HEARING
📅 AUDIOPTICA LUXSO BLOG · ⏱ 9 min read
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Hearing a ringing, buzzing or hissing sound that nobody else can hear? You are not alone. More than 700 million people worldwide live with tinnitus, and between 15% and 20% of adults experience it at some point. The good news: in most cases there is a lot you can do to make it fade into the background.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of a sound when there is no external source. It can sound like ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling or a pulsing noise, in one ear, both ears or "inside the head".
- Subjective tinnitus – only you can hear it. This is by far the most common type.
- Objective tinnitus – rare; a specialist can hear it too (for example, sounds linked to blood flow or muscle contractions).
It can be constant or come and go, and it is often more noticeable at night or in quiet rooms.
The most common causes
- Hearing loss – the most frequent cause. When the brain receives less sound, it "turns up the volume" and generates its own.
- Noise exposure – concerts, headphones, power tools or noisy workplaces.
- Earwax or ear infections – a blockage or otitis can trigger tinnitus.
- Ototoxic medication – some drugs can affect the inner ear. Never stop a medication without talking to your doctor.
- Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) – very common from 60 onwards.
- Cardiovascular problems – high blood pressure or circulation issues, especially with pulsing tinnitus.
- Jaw problems (TMJ) – clenching or grinding teeth.
- Stress and anxiety – they don't usually cause it, but they make it much more noticeable.
- Other causes – head or neck injuries, Ménière's disease and, rarely, other conditions that a doctor should rule out.
The brain connection
Tinnitus starts in the ear but is "heard" in the brain. When the brain labels the sound as a threat, it pays more attention to it, which causes stress, which makes the sound seem louder. Breaking this vicious circle is the key to most treatments.
When should you get it checked?
- It lasts more than a week.
- It appeared suddenly.
- It comes with hearing loss or dizziness/vertigo.
- It pulses in time with your heartbeat.
- It is only in one ear.
- It affects your sleep, concentration or mood.
Sudden hearing loss is an emergency: see a doctor the same day.
Is there a cure?
In some cases, yes – for example when it is caused by earwax or an infection. In most chronic cases there is no single "cure", but the brain can learn to ignore the sound (habituation). Many people reach a point where they barely notice it.
Treatments that work in 2026
- Hearing aids – if you have hearing loss, they restore the sounds the brain was missing and often reduce tinnitus significantly. Many modern models include a built-in tinnitus program.
- Sound generators – gentle background sounds that make tinnitus less noticeable.
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) – combines counselling and sound therapy; results usually come over 12–18 months.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – the treatment with the strongest evidence for reducing distress.
- Sound therapy – apps, nature sounds or a fan at night.
- Treating the underlying cause – earwax, infections, blood pressure, jaw problems.
- Sleep and stress management – good sleep habits, exercise and relaxation techniques.
What doesn't work: "miracle" supplements and products that promise to cure tinnitus in days. There is no scientific evidence behind them.
Common myths
- "Nothing can be done." False – most people improve with the right approach.
- "It means I'm going deaf." Not necessarily, but it's worth checking your hearing.
- "Hearing aids make it worse." The opposite: they often help.
- "Silence is best." Total silence usually makes tinnitus more noticeable.
How we assess tinnitus at Audioptica Luxso
- A detailed chat about your symptoms and history.
- Otoscopy (checking the ear canal and eardrum).
- A full hearing test (audiometry).
- Tinnitus matching – identifying its pitch and loudness.
- THI questionnaire to measure how it affects your daily life.
- A personalised plan, and referral to an ENT doctor if needed.
- Regular follow-up.
Don't live with it in silence
Tinnitus is common, but you don't have to just put up with it. A hearing test is the first step to understanding what's happening and choosing the right solution. At our Dénia centre we speak English, and the test is free.
Visit us in Dénia
📍 Audioptica Luxso Dénia — Calle Diana, 35 · English spoken
📞 Opticians: +34 692 609 299 · Hearing care: +34 685 082 459
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