FAQ for people with Tinnitus

FAQ ImageIf your question is not addressed by any of the FAQ answers given below, please do send your query to our team and we will respond as soon as possible (often it will be the next working day).  Please use this link to the Contact Us page to send us your query.

 

 

Types of tinnitus

Questions Answers
Are there different types of tinnitus?

There are two main types:

Subjective tinnitus - is where the sounds can only be heard by you.

Objective tinnitus - is where the sounds can also be heard by your doctor using a stethoscope or other listening device.

I thought tinnitus was only a ringing sound in the ears? A ringing sound is one of the most common, but people also describe their sounds as chirping, buzzing, like a wind, roaring, crackling or pulsing. For some people the sound changes, or may even be different in each ear.
Can tinnitus just affect one ear? Some people hear sounds in both ears, some only in one ear and some people perceive the sound as being within their head rather than coming from the ears. If the sound is in both ears, it may not be the same volume, or even the same type of sound in each ear.

Treatments for tinnitus

Questions Answers
Is there a cure for tinnitus? Currently there is no "magic cure" for tinnitus. However, if your tinnitus is caused by an underlying medical condition, injury, or drug reaction then addressing the underlying cause may also stop your tinnitus. That is why we always recommend seeing your physician for advice.
 Can my tinnitus be improved? The answer for over 80% of people is an emphatic Yes, this has been proven through experience with thousands of clients at the University of Auckland Hearing & Tinnitus Clinic. However, it takes hard work and a strong will on your part to take control of your tinnitus. The Helping Your Tinnitus section of the website provides you with the tools and techniques.
Are there alternative treatment options. There are complimentary treatments to the techniques provided on this website (member's content hub). For example we focus mainly on visualization, use of music and progressive relaxation techniques to help you relax. But the use of meditation, yoga and many other complimentary techniques is also very effective. We provide commentary on some of the other alternative treatment methods within the content site. Overall, our advice is to be careful about some of the claims made on the internet for other treatments when there is very limited research or clinical evidence to back them up.

Membership

 

Questions Answers
Can I upgrade my membership? Yes you can change at any time from the Masking & Relaxation membership plan to full annual membership to get access to all the Tinnitus Treatment content, simply go to the Become a member tab and select the Full Individual Annual Plan.
Can my wife, or partner use my membership to look at the member only content? Yes, it is really helpful to have the support of your family or close friend and it is fine to share your membership for that purpose.
Can I cancel my membership? Yes, you can cancel either your monthly or annual membership. This should be done at least 5 days before your next payment, or annual renewal is due.
Will I be automatically charged for membership renewal? We will contact you before your membership is due for renewal and you can let us know if you want to cancel your membership. We will then not automatically renew.

Use of hearing aids

Questions Answers
Will having a hearing aid help my tinnitus?

Many people who have tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss and a consultation with an Audiologist will help determine whether you need a hearing aid. Having a hearing aid can certainly help with your tinnitus in a variety of ways:

  • The hearing aid will amplify other natural sounds around you, including voices you want to hear. That will have a masking effect on your tinnitus (you will be able to focus more on the other sounds, rather than your tinnitus).
  • If you get the right type of hearing aid, you can also use it for the sound therapy recommended within this website. You can ask your audiologist to help you with setting up the right blue tooth connection.