Tinnitus Affects Millions of Brits According to New Research

A survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by Oticon, a leader in advanced audiology and hearing aid technology, has unveiled that tinnitus is affecting millions of Brits.

The new research into hearing loss in the UK reveals that a substantial 21% of respondents experience tinnitus symptoms such as ringing, buzzing or persistent noise in their ears.

The new Oticon hearing loss survey results show very little distinction between the age of respondents reporting tinnitus symptoms, with between 16% and 24% of sufferers in each age category. The stats highlight the varying nature of the condition. Tinnitus can indeed be experienced by anyone, as well as be temporary or permanent, constant or intermittent.

Tinnitus is a symptom that is most commonly associated with damage caused by exposure to loud noise. This was demonstrated in the survey which supports that attending loud concerts (37.8%) and nightclubs (23.6%), as well as listening to loud music (22.4%) and standing near loudspeakers (23.4%), are the main activities that cause the respondents’ tinnitus symptoms. Over half that suffer from tinnitus also admit to regularly enjoying loud music, with two thirds of these doing so at least once a week.

The survey reveals that the biggest effects of the widespread hearing condition include lack of concentration (26.4%), less alertness (25.8%), stress (22.4%) and withdrawal from social situations (28%). Also, two thirds find it tiring to hear what people are saying and follow conversations in situations where there are lots of people speaking.

Alison Stone, Training Manager and Audiologist at Oticon, says: “People with tinnitus are often more tired and can have more difficulty concentrating, especially if there is background noise in the environment. They are also more at risk of high anxiety, depression and irritation which affects their daily quality of life a great deal.”