Did you know that an estimated 37% of Canadian adults (9.2 million people) have experienced tinnitus in the previous year (Statistics Canada, 2019)? Although often underestimated, these persistent noises can have a significant impact on individuals' quality of life. Read this article to learn more about strategies to mitigate tinnitus and the importance of talking to healthcare professionals.

What is tinnitus?

Abnormal auditory sensation (buzzing, tinkling) not caused by an external sound. (Le Robert dictionary).

In fact, tinnitus is a background noise that can take many forms, from whistling and buzzing to melodies and bells for some people. It can also be a symptom of hearing loss, stress, high pressure or even dental problems.

Warning sign

Listen to your body! Tinnitus can warn you of damage caused by exposure to excessive noise. Ever left a concert with a ringing in your ear? This may be a sign that there has been some slight damage due to the music being too loud. Move away from sound sources or wear earplugs during very noisy activities.

Strategies for masking tinnitus

We know that the noise caused by tinnitus can be disturbing for many people. Although there is not necessarily a cure, it is possible to mask tinnitus with certain strategies, such as the use of white noise generators, which enable individuals to better tolerate it on a daily basis. In the case of hearing loss, hearing aids mask the sound of tinnitus with environmental noises that are amplified by the hearing aids. Learn more about these strategies here.

Talk about it

If you live with tinnitus, it's important to talk to your healthcare professionals. Certain prescribed medications or health conditions can cause tinnitus.

Although tinnitus can be a sign of hearing damage, there are ways to alleviate and manage it on a daily basis. Awareness of these symptoms and early consultation with healthcare professionals are essential to minimize the impact on quality of life and maintain optimal hearing health. 

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