Can Tinnitus Flare Up And Get Worse For No Reason?

Tinnitus is more common than we think. Have you ever experienced a ringing, buzzing or whooshing sound in your ears before? Lots of us have. Some of us may experience it more often than others. But what exactly is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is described as the perception of hearing a sound when there is actually no external sound present. It can be heard in one or both ears, or sometimes perceived to be central. Everyone may experience tinnitus a little different. Tinnitus can often flare up randomly with no particular known cause. It may get worse for a period of time and then reduce in severity and ceased to be bothersome. Research has shown various triggers to tinnitus awareness, including increased stress or fatigue, excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption, poor diet (Including high salt diet) and anxiety. It’s important to understand your own triggers if tinnitus is something that you have been experiencing. One management option for tinnitus awareness is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which can be an effective way in reducing tinnitus awareness and helping manage other health concerns eg. anxiety and depression, which may be impacting on your tinnitus awareness. Particular psychologists are trained in performing CBT. It is important to have your hearing assessed first by a trained audiologist to identify if there are any other likely causes of your tinnitus awareness.