Tinnitus is a sensation of sound inside your head or ears that usually only you can hear; often a ringing, buzzing, hissing or roaring in your ears. You may experience this occasionally or constantly, and it is often experienced along with some form of hearing loss.
Inside the ear are tiny hair cells that convert sounds into signals the brain can understand. Research suggests that if these hair cells are damaged, the brain receives fewer signals and compensates by producing a new sound in their place. This is the most common reason for the ringing or other sound you may hear.
Causes of Tinnitus
As tinnitus is a symptom of other conditions there are many possible causes including:
- Hearing loss
- Exposure to loud sounds or sudden impact noises
- Reaction to certain medicines
- Neck or head injuries
- Other untreated medical conditions
- Otosclerosis, an abnormal growth of bone of the middle ear.
Hearing aids available to assist with treatment of Tinnitus