Historical ContextTinnitus can be defined as ringing in the ears or other noises in the head that occur independently without an external noise source (Yost, 1994). Statistics based on studies conducted in the United Kingdom show that around 10% of adults, or six million people, suffer from constant, mild tinnitus, while up to 1% of adults, or 60,000 people, suffer from tinnitus that affects their quality of life. Many studies have shown that the risk of developing tinnitus increases with age. In the UK alone, up to 30% of over-70s suffer from tinnitus, compared to 12% of people over 60 and just 1% of people under 45 (British Tinnitus Association, 2011). An analysis using data from the 1994-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that the prevalence of frequent tinnitus, defined as tinnitus that occurs at least once a day, increased with increasing frequency. age up to 14.3% of the population aged between 60 and 69 years. years (Palmer et al, 2013). Tinnitus can be classified into two categories, objective and subjective forms. Objective tinnitus Objective tinnitus is relatively rare and its causes are easier to identify. Objective tinnitus refers to sounds in the ear that can be heard by others, as well as by the sufferer, who uses special listening devices called stethoscopes or undergoes some form of medical imaging such as MRI or CT scans. A possible cause of objective tinnitus is that it can occur due to the close proximity of an artery to the middle ear space, as a result the sufferer can perceive a rhythmic and impetuous noise caused by his own pulse; this is also known as “pulsatile tinnitus” (Vernon, 1998). The evidence supporting blood flow as a cause of objective tinnitus comes from Champlin's work and...... half of the article ......changing the way they think about tinnitus and what they do about it, the their discomfort is reduced; sufferers begin to tolerate the noises and eventually become less noticeable. Anti-stress therapy is also used to help manage tinnitus. Stress is often linked to tinnitus, and relaxation is well known as being helpful in relieving stress. Relaxation methods include biofeedback, breathing exercises, and meditation. A combination of prosthetic and physiological methods known as tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) has also been used in the management of tinnitus. VARIOUS METHODS BUT WE WILL ONLY DISCUSS... Apart from these other methods including caffeine-free diet and anti-stress medications can also be used to manage tinnitus. However this is not within the remit of an audiologist and therefore patients will need to consult their doctor or dietician for further detailed advice.