About Tinnitus

A frequent side-effect of injury to the ear is a spontaneous ringing, buzzing, whooshing or other noise. This is called tinnitus (pronounced /ti - nuh - tus/) and is a sound that is generated in the nerve pathways of the auditory system.

Tinnitus is a very common condition affecting an estimated 50 million people in the United States alone. It is one of the most commonly reported conditions by U.S. military veterans. It may be caused by a variety of things, including:

Hearing loss
Repeated, prolonged exposure to noise at hazardous levels (see our hearing loss prevention page for more on this)
A single instance of extreme noise, such as blast exposure
Physical trauma to the head, particulary to the side
Diseases of the ear, including ear infections, otoschlerosis and Meniere's Disease
Certain drugs which are toxic to the ears
Sudden change in air pressure

Tinnitus symptoms range from an occasional mild nuisance for some people to a constant, life-altering sound for others. There is currently no cure for tinnitus, but therapies are available to help people who are truly bothered by tinnitus.

If you experience tinnitus in only one ear or tinnitus started after a motor vehicle accident or recent injury to your head or neck, see a physician immediately as this may indicate a more severe medical condition.

Children have tinnitus, too! Recent research indicates that approximately 1/3 of children experience tinnitus at some point while growing up. 1 in 30 children have chronic, bothersome tinnitus that interferes with activities of daily life, including learning. That is nearly one child per classroom!

Tinnitus may be mistaken for attention deficit disorder or a behavior problem. This is because children with bothersome tinnitus may have difficulty focusing on classroom activities and attending to instruction. Tinnitus can be distracting and interfere with listening, but is poorly understood by most teachers and healthcare providers. Children also often lack the proper language to communicate what they are hearing. If this sounds like your child or someone you know, parents or teachers should sit down with the child in a safe, supportive, and understanding manner and ask whether the child hears a sound even when everything in the room is quiet. If you suspect your child has tinnitus, schedule an appointment today to get help.

We can conduct a thorough evaluation of your child's hearing and determine what needs he or she may have. Through child-friendly guided counseling and sound therapy, we can help prevent tinnitus from holding your child back.

Not all sounds you may hear are tinnitus.
True tinnitus is neurological in origin. However, you may hear sounds from other body functions, some of which may indicate problems that need help. True tinnitus may also be an indication of another problem that needs attention. Here are a few of the common sounds people hear and what you should do:

Clicking sound when you move your jaw. This often occurs after dental work has been performed. If you hear sounds when you move your jaw, particularly if you have had dental work in recent months, see your dentist or orthodontist right away. They may be able to make adjustments to your bite to correct this.
Pulsing sounds. If you hear sounds that are always pulsing, this is frequently due to an issue with blood flow in the brain or ear. Thsi first stop is often to discuss this with your primary care physician, who may need to adjust a medication or order a imaging study to determine whether you have a restriction of blood vessels.
Sudden, loud sharp ringing. Some people mistakenly think they have tinnitus. It is common in the general population to have periodic ringing that lasts for a few seconds or a minute. This is often accompanied by pressure or discomfort in the hear and a loss of hearing while the ringing occurs. This is not true tinnitus, but is a contraction or spasm of a tiny muscle behind the eardrum. It is not harmful and most people experience this every now and then.
Tinnitus (usually ringing) with recent head or neck injury. When tinnitus occurs after injury to the head or neck, it may indicate that your injury is more severe than you suspected. Contact a physician specializing in head injury or contact your primary care physician for possible referral.
Tinnitus with dizziness/vertigo or pain or pressure in the ear. When tinnitus is present along with other problems of the ear, it may indicate a medical problem. Please schedule an appointment with an audiologist or ear, nose & throat physicial immediately.
Tinnitus after flying or diving. This may also indicate trauma to the ear(s) and should be evaluated immediately by an ear, nose & throat physician.