What On Earth Is Tinnitus?

Are you ever troubled in the middle of the night by weird noises, do you sometimes lay awake and try to pinpoint exactly where they're coming from? After a while, you realise that they're not coming from anywhere specifically, at least nowhere around you, they're actually coming from inside you. It's at times like these that you even wonder whether you're going mad or not.

You might be very confused and begin to question whether these noises are simply a figment of your imagination or whether they are actually attributable to a distinct source. You are actually hearing the noises and they aren't just something that you are imagining, so what exactly are you dealing with here?

Fundamentally, you're dealing with a medical condition which can cause a wide variety of different "sound effects." Sometimes it can manifest itself as a ringing noise, a whistling, a hissing or even clicking sensation. People seem to worry about this so much as there's no identifiable source. They believe that they are going mad when they ask other people if they can hear "that noise." Of course, other people cannot.

Many people know these as phantom noises because, with tinnitus, there's no quantifiable source. It's important not to lose control of your mind if you suffer from tinnitus though, as at least 8% of all people in the United States are fellow sufferers.

Anything like this is bound to cause you concern as you wonder whether you're suffering from a particular disease or serious illness. It's most likely that you have a symptom causing these ringing noises, and it could be relatively straightforward. For example, do you have a lot of earwax? This by itself can cause an infection in the ear and lead to tinnitus. If you have been taking a medication or drug, here again we can find a resultant side effect.

It's certainly true that in some cases tinnitus is a result of a damaged cochlea. This is a little more complex to deal with and furthermore you could find that an encroaching hearing loss is the culprit. In the vast majority of cases though, it appears as if tinnitus is a result of previous exposure to loud noises. If you love going to the nightclub and standing close to the speakers to get the "full effect," you may well be a candidate for tinnitus and shouldn't be surprised.

People wonder whether tinnitus is confined to the wee small hours of the night. Obviously, as it is quiet at night we become much more aware of these noises, while some hear them all the time, even in the cacophony of a regular day.

You should look for treatment to help you with your tinnitus. Some conventional treatments will help you mask the immediate symptoms, but only provide temporary relief. Consider a holistic approach to this issue, so that you address the causes and triggers as well. By taking an inclusive approach, you have the potential to achieve long-term freedom from these difficulties.


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For over 25 years, David Mason RHAD has been professionally involved in the hearing healthcare industry, and has produced a series of well-received tinnitus articles. He also gives a revealing review of Tinnitus Miracle by Thomas Coleman. For further hearing information, visit http://www.yorkshirehearingaids.co.uk