What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is hearing a sound without an external source.

While it is commonly referred to as “ringing in the ears,” tinnitus can also be experienced as hearing a buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing, or clicking. Stemming from the Latin tinnire, “to ring,” tinnitus can be pronounced TINN-itis or tin-EYE-tis.

It’s important to understand that tinnitus is a symptom, not a condition itself. “It is a symptom that something is wrong in the auditory system, which includes the ear, the auditory nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain, and the parts of the brain that process sound

Brief, spontaneous tinnitus, lasting seconds to minutes, is experienced by nearly everyone. Temporary tinnitus that lasts minutes to hours routinely happens after excessive noise exposure. While it usually resolves on its own, the tinnitus is a sign that the ear has been damaged by the loud sound. Chronic tinnitus occurs for three months or longer.

Tinnitus’s Effect on Daily Life

People with chronic tinnitus may be bothered by it but do not complain because of habituation, better coping strategies, or having been told by doctors to learn to live with it. And some report that they are not bothered only if they do not focus on it or when they are in noisy places. For most, reactions to chronic tinnitus range from annoyance and distraction to anxiety and depression, and in extreme cases, suicidal tendencies.

Concerns that the tinnitus is a sign of something serious and/or the tinnitus sound itself can make it difficult to ignore their tinnitus, causing problems with sleep, concentration, and emotion.

Many tinnitus patients also experience hyperacusis, or difficulty tolerating external sounds of even moderate intensity. Some may also experience misophonia, or negative reactions to certain sounds.

Tinnitus Treatment at Total Hearing

Sound Relief helps more tinnitus patients find relief with TRT than any other practice in the United States. How can we offer hope when so many claim there is no effective treatment for chronic tinnitus? It’s because we have the technology, experience, and compassion needed to reduce the impact of tinnitus on your life successfully. We believe in a multi-disciplinary approach for complex cases, such as involving experienced psychologists when needed to provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Other cases may require working with a patient’s primary care physician to rule out the involvement of other medical conditions and prescriptions, such as drugs for high blood pressure and antidepressants.