Tinnitus Facts

Tinnitus involves hearing a noise in the ears when no such noise is present. The person may hear this sound all the time or it may be intermittent. The noise can be minor or bothersome. A common problem, tinnitus affects about one in five people, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Sounds

• Tinnitus often is characterized by ringing in the ears, but it can involve different sounds, such as buzzing, clicking, hissing or whistling. For some people, the noise is so loud it interferes with the ability to hear.

Common Cause

• A common cause is inner ear cell damage, according to the Mayo Clinic. If the tiny delicate hairs inside the inner ear are damaged, they may send random electrical impulses to the brain that it interprets as sound.

Additional Causes

• Other likely causes include earwax build-up, hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, allergies, high or low blood pressure and cardiovascular issues. The U.S. National Institutes of Health notes that more than 200 medications can cause tinnitus.

Objective Tinnitus

• In rare cases, the doctor can hear the tinnitus when doing an examination. This type of tinnitus can result from a blood vessel disorder or an inner ear bone condition.

Treatment

• Treatment involves correcting or removing the underlying cause, if possible. If this does not work, sound-masking devices can make the noise less noticeable. Tinnitus can be extremely bothersome and may lead people to feel irritated and depressed. Counseling can help teach people ways to cope and learn to ignore the tinnitus.