If you hear a ringing, buzzing, hissing or whistling that nobody else can hear, you are far from alone. That sound is called tinnitus, and it is one of the most common things people mention when they come to see us. It can be there all the time or come and go, sit in one ear, both ears, or seem to be somewhere in the middle of your head.
Here is the reassuring part. Tinnitus is common and may settle by itself; for many people it is not linked to a serious underlying problem. Persistent, distressing or unusual tinnitus still deserves appropriate assessment. There are also practical things you can do that genuinely make a difference. This is not about scare stories or quick fixes, just plain advice from a local clinic that sees this every week.
What exactly is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a sound you hear that has no source outside your body. It is a symptom rather than an illness in its own right, a bit like a cough. It often turns up alongside other, very ordinary things: a build-up of earwax, a change in your hearing, a stressful patch, or years of exposure to loud noise at work or on the mower.
Because it is a symptom, the useful question is not just "how do I silence it?" but "is anything driving it that we can put right?" Often there is.
Can anything actually be done about it day to day?
Yes. Small, steady habits usually help far more than any single dramatic step. Things our patients tell us make a difference:
- Do not chase total silence. Tinnitus is nearly always louder in a quiet room. A little gentle background sound, a fan, soft music, the radio low, or nature sounds, gives your brain something else to latch onto.
- Look after your sleep. Night-time is when many people notice it most. A quiet sound source by the bed and a wind-down routine can break the cycle of lying there listening to it.
- Manage stress and tiredness. Stress and tinnitus feed each other. Regular exercise, getting outdoors, and anything that genuinely relaxes you tend to turn the volume down.
- Notice your own triggers. Some people find a lot of caffeine or alcohol makes theirs more noticeable. Rather than cutting everything out, pay attention to what actually affects you.
- Protect your hearing from here on. Loud noise can set tinnitus off and make it worse, so sensible hearing protection around power tools, concerts or shooting is well worth it.
Give it time, too. The brain is very good at learning to filter out sounds that carry no threat, which is why many people find their tinnitus fades into the background over weeks and months.
Could there be a cause we can put right?
This is where a check can be genuinely useful. Two common, treatable culprits are worth ruling in or out.
Earwax. A blockage of wax can cause or worsen tinnitus, and clearing it sometimes settles the noise on its own. We remove wax by microsuction, a gentle, water-free method that lets us see exactly what we are doing.
A change in your hearing. Tinnitus and hearing loss very often travel together, so a straightforward hearing test tells us a lot. It is painless, takes under an hour, and gives you a clear picture of where your hearing stands.
How can hearing aids help with tinnitus?
If a test shows some hearing loss, well-fitted hearing aids can help in two ways. They bring back the everyday sounds you have been missing, so the contrast between your tinnitus and the quiet is far less stark, and many modern aids include gentle sound-enrichment settings designed with tinnitus in mind. They are not a cure, but a good number of people tell us their tinnitus bothers them much less once they can hear properly again. As an independent, family-run clinic we fit all seven leading brands and have no reason to steer you towards one over another.
When should I see my GP?
For tinnitus, the NHS is the right first port of call, and there are a few situations where you should book in with your GP rather than wait. See your GP if your tinnitus is in one ear only, if it pulses in time with your heartbeat, if it came on suddenly, if it arrives alongside sudden hearing loss or dizziness, or if it is really getting you down and affecting your sleep or mood. The British Tinnitus Association also offers excellent free information and support.
How can we help at Wickersley Audiology?
We are an HCPC-registered, BSHAA-member clinic here in Wickersley, and we see adults. We can check your ears, remove wax by microsuction, test your hearing, and give you honest advice about whether an aid would help. To be straight with you, we do not run a dedicated tinnitus therapy programme and we do not offer Lenire, so for tinnitus on its own your GP, the NHS and the British Tinnitus Association are the people to turn to. You can read more on our tinnitus page.
If you would like your ears and hearing checked by a friendly local team, book a hearing assessment or call us on 01709 437250.
