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MENIERE\'S DISEASE: WHAT IS TINNITUS?
Tinnitus is the medical term for noises in the ear or head which are not associated with any external sound. The word tinnitus is derived from the Latin \'tinnere\' meaning \'to ring\'. However, people experiencing tinnitus may describe the sound they hear as ringing, buzzing, hissing, roaring, whistling, like cicadas - or a combination of sounds.
Most people experience tinnitus at some time, especially in very quiet surroundings. We are mainly concerned here with constant, intractable tinnitus, which affects people’s enjoyment of life.
Tinnitus was identified by Prosper Meniere as one of the symptoms of Meniere\'s disease, and while the other symptoms can often be relieved, tinnitus often gets worse as time goes on. For some, it becomes the prime symptom, as it intensifies and becomes more high pitched. When associated with Meniere\'s attacks, it is usually a low pitched sound, often becoming higher pitched as a person\'s hearing loss deteriorates.
It is estimated that between one and 1.5 million Australians have some degree of tinnitus, but only 1 % find it disabling to a degree where it interferes with their lives. In the USA, 4% of patients with Meniere\'s disease have severe and intractable tinnitus, so the incidence of disabling tinnitus in people with Meniere\'s disease is higher than that for the general population.
Tinnitus is invisible, there is no external sign of illness and the affected person appears quite healthy. It is therefore very difficult for those without tinnitus to appreciate the devastating nature of severe tinnitus. Suffering with tinnitus is more of a psychological than physical kind of suffering. The noises may affect the ability to think, to communicate, and to get through the day in a reasonable mood.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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