Tinnitus

Tinnitus (pronounced /tɪˈnaɪtəs/ or /ˈtɪnɪtəs/, from the Latin word tinnītus meaning "ringing") is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.

Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom that can result from a wide range of underlying causes: abnormally loud sounds in the ear canal for even the briefest period (but usually with some duration, ear infections, foreign objects in the ear, nose allergies that prevent (or induce) fluid drain, or wax build-up. In-ear headphones, whose sound enters directly into the ear canal, without any opportunity to be deflected or absorbed elsewhere, are a common cause of tinnitus when volume is set beyond modest or moderate levels.

Tinnitus can also be caused by natural hearing impairment (as in aging), as a side effect of some medications, and as a side effect of genetic (congenital) hearing loss. However, the most common cause is noise-induced hearing loss.

As tinnitus is usually a subjective phenomenon, it is difficult to measure using objective tests, such as by comparison with noise of known frequency and intensity, as in an audiometric test. The condition is often rated clinically on a simple scale from "slight" to "catastrophic" according to the practical difficulties it imposes, such as interference with sleep, quiet activities, and normal daily activities.

Tinnitus is common; about one in five people between 55 and 65 years old report symptoms.

Characteristics

Tinnitus can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head. It is usually described as a ringing noise, but in some patients it takes the form of a high pitched whining, electric, buzzing, hissing, screaming, humming, tinging or whistling sound, or as ticking, clicking, roaring, "crickets" or "tree frogs" or "locusts (cicadas)", tunes, songs, beeping, or even a pure steady tone like that heard during a hearing test. It has also been described as a "wooshing" sound, as of wind or waves. Tinnitus can be intermittent or it can be continuous, in which case it can be the cause of great distress. In some individuals, the intensity can be changed by shoulder, head, tongue, jaw, or eye movements. 

Treatment

Unfortunately there is no cure but there are some simple things that may help with tinnitus including keeping stress levels down,exercise, relaxation, or joining a support group.

There are no medicines which have been shown to effectively treat tinnitus itself. However, a GP may be able to prescribe you medicines to treat an underlying cause, if there is one.

Depression or anxiety can make tinnitus more of a problem and treatment of these conditions may help bring some relief.

Hearing aids

If you have impaired hearing, wearing a hearing aid can help mask the tinnitus by making external sounds seem louder.

If your have good hearing, you may be given noise generators as part of tinnitus - retraining treatment. These produce background noise, such as 'white noise' or sounds of nature, just below the sound of your tinnitus. The devices can be part of a hearing aid, worn like a personal stereo, or stand alone like a radio.