What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is noise heard in the head or ears. It is extremely common, occurring in 20% of the population of the United States. No one person describes tinnitus like the next person, but it may be described as:

  • Low medium or high-pitched buzzing, ringing, humming, crickets or hissing
  • Containing more than one sound
  • Extremely loud and distracting or very soft and hardly noticeable
  • Intermittent
  • Subjective (heard only by the person)
  • Pulsatile

Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease itself. It is frequently, but not always, associated with hearing loss. It can be thought of as a sign of irritation or injury to the hearing system, much like pain or temperature sensations of the skin. Most people experience tinnitus at some point in time. For example, noise exposure such as a concert or a loud party may result in a loud ringing in the ears noticed when returning home to a quiet environment. This kind of tinnitus is temporary, resolving in a few hours. The presence of persistent tinnitus and tinnitus associated with hearing loss should prompt an evaluation by an ENT or otologist/neurotologist. Pulsatile tinnitus, tinnitus with balance problems, and unilateral tinnitus also require evaluation for the underlying etiology.

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