In Latin, tinnire means "to ring". Tinnitus is the medical term for "ringing in the ears,". It is the perception of ringing, hissing, or other sound in the ears when no external sound is present. It affects 1 in 5 of the World's population, and touches over 33% of the elderly community. It may be intermittent or constant in character, mild or severe in intensity, vary from a low roar or throbbing to a high-pitch sound so deafening the individual may hear nothing else. It may be subjective -audible only to the patient or may be objective which is audible to others. It may or may not be associated with a hearing impairment. Tinnitus isn't a disease. It's a symptom that can be caused by a number of medical conditions.