MANY of us will have experienced the sensation of hearing sounds that seem to be coming from nowhere other than deep inside our own heads and ears – perhaps a high-pitched ringing, or hissing sound.

Thankfully for most of us, these sounds will be nothing more than a mild and temporary irritation – but for some people, tinnitus can become a significant problem.

The relentless noise can have a big impact on quality of life and psychological wellbeing, causing distress and difficulty sleeping and concentrating, in turn affecting work and relationships and, as the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) points out, can be linked with anxiety and depression.

While there’s currently no cure, Tony Kay, head of audiology at Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool, is keen to highlight that support is out there.

He says: “It’s important to clarify that while tinnitus is not curable in most, it does tend to get less annoying over time for the majority. Anybody with tinnitus that is troublesome should seek a referral to a tinnitus clinic via their GP.”

Kay says modern therapies are helpful to most sufferers.

“Using background noise to reduce the intrusiveness of tinnitus, relaxation, keeping active and socialising may improve things. Studies have shown that over time, tinnitus becomes less intrusive as the brain loses interest in it; this process is called habituation.”

Tinnitus is actually considered a symptom, rather than a single disease, “related to changes in activity or connectivity within the hearing system and the brain”.

Although often seen as something that affects older people, anybody can experience tinnitus, even children.

“The main risk factor is hearing loss,” adds Kay. “Exposure to loud noise, ear infections, certain medications, stress and head injuries are some of the other risk factors.”

Exposure to loud noise is a major factor - and one we can all try to prevent, by being aware of what amounts to ‘dangerous’ noise levels and taking steps to protect our hearing, by using ear guards and earplugs.

This can be particularly important for people who regularly work in noisy environments, but is something everybody should be aware of, as even the volumes of our TVs, and listening to music with headphones, could be putting us at risk of hearing loss and tinnitus.

Tinnitus Awareness Week runs from February 8 to 14. Visit www.teafortinnitus.co.uk.