The figures from Action for Tinnitus Research showed that 12% of men and 8% of women across the UK suffered from the complaint.

They were released by the Nottinghamshire-based national charity to coincide with National Tinnitus Awareness Day.

The organisation said that, while tinnitus was rarely linked to any serious medical problem, it was often listed as the third worst of non-lethal conditions, after severe pain and total paralysis.

It said common effects included insomnia, anxiety, stress and depression, while suicides were “not unknown”.

“It diminishes much social intercourse and wrecks careers or ambitions, and for children it can badly interfere with normal education,” ATR said.

The study reported that tinnitus affected people across age ranges but sufferers were frequently frustrated by indifference or lack of knowledge among GPs.

Philip Champ, its managing trustee, said: “We knew that tinnitus was a growing problem but we were shocked by the wide age range, impact and length of suffering that our research has revealed.

“We cannot let these people continue to suffer – unheard.”

ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 2,012 adults aged 18 and over by telephone between January 21 and 30 across the country, with the results weighted to the profile of all adults.

By John-Paul Ford Rojas