TINNITUS

Condition and Symptoms

Tinnitus is a sensation or awareness of sound that is not caused by a real external sound source. It can be perceived in one ear or both, inside the head or in the immediate environment.

Although commonly it is assumed to be a ringing noise, it can take almost any form including hissing, whistling, humming and buzzing.

Tinnitus may be accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, pain in the ears (otalgia) or a dislike of loud sounds (hyperacusis).

Many people with tinnitus also feel that their ears are blocked.

Treatment

Mrs Bentley will consider all these symptoms when making a diagnosis and will develop a plan for your treatment. After a full examination, a hearing test will be arranged. For selected patients, an MRI scan may be arranged and other tests such a CT or ultrasound scans are sometimes utilised.