What is Tinnitus?
tin·ni·tus [“TIN-it-us”, “tin-NITE-us”]
Noun Pathology
A constant or intermittent sound heard in the ears and/or head that does not have an outside source, often described as ringing, humming, or buzzing
- Tinnitus IS real, not imagined
- Tinnitus is NOT a disease
- It is a symptom of a malfunction,
occurring anywhere within the
hearing system
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss
- Majority of individuals with tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss
- BUT tinnitus and hearing loss are not mutually exclusive
What Causes Tinnitus?
The exact physiological cause is currently unknown! However, there are likely sources:
- Hearing loss
- Noise trauma
- Head and neck injury/trauma
- Medications
How Does tinnitus Affect People?
Research supports that self-reported tinnitus problems tend to fall into the following categories:
- Sleep
- Hearing
- Emotion
- Concentration