Tinnitus

Definition and Overview

Tinnitus is a common condition characterized by the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. It is a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury, or a disorder of the circulatory system. Tinnitus is not a disease itself but a symptom that can result from a wide range of underlying causes. It is often described as "ringing in the ears", but it can also sound like hissing, buzzing, whistling, swooshing, or clicking.

A person holding their ears, with a distressed expression, illustrating the discomfort caused by tinnitus.

Causes

Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of conditions and illnesses. The most common cause of tinnitus is damage and loss of the tiny sensory hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear. This tends to happen as people age, and it can also result from prolonged exposure to excessively loud noise. Other causes can include:

Ear infections
Diseases of the heart or blood vessels
Meniere's disease
Brain tumors
Hormonal changes in women
Thyroid abnormalities

Symptoms

Tinnitus involves the sensation of hearing sound when no external sound is present. Tinnitus symptoms may include these types of phantom noises in your ears:

Ringing
Buzzing
Roaring
Clicking
Hissing
Humming

The phantom noise may vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal, and you may hear it in one or both ears. In some cases, the sound can be so loud it can interfere with your ability to concentrate or hear external sound. Tinnitus may be present all the time, or it may come and go.

Close-up of a human ear, highlighting the complex structure that can be affected by tinnitus.

Diagnosis

If you have tinnitus that bothers you, start by seeing your doctor. After an initial examination, your doctor may refer you to a specialist in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) for further examination. The ENT will physically examine your ears, head and neck to determine if your tinnitus is associated with a level of hearing loss, and may order several tests, including:

Hearing (audiological) exam: During the test, you'll sit in a soundproof room wearing earphones through which will be played specific sounds into one ear at a time. You'll indicate when you can hear the sound, and your results are compared with results considered normal for your age.
Laboratory tests: Depending on the suspected cause of your tinnitus, you may need blood tests or imaging studies such as MRI or CT scans.
The sounds you hear can help your doctor identify a possible underlying cause.

A doctor examining a patient's ear, representing the process of diagnosing tinnitus.

Treatment

Tinnitus treatment often involves a combination of approaches. These can include:

Treating an underlying health condition
Noise suppression
Medications
Lifestyle changes

A variety of medication bottles and a stethoscope, representing the various treatment options for tinnitus.

Prevention

In many cases, tinnitus is the result of something that can't be prevented. However, some precautions can help prevent certain kinds of tinnitus. These steps include:

Use hearing protection: Over time, exposure to loud sounds can damage the nerves in the ears, causing hearing loss and tinnitus.
Turn down the volume: Long-term exposure to amplified music with no ear protection or listening to music at very high volume through headphones can cause hearing loss and tinnitus.
Take care of your cardiovascular health: Regular exercise, eating right and taking other steps to keep your blood vessels healthy can help prevent tinnitus linked to blood vessel disorders.