Tinnitus is when someone hears (usually a high-pitched) ringing sound, or different variety of sound - and for some people this can be very distressing.
There are many causes of Tinnitus and these include hearing loss (perhaps less if gradual over time, perhaps more if a sudden hearing loss) Noise induced hearing loss resulting from exposure to loud sound (e.g. a rock concert).
Tinnitus is nearly always worse with anxiety and stress, and sadly, even worrying about your tinnitus will most likely only increase it. The common perception that tinnitus is a symptom, rather than a disease - and that it can only be managed, and that there is no cure - is not particularly helpful. After all, if someone (especially a medical professional) tells you that there is no cure - this will probably only exacerbate any anxiety you feel about it.
Human evolution having happened in the way it has, and having spend a lot of time, in our evolutionary past, in jungle and forest type environments, where sight was more limited for perceiving danger - we developed hearing as our primary sense to perceive any impending threats and danger (the sound of a snapping twig maybe, an approaching perdator, perhaps). So our hearing became highly attuned to perceiving any threat (other animals may have used, and still use, their sense of smell, both to hunt, and alert them to approaching danger. But we have lost this, to a large degree. Hearing because our primary warning sense.)
Our hearing will naturally increase it's perception to try to detect the faintest sounds (which is why sudden hearing loss can trigger tinnitus, as the brain ramps up it's hearing sense, trying to hear anything at all - and the tinnitus 'ringing' sound appears, as a kind of 'phantom' - in perhaps a similar way to 'phantom' pain.) We are also accustomed to 'background' noise, and being able to perceive, and focus in on, 'relevant' sounds. Imagine you are at a cocktail-party, or other crowded noisy place. Among the conversations, you suddenly hear your own name, someone talking about you. And immediately you have the ability to 'tune in' very closely to what they are saying (and perhaps who is talking) and have the ability to filter out the other conversations and background noise. This process happens in the brain, as interpretation of sounds, rather than the ear.
In much the same way, tinnitus is also generated in the brain, rather than the ears (people who have had their nerves cut from the ears to the brain, and so losing all hearing - will still expereince tinnitus.) Tinnitus is created in the brain, not the ears. And so, any state of increased arousal, increased anxiety, increased stress - will most likely only increase the tinnitus. (High anxiety also tends to increase the perception of physical pain in much the same way. The input may be moderate or low - but it is like turning up the volume control to maximum!)
So although your GP might refer you to an audiologist or ENT specialst, there is perhaps not a great deal that an ENT specialist can do with tinnitus (remember, tinnitus is generated in the brain, not the ears) and many ENT specialists may perhaps try to avoid seeing tinnitus patients (as they cannot do that much to help them). Also, sadly, many audiologists seem to think that tinnitus cannot be cured, but only managed. (For more on this, please see tinnitus and reduced sound tolerance) . There is probably little reason to seek a neurologist referral, unless you have other symptoms Tinnitus can be a symptom of other diseases (e.g. vertigo or dizziness). Meniere's disease, multiple sclerosis, and migraines can also be associated with tinnitus. Tinnitus (that is not associated with other diseases, like Meniere's disease) is usually more 'psychological' than 'neurological', or even 'physiological'. This explains why stress and anxiety (even worrying about the tinnitus itself) are very likely to make the tinnitus worse! Even researching tinnitus on Google may yield a great deal of (possibly contradictory) websites and information, and for some people, cause even more anxiety - and possibly even more tinnitus.
Although it may not be possible to treat the tinnitus directly, Osteopathy and Acupuncture can certainly help treat any stress and anxiety that nearly always make the tinnitus worse. For example, there may be a great deal of tension in the muscles around the neck and upper back, and muscle attachments to the head. Both Osteopathy and Acupuncture may be very helpful in treating this - and in so doing, be very helpful in reducing the tinnitus. Temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction can also be associated with tinnitus, and both osteopathy and acupuncture can be helpful in alleviating the pain caused by temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Other approaches that have been helpful in the management of tinnitus (as with physical and neuropathic pain) include mindfulness techniques and things like Acceptance and commitment therapy.
If you live in Christchurch, or perhaps can travel here for treatment, here is one excellent Audiolgist who specialises in the treatment of tinnitus. Please see Hann Audiology.
And remember, as mentioned, both Osteopathy, cranial osteopathy and acupuncture can be helpful very often in the treatment of tinnitus - whatever its cause (and particualy so, if there is a structural component such as Temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction contributing)
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