Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a medical term for the illusion of sound, often described as ringing in the ears, where there is none. For some it sounds like whooshing, roaring, hissing, clicking or buzzing. Tinnitus is not a disease, is actually a symptom of an auditory system problem.

The two types of tinnitus are:

• subjective (only you can hear the sounds)
• objective (noises others can hear, less common type)

Severe tinnitus can make hearing, working and sleeping difficult. 

Scientists have yet to agree upon the exact way the brain's neural circuits (networks of brain cells) create the perception of sound where it doesn't exist.

It is not known exactly what causes tinnitus. Health conditions that might be the cause of tinnitus include:

• Hearing loss in older people
• Exposure to loud noises
• Ear and sinus infections
• Heart or blood vessel problems
• Meniere's disease
• Brain tumors
• Hormonal changes in women
• Thyroid problems
• Certain medicines

See your doctor if ringing in the ears is persistent, in one ear only, or comes with hearing loss or dizziness. Seek prompt care if it begins suddenly or follows a head injury.