Tinnitus "Ringing in the ears"

What is Tinnitus?

Quite simply, tinnitus is the perception of sounds—often described as ringing, buzzing, humming, roaring, or whistling—that are not present in the external environment.

The term tinnitus does not refer to a single disorder, but rather describes a collection of symptoms that may have a number of different causes. Each person's tinnitus experience is unique, and very real.

How Common is Tinnitus?

Over 50 million Americans experience tinnitus to some degree. And approximately 10 to 15 percent of adults have prolonged tinnitus requiring medical attention.

For most people, tinnitus is a mild annoyance and may be temporary. However, more than 2 million American adults (1 to 2 percent of the population), experience severe, chronic tinnitus.

Because tinnitus can be a symptom of a more serious condition, a medical doctor should evaluate any prolonged experience of tinnitus.

What Impact Does it Have?

Chronic tinnitus can affect a person's work, family, and social life. It can interfere with sleep, make it difficult to concentrate or to relax, increase sensitivity to loud sounds and can lead to anxiety and depression.

What causes Tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be caused by a variety of factors and each individual case is unique. Tinnitus typically occurs in the auditory system as a result of hearing loss.

This hearing loss can result from exposure to loud noises, certain types of drugs and medication, middle ear infections, or other reasons.

In a small proportion of cases, tinnitus arises from a condition that requires medical or surgical intervention.

Once the tinnitus signal is generated in the auditory system, another part of the brain (the limbic system) attaches an emotional response to it. Similar to the "feeling" you get when you scratch your fingernails down a blackboard, tinnitus is more than just a perceived sound. Tinnitus can trigger anxiety and stress responses in the body, which, in addition to the limbic system, also involves the autonomic nervous system.

If you or someone you know suffers from tinnitus, we urge you to contact Advanced Audiology & Hearing Aid Center as soon as possible to be evaluated.