What Is That Ringing In My Ears (Tinnitus) And What Causes It?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound is present. It is often referred to as “ringing in the ears,” although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping, or clicking. Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom of another underlying condition of the ear, the auditory nerve, or other area in the auditory path. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant, with single or multiple tones. It’s perceived volume can range from very soft to extremely loud. 50 million Americans experience tinnitus to some degree. Of these, about 12 million have tinnitus which is severe enough to seek medical attention. Of those, about two million patients are so seriously affected by their tinnitus that their daily functioning is affected. The exact cause (or causes) of tinnitus is not always known. There are several likely factors which may cause tinnitus, or make existing tinnitus worse: noise-induced hearing loss, wax build-up in the ear canal, certain medications, ear or sinus infe
