Tinnitus (meaning "ringing" in Latin) is the perception of noise (usually ringing, roaring or buzzing) within the ear(s), head or neck without a corresponding external sound. It is a very common condition, with a third of all adults reporting having had the condition at some point during their life. It is common to experience mild forms which last only several minutes or hours; severe tinnitus (constant or recurring ear ringing) can induce stress and can interfere with your ability to work, concentrate or sleep. You can find more tinnitus facts in our dedicated section.

Tinnitus Causes

Tinnitus is a not a disease by itself but a symptom with multiple etiologies; its underlying cause can vary from ear infections to stress and anxiety. However, the most common cause is exposure to loud noise - most people experience hearing noises in the ear, sometimes accompanied by temporary partial hearing loss after exposure to high-intensity sound, such as an explosion, gun shot or loud music, condition known as Noise-induced hearing loss (or NIHL). See our section on tinnitus causes for more details.

Tinnitus Treatment

The treatment for tinnitus varies greatly depending on its underlying cause. It can be simple if the cause is ear wax, a foreign object or mild ear infection but difficult if the underlying cause is not known (studies show that this is the case for some 40% of patients). Because traditional medicine does not provide a treatment in this case, it is common to use alternative tinnitus treatment methods such as homeopathic treatment, acupuncture, hypnosis, magnet therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cranio-sacral therapy, aromatherapy and others.

Another approach is tinnitus retraining therapy. Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a counseling method used to manage the symptoms by shifting the person's attention away from the noise. Studies have shown that TRT can be significantly more effective than other forms or alternative treatment.

Tinnitus Masker

As sometimes finding the underlying cause for tinnitus is difficult. In these cases, a temporary or complementary treatment to alleviate the discomfort, is tinnitus masking. It involves listening to other sounds that "hide" or mask the irritating noise associated with tinnitus. Home-made recordings or commercial products such as audio CDs or hearing aids have been proven successful in relieving ear ringing. Refer to the tinnitus masker section for more details.

Hearing Loss

Tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss/hearing impairment. Gradual hearing loss is caused in most cases by damage to the inner ear, caused by aging, long-term exposure to loud noises or ototoxic substances. While this damage is usually irreversible, electronic devices known as tinnitus instruments are used to combine the features of hearing aids and tinnitus maskers in one small package that can be worn at all times.