Tinnitus : Ringing or Buzzing? We've got Answers!

Tinnitus is the perception of ringing, buzzing, roaring or other noises in the ears or head — when there is no external source of noise. First, know that you are not alone. Research estimates 17 per cent of North Americans (48 million people) suffer from tinnitus. Approximately five per cent of this population (14 million people) suffers from prolonged spontaneous tinnitus, which causes them to seek help. One out of every 100 adults reports tinnitus as a debilitating problem.

Tinnitus sufferers are often told, "you will just have to live with it," by health-care professionals. That is because many health-care professionals do not understand tinnitus or where it comes from. Since only the patient hears tinnitus it is difficult to assess. In fact, no test currently exists to accurately measure the level of tinnitus and/or its source.

But there is hope. Expert Hearing Solutions has had success with two forms of therapy: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and Residual Inhibition Therapy (RIT). Both are not cures for tinnitus, but they have proven to be beneficial for patients to help them gain control over their tinnitus and improve the quality of their lives. To the left are two documents you can download and/or print that describes each form of therapy. Furthermore, you will find links to excellent tinnitus resources on our resources page.