Have you ever experienced a constant ringing, buzzing, or whistling in your ears, even when there’s no external sound present? If so, you might have tinnitus, which is the perception of sound when there is no external source of sound present. It can be severe and debilitating.
There are many potential causes of tinnitus, the most common being exposure to loud or prolonged noise. Examples of this are listening to music at high volumes, working in a noisy environment, or attending concerts or events with loud music. Prolonged exposure to noise can cause damage to the inner ear and trigger tinnitus.
Other potential causes of tinnitus include:
The most common symptom of tinnitus is a ringing in the ears, but other sounds such as buzzing, hissing, or whistling might also be present. The sound can be constant or intermittent, and it might be more noticeable in quiet environments. Tinnitus can range from mild to severe and have a significant impact on your quality of life, causing stress, anxiety, and depression.
There are two types of tinnitus: subjective and objective. Subjective tinnitus is the most common form and is only heard by the person with tinnitus. Objective tinnitus, on the other hand, can be heard by a doctor conducting an examination.
