Constant Ringing in the Ears
What is tinnitus?
The medical term for constant ringing in the ears is tinnitus (pronounced "tin-eye-tus"). The most common form or expression of tinnitus is a sound of constant ringing in the ears, although high and low hissing, whistling sounds, and roaring or low-pitched hissing also occur. Some people experience chirping, thumping, screeching, or even musical sounds. Note that tinnitus usually consists of simple sounds. So, hearing someone talking that no one else can hear would not be called tinnitus; it would be termed an auditory hallucination.
Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom of an underlying condition within the body such as hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, exposure to ototoxic (poisonous to the ear) medicine, or allergies. Although the exact cause of the constant ear ringing is unknown, it may be a symptom of other problems.
● Tinnitus may be in both ears or just in one ear.
● Seven million Americans are so severely affected by constant ringing in the ears they cannot lead normal lives.
● Tinnitus is most common in people older than age 40.
● Men have problems with tinnitus more often than women, perhaps due to a greater likelihood of exposure to loud noises.
● Thirty to 35% of adults worldwide experience tinnitus at some time in their lives. Ten to 15% of adults have prolonged tinnitus requiring medical evaluation. It affects about 36 million Americans at any one time, and is present as intermittent or occasional tinnitus in more than a 100 million Americans.
● Approximately 20% of the general population in industrialized nations is mildly affected by chronic tinnitus, and 5% report that tinnitus severely reduces their quality of life.
● Estimates of the prevalence of tinnitus vary; most research indicates a 10%-15% occurrence rate in all adults.
Types of tinnitus
Two main types of tinnitus are identified:
● Vibratory tinnitus – caused by sounds created when muscles contract near the ear, changes within the ear canal, or blood flow (vascular) problems in the face or neck; usually heard on one side.
● Nonvibratory tinnitus – caused by a variety of problems with the many nerves involved with hearing; can be heard in one or both ears, and sometimes is described as coming from inside the head.
Although constant ringing in the ears is often associated with hearing loss, it does not cause the loss; nor does a hearing loss cause constant ringing in the ears. In fact, some people with tinnitus experience no difficulty hearing, and in a few cases they even become so acutely sensitive to sound that they must take steps to muffle or mask external noises.
The Tinnitus Treatment Institute offers a wide range of tinnitus treatment options that put an end to constant ringing in the ears 90% of the time.