Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the perception of sound by a person when no external sound source is present. It can be perceived/heard in one or both ears, or somewhere in the head (not localized to a specific ear). It is often described as a ringing or buzzing sound, but other descriptions include hissing, chirping, clicking, whistling, roaring, or crickets. It is estimated that 40-50 million Americans have some degree of tinnitus. Roughly 75% of those with tinnitus are not significantly bothered by it, while the other 25% are bothered enough to seek medical treatment.
While the causes of tinnitus are often unknown, it does tend to occur with hearing loss and with damage to the inner ear that may not have yet manifested as hearing loss. It frequently can occur as a result of loud noise exposure such as a gun blast or a loud concert. Many medications and medical conditions have a possible side effect of tinnitus that can be either temporary or permanent. Additionally there are several medical conditions whose symptom is tinnitus; that is tinnitus may be an early sign of a problem. If you suffer from tinnitus it is important that you discuss it with your medical professional to rule out any possible treatable sources for the tinnitus.
While there is generally no “cure” for tinnitus there are many treatments available. Please speak to your medical professional before trying any treatment. For more information on tinnitus please visit the American Tinnitus Association.