency increments, this device offers a remarkable 2,400 permutations to help you find the precise settings that best mask to soothe your tinnitus. Such a level of configurability is unmatched, especially in a device of this size.

Convenience: TinniSoothe is the epitome of convenience. It's the only solution that is both portable and wearable without requiring anything to be placed in or around your ears. Measuring just 59mm (2 1⁄2 inches) and weighing only 16 grams (half an ounce), TinniSoothe is designed to be discreet and easily forgettable, ensuring that neither you nor those around you are bothered by it. With a battery life of up to 72 hours, you can even take it away for the weekend without worrying about the battery running out or your tinnitus relief being taken away from you. This level of practicality and convenience sets TinniSoothe apart from other, less versatile solutions available on the market.

The combination of these 3 key differentiators makes TinniSoothe truly unique.

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