Tinnitus

Tinnitus – My Approach

Tinnitus is one of the most frustrating symptoms patients come to me with. That constant ringing, buzzing or hissing can be extremely distracting, especially in quiet environments. And the truth is: the general medical consensus worldwide is that tinnitus itself is not “curable” in the traditional sense.

I tell every patient this upfront because honesty reduces unnecessary anxiety. Most people waste months moving from doctor to doctor hoping for a magic pill that simply does not exist.

But that does not mean you are helpless.

In the last few years, there have been significant advances in how we manage tinnitus, especially with modern hearing technology. Many patients don’t realise that even mild, unnoticed hearing loss can trigger the brain to “fill in the gaps” with a phantom sound — which is the basic mechanism of tinnitus.

Recent Advances That Help

The latest generation of hearing aids and sound therapy devices have improved dramatically:

• Hearing aids with tinnitus maskers – provide low-level background sound that reduces the brain’s focus on the ringing.

• AI-based sound generators – tailor the masking sound to your specific frequency.

• Combination devices – amplify real sounds while simultaneously calming the tinnitus pathway.

• Apps and sound therapy programs – useful for patients with mild symptoms.
  
  

In the right candidate, these technologies don’t “cure” tinnitus, but they significantly reduce its intensity and intrusiveness, making day-to-day life much more comfortable.

What I Usually Do in a Tinnitus Consultation

My focus is on:

• ruling out treatable causes (wax, infections, middle ear fluid, TMJ issues, etc.)

• checking for subtle hearing loss

• assessing stress, sleep, and lifestyle triggers

• identifying which patients will genuinely benefit from hearing aids or sound therapy

• avoiding unnecessary medicines and procedures
  
  

If you’ve been struggling with tinnitus and nothing has worked, don’t assume it’s the end of the road. With the newer devices available today, many patients experience meaningful relief, even if the ringing doesn’t disappear completely.

If you’d like, I can help you understand what’s causing your tinnitus and discuss suitable options based on your specific pattern.