{"id":311,"date":"2021-08-26T10:32:23","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T09:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/audiology\/?page_id=311"},"modified":"2021-08-29T20:55:06","modified_gmt":"2021-08-29T19:55:06","slug":"tinnitus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/audiology\/tinnitus\/","title":{"rendered":"Tinnitus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tinnitus is not a disease.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Tinnitus is the perception of hearing a noise when there is no external source. It is extremely common, affecting around 6 million people in the UK or 1 in 8 people.  Approximately 80% of cases were diagnosed aged 40 years or older. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is tinnitus?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tinnitus can be described as a whooshing, whirring, buzzing, ringing or whining and is often a mix of sounds. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Where do you hear it?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes it can be in the ears, one or both, sometimes it can be in the head and sometimes it can be in both the head and ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Is it bothersome? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tinnitus usually isn\u2019t a sign of something serious. However, if tinnitus is something new to you and is bothering you, see your GP <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How does it affect you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, the sound can be so loud that it can interfere with your ability to concentrate or hear external sounds. Sometimes, it can be connected with the heartbeat and sometimes people describe hearing music. It can be there all the time or it can come & go. It can affect anyone, at any time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tinnitus and mood.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most people hardly notice it at all but for some, it can be more problematic and it can disrupt their quality of lives. How you think about your tinnitus can influence your emotional reactions. The brain may interpret the sound of tinnitus as something harmful to your well being. When you respond to tinnitus as a threat, you become stressed and anxious. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Two types of tinnitus:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Objective tinnitus <\/strong><\/em>is tinnitus that your GP can hear when they conduct an examination. This type of tinnitus is rare.

Subjective tinnitus<\/em> is tinnitus that only you can hear. This is the most common type of tinnitus. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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British tinnitus association<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n