What Is Tinnitus?

About tinnitus

Tinnitus is the term for hearing sounds that come from inside your body rather than from an outside source.

Various sounds can be heard, but it is often described as "ringing in the ears". These include:

• Humming
• Buzzing
• Grinding
• Hissing
• Whistling

Some people may hear sounds similar to music or singing, and others may hear sounds that beat in time with their pulse.

You may also notice that your hearing is not as good as it used to be, or that you are more sensitive to everyday sounds.

Is tinnitus serious?

Tinnitus is rarely a sign of a serious underlying condition. In some people it may come and go and cause only mild discomfort.

In others it seriously affects daily life. It can be distressing, affect concentration, and lead to sleeplessness and depression.

In most cases, tinnitus either goes away or lessens over time as the body gets used to it. Still, it is important to see a doctor to find out whether there is an underlying cause, whether it can be treated, and ways of coping with it.

When should I see a specialist?

See a doctor if you hear humming, ringing or buzzing in your ears constantly or often. The doctor will examine your ears to see whether the problem is caused by something easily treated, such as an ear infection or earwax. They may also do simple checks to see whether you have hearing loss.

If needed, your doctor will refer you to a hospital specialist for further tests and treatment.

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus can develop gradually or appear suddenly. Its exact cause is not known, but it mostly comes with some degree of hearing loss.

Tinnitus is often linked to

• Age-related hearing loss
• Inner ear damage caused by repeated exposure to loud noise
• Earwax build-up
• Middle ear infection
• Meniere's disease: a condition that causes hearing loss and vertigo (a spinning sensation)
• Otosclerosis: an inherited condition in which abnormal bone growth in the middle ear causes hearing loss

However, about one in three people with tinnitus has no obvious problem with their ears or hearing.

Most people have had short-term ringing after exposure to loud noise, for example after a concert.

It can occur at any age, including in children, but it is more common over the age of 65.

Tinnitus treatment

At present there is no single treatment for tinnitus that works for everyone. Research to find an effective treatment is ongoing. If an underlying cause is found, treating it may reduce the tinnitus. For example, removing earwax may help.

If no specific cause is found, managing the condition day to day will help.

This may include:

• Sound therapy: listening to neutral sounds to draw your attention away from the tinnitus
• Counselling: therapy that explains tinnitus and teaches you how to cope with it
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): therapy that aims to change the way you think about tinnitus, so it becomes less noticeable
• Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT): therapy that aims to retrain the brain's response to tinnitus. Over time you get used to the sound and notice it less

Related pages: Tinnitus device trial, Free hearing test.