Tinnitus
Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source
MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.
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
Symptoms, tests and care options
Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.
- Ginkgo · National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Measuring Tinnitus · American Tinnitus Association
- Therapy and Treatment Options · American Tinnitus Association
- Videonystagmography (VNG) · National Library of Medicine
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