If you've ever noticed a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in your ears that no one else seems to hear, you're far from alone. This experience — known as tinnitus — is one of the most common hearing-related concerns among Australians, particularly those over 50. For some people it comes and goes; for others it's a constant presence that can affect sleep, concentration, and day-to-day life.
Understanding what tinnitus is, and knowing that support is available, can make a real difference.
What Exactly Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus (pronounced "TIN-ih-tus" or "tih-NYE-tus" — either is accepted) is the perception of sound when no external sound source is present. People describe it in many ways:
A high-pitched ringing or whistling
A low hum or drone
Buzzing, clicking, or hissing
A pulsing sound that follows your heartbeat (known as pulsatile tinnitus)
It can affect one ear, both ears, or seem to come from inside the head. It may be barely noticeable at times and quite intrusive at others — particularly in quiet environments, such as when you're trying to fall asleep.
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a condition in itself. That's an important distinction, because it means the experience can have a range of contributing factors.
What Can Contribute to Tinnitus?
There is no single cause of tinnitus, and for many people more than one factor may be involved. Common contributors that audiologists and doctors see include:
Noise exposure. Prolonged or sudden loud noise can affect the tiny hair cells in the inner ear. Years of working around machinery, attending concerts, or using headphones at high volume may contribute over time.
Age-related hearing changes. As we get older, some degree of hearing change is common. Tinnitus often accompanies those changes, though one does not always follow the other.
Earwax build-up. Excess cerumen (earwax) pressing against the eardrum can sometimes contribute to a ringing or muffled sensation. This is one of the more straightforward contributors to address.
Certain medications. Some medications can be associated with tinnitus as a side effect for some people. If you suspect a medication may be a factor, it's worth discussing with your GP; do not stop any medication without medical advice.
Underlying health conditions. Conditions such as temporomandibular joint (jaw) issues or middle ear problems may play a role for some people.
Stress and fatigue. Many people notice their tinnitus becomes more noticeable during periods of stress, poor sleep, or illness. This is not imagined — there appears to be a real connection between the nervous system and how the brain processes these sounds.
Is There a Way to Make It Stop?
This is usually the first question people ask — and it deserves an honest answer.
For some people, tinnitus resolves on its own, particularly if it was triggered by a temporary cause such as a cold or brief noise exposure. For others, especially where the tinnitus has been present for some time, it may not disappear entirely. That said, many people find that with the right support and strategies, it becomes significantly less bothersome over time.
What audiologists can offer varies depending on the person. Support options that may help some people include:
Sound therapy. Introducing low-level background sound — through apps, sound machines, or hearing devices with built-in tinnitus features — can make tinnitus less noticeable for some people by reducing the contrast between the tinnitus and the silence around it.
Hearing aids. For people who have both tinnitus and hearing loss, addressing the hearing loss with aids can sometimes make tinnitus less intrusive. Everyone's experience is different.
Counselling and tinnitus education. Understanding what tinnitus is — and what it isn't — often makes it feel less overwhelming for people. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approaches have shown benefit for some people. These are typically delivered by psychologists or trained clinicians.
Lifestyle adjustments. Reducing caffeine, managing stress, and protecting ears from further noise exposure are steps that some people find helpful. Your audiologist or GP can help you work out what may be relevant to your situation.
When Should You See an Audiologist?
It's worth getting your hearing and tinnitus properly assessed if:
The tinnitus has been present for more than a few weeks
It's affecting your sleep or concentration
It's in only one ear, or started suddenly
You've also noticed changes to your hearing or balance
You're not sure what might be contributing to it
An audiologist can carry out a thorough hearing assessment and discuss your tinnitus in context — including whether a referral to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist may be appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tinnitus damage my hearing? Tinnitus itself does not cause hearing loss. However, it often accompanies hearing changes — so it may be a signal worth investigating.
Is tinnitus all in my head? Not in the dismissive sense that phrase implies. While tinnitus is processed in the brain, the experience is very real. Research continues to improve our understanding of why it occurs.
Will it get worse over time? This varies significantly between individuals. For some people it remains stable; for others it fluctuates. There is no reliable way to predict this without professional assessment.
Is there a single treatment that works for everyone? No. Tinnitus management is individual. What helps one person may not help another, which is why a personalised assessment is so valuable.
Taking the Next Step
Living with tinnitus can be hard to explain to others, especially when it's not something people around you can hear. The good news is that support is available, and you don't have to work through it alone.
If you're on the Redcliffe Peninsula or in the broader Moreton Bay region and you'd like to talk to someone about your tinnitus, Hearing Help offers a warm, no-pressure environment to have that conversation. A comprehensive hearing assessment is a useful starting point — contact us to find out what might suit your situation.