Tinnitus

Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears)

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head without an external source. Patients commonly describe it as ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling or humming. It may affect one ear, both ears, or seem to come from inside the head. While tinnitus is not a disease by itself, it is often a symptom of an underlying ear or hearing condition.

One of the most important things I tell my patients is that the current medical consensus is that tinnitus does not have a universal cure. Many people spend months searching for a medicine or procedure that will permanently eliminate the sound, only to be disappointed. My approach is to be honest about what we know while focusing on treatments that genuinely improve quality of life.

Finding the Cause

A detailed ENT examination is the first step. Tinnitus may be associated with:

• Hearing loss

• Noise-induced hearing damage

• Ear wax

• Ear infections

• Eardrum problems

• Ménière's disease

• Certain medications

• Jaw (TMJ) disorders

• Stress, anxiety and poor sleep

Identifying and treating these conditions is an important part of tinnitus management.

Modern Treatment Options

Although tinnitus cannot usually be cured, there have been significant advances in its management over the past few years.

Hearing Aids

Many patients with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss, sometimes so mild that they are unaware of it. Modern hearing aids not only improve hearing but can also reduce the brain's perception of tinnitus. Many premium devices include dedicated tinnitus therapy features and personalised sound programs.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy aims to help the brain gradually become less aware of tinnitus. Rather than trying to eliminate the sound completely, TRT encourages habituation so that tinnitus becomes far less intrusive in everyday life.

Sound Therapy

Gentle background sounds such as white noise, rainfall, ocean waves or customised sounds can make tinnitus much less noticeable, particularly in quiet environments and at bedtime.

Lifestyle Measures

Good sleep, stress reduction, hearing protection and avoiding excessive noise exposure often make a significant difference. In many patients, simple lifestyle changes complement medical treatment and improve long-term outcomes.

Entina Tinnitus App

To help patients continue sound therapy at home, we developed Entina Tinnitus, a tinnitus management app based on the principles of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT).

The app allows you to:

• Match the pitch of your tinnitus

• Generate a sound that closely resembles your tinnitus

• Combine it with a background sound of your choice

• Create a personalised listening experience based on TRT principles

It is designed to complement professional ENT evaluation and is most effective when used as part of a comprehensive tinnitus management plan.

My Approach

Every patient experiences tinnitus differently. Some require reassurance after a thorough examination, while others benefit from hearing assessment, hearing aids, sound therapy or further investigations.

My goal is not to offer unrealistic promises, but to identify any treatable cause, explain your condition clearly, and recommend evidence-based treatments that provide meaningful, long-term relief.