Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source. It may be heard as ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing or other noises and can affect one or both ears.
Tinnitus is a symptom rather than a single disease. It can be associated with hearing loss, noise exposure, ear conditions, some medicines and other health problems, although sometimes no specific cause is identified.
For some people it is mild; for others it can interfere with sleep, concentration and emotional wellbeing. Management therefore focuses both on identifying treatable causes and on reducing the impact of the sound.
Hearing assessment may be useful, especially when tinnitus is persistent. Approaches such as hearing aids for people with hearing loss, psychological therapies including CBT, and sound-based strategies can help some people cope better, but they should not be described as universal cures.
New tinnitus that is one-sided, pulsates in time with the heartbeat, follows a head injury, is accompanied by sudden hearing loss or neurological symptoms, or is causing severe distress should be medically assessed promptly.
