If you sometimes hear ringing, buzzing or humming in your ears, you may be experiencing tinnitus.
According to Eva Mwangi, Senior Audiologist –Education and Training Manager at Starkey Hearing Technologies- people with bothersome tinnitus have treatment options ranging from hearing aids, sound therapy, and counseling. Hearing aids can give patients relief and control over the condition.
“At Starkey we offer tinnitus masking and hearing aids that can help patients with both hearing loss and tinnitus,” Eva said.
Tinnitus is a condition where a person perceives sounds that are not coming from the external environment and can usually only be heard by the patient.
It is common and affects at least 120 million people around the world, said Dr Lilian Wairimu, a consultant ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon said.
“Tinnitus affects 15-20 percent of the population and its common in elderly people, Dr Wairimu said adding that “90 percent of people with tinnitus suffer hearing loss.”
It can also result in reduced quality of life, insomnia, anxiety and depression if patients are unable to cope with (or) get used to the tinnitus.
Risk factors
According to Dr Wairimu, tinnitus can be triggered by a variety of situations including exposure to loud sounds, conditions that affects the blood cells, ear infections, it can also point to a particular point of tumours or head and neck injuries.
“Exposure to sudden or prolonged loud sounds is the most common factor related to tinnitus onset,” she added.
The experts spoke in a webinar organised by Starkey hearing technologies as part of Tinnitus Awareness Week.
