Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound is present. It is usually described as ringing, but it can also sound like buzzing, hissing, clicking or whooshing. It can be constant or intermittent, in one ear or both.
Around one in eight people experience tinnitus to some degree. It is particularly common in people with age-related hearing loss.
What causes it?
The most common cause is damage to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear, which can be caused by noise exposure, age-related changes or certain medications. When these cells are damaged, they send abnormal signals to the brain, which the brain interprets as sound.
It can also be associated with ear infections, earwax buildup, jaw problems, blood pressure changes and some medications. In most cases it is not a sign of anything serious, but it is always worth getting checked out by a doctor to rule out any treatable underlying cause.
What helps?
Sound therapy involves using background sound, such as white noise, nature sounds or quiet music, to make the tinnitus less prominent. Many people find that tinnitus is worst in silence, particularly at night. A sound machine or fan can help significantly.
Hearing aids, when hearing loss is also present, often reduce tinnitus as well as improving hearing. The brain receives more sound from the environment, which can reduce its focus on the internal sound.
Stress makes tinnitus worse for many people. Relaxation techniques, good sleep and regular exercise all help to reduce its impact.
Tinnitus rarely goes away completely, but most people find that it becomes much less intrusive over time as the brain learns to pay less attention to it.