Tinnitus
Reading this article
Topic pages summarize public health information in plain language. They may describe common causes and treatments in general terms; your own plan of care depends on your clinician’s exam, history, and tests. Use what you read here to prepare questions—not to start, stop, or change medications or to self-diagnose.
Tinnitus is often described as a ringing in the ears. It also can sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It may be soft or loud, high pitched or low pitched. You might hear it in either one or both ears.
Millions of Americans have tinnitus. People with severe tinnitus may have trouble hearing, working or even sleeping.
Causes of tinnitus include:
- Hearing loss in older people
- Exposure to loud noises
- Ear and sinus infections
- Heart or blood vessel problems
- Meniere's disease
- Brain tumors
- Hormonal changes in women
- Thyroid problems
- Certain medicines
Treatment depends on the cause. Treatments may include hearing aids, sound-masking devices, medicines, and ways to learn how to cope with the noise.
NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders