Tinnitus is the perception of sounds that have no external source. The severity of tinnitus varies from an occasional awareness of a noise (ringing, hissing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, or rough sounds) in one or both ears, to an unbearable and incessant sound that causes a variety of psychological stresses.
Tinnitus isn’t a “phantom sound” or a single disease, but a symptom that can be associated with many causes and made worse by other factors.
Tinnitus is relatively common, but in rare cases it can be a symptom of serious disease such as vascular tumor or acoustic neuroma (a benign, usually slow-growing tumor that develops from the balance and hearing nerves supplying the inner ear).
Tinnitus facts: If you have tinnitus you aren’t alone. More than 50 million Americans have signs of tinnitus. 9 in 10 patients with tinnitus also have hearing loss, and 1 in 5 patients find the symptoms hard to endure. 10-15% of Americans experience chronic tinnitus, lasting more than 6 months.
See our Brochure on Tinnitus, here