Tinnitus

In Latin, ‘tinnire’ means ‘to ring’.

Tinnitus is not a disease. It is a symptom that can be caused by a number of medical conditions. Tinnitus can arise in any of the four sections of the hearing system - the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear and the brain.

Damage to the microscopic endings of the hearing nerve in the inner ear is the most common cause of tinnitus. Hearing loss, trauma, ear infections, earwax and/or use of certain medications can also cause tinnitus.

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 to a high-pitch sound so deafening that 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 can be an extremely disturbing condition. It is not a serious problem in most of the cases, but rather a nuisance that may go away with time. Rarely, tinnitus represents a serious health condition. Most patients benefit with the use of maskers or hearing aids, while some people with tinnitus may require medical or surgical treatment. Counseling and certain lifestyle changes help one deal with tinnitus.