Ambulance 912HAP 9252
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Tinnitus

Tinnitus means hearing sound without a source outside the body, such as ringing, humming or hissing. It is often harmless but can have a major impact. One-sided, pulsating or sudden tinnitus with hearing loss, dizziness or neurological symptoms needs prompt assessment.

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Tinnitus means hearing sound without a source outside the body, such as ringing, humming or hissing. It is often harmless but can have a major impact. One-sided, pulsating or sudden tinnitus with hearing loss, dizziness or neurological symptoms needs prompt assessment.

  • Ringing, buzzing, humming, whistling, clicking or hissing without an external source.
  • Sound in one ear, both ears or in the middle of the head.
  • Protect your hearing around loud noise, but do not wear earplugs all day in an ordinary environment.
  • Use gentle background sound when sleeping or in silence if you find it soothing.
  • Make an appointment for tinnitus that persists, disrupts sleep or functioning, or comes with hearing loss.
  • For urgent GP care outside office hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediate threat to life.

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Further reading

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M
Ménière’s diseaseMénière’s disease is an inner ear condition with attacks of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus and a feeling of fullness in one or both ears. New loss of neurological function, sudden deafness in one ear or dizziness clearly different from previous attacks requires prompt assessment.
S
Sudden hearing lossSudden hearing loss in one or both ears can result from earwax or middle ear problems, but also acute damage to the inner ear or hearing nerve. Unexplained sudden sensorineural hearing loss needs medical and ENT assessment the same day; early steroids may be appropriate.
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VertigoVertigo makes you feel as though you or your surroundings are spinning or moving. The cause is often in the inner ear's balance system, but sudden persistent vertigo with loss of neurological function may be a stroke. The pattern of episodes, hearing symptoms and warning signs determines what assessment is needed.