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TinnitusTinnitus (pronounced "ti-NITE-us" or "TINN-ah-tus") is the perception of any ringing, hissing, humming, or buzzing sound without any external source. Rarely, it's a pulsing rhythm aligned with the heartbeat. The impact of these phantom sounds can range from a minor inconvenience to a major debilitation, associated with an inability to sleep, work, or go about daily life. While there's no known cure for tinnitus, it sometimes resolves on its own.
The condition, named after the Latin verb tinnire, meaning "to ring," occurs in 10% to 15% of the population and is often associated with hearing loss. Earwax buildup and jaw joint disorders can also contribute. The ancient Egyptians documented a similar condition as "bewitched ear," and famous tinnitus sufferers include Charles Darwin, Ludwig van Beethoven, and the musician Eric Clapton.
Research suggests hearing loss-associated tinnitus may be the brain's signal to the inner ear to turn up the volume amid reduced noise, paving the way for future therapies targeting nerve signaling. Current management strategies train the brain to distract itself, often with sound generators or hearing aids that amplify environmental noise.Explore Tinnitus
What we've found
One decibel of hearing loss increases tinnitus risk by 6% for older peopleThat's according to an analysis of more than 18,000 people published in BMC Medicine in 2023. The tinnitus risk is not just limited to older people: The research also concluded that one decibel of hearing loss increases the risk of developing tinnitus among young adults by 3 percent. AARPTinnitus is the most common compensated claim for US veteransSince 2003, tinnitus has been the top-ranked compensated claim among US veterans. In 2024 alone, there were more than 3.2 million awards for tinnitus. (Some users may encounter a paywall.) The Washington PostTinnitus is derived from the Latin verb tinnire, meaning to ringRead the entry in The Physical Dictionary by Stephen Blankaart, from 1693, where the word first appeared in English. Internet ArchiveWatch how your nervous system's efforts to process silence can contribute to tinnitusCochlear cells can be damaged in numerous ways, including aging or exposure to loud noise. If enough cells die, the auditory system can become less sensitive, prompting the brain to compensate by amplifying sound, which is likely to contribute to tinnitus. TED-EdBeethoven's correspondence in 1801 documented his tinnitus sufferingLudwig van Beethoven's hearing loss is one of the best-known cases of this condition among historical artists. He also suffered from tinnitus and wrote in 1801, "My ears are buzzing and ringing perpetually, day and night. I can with truth say that my life is very wretched…" National Library of MedicineRead Charles Darwin's description of his tinnitus sufferingWhen he was 57 years old, Darwin wrote to a new doctor about his suffering from a variety of maladies, including "singing of ears", vomiting, recurring flatulence, vomiting, and more. He noted how he believed his stress contributed to these symptoms. University of CambridgeLudwig van Beethoven suffered from tinnitusHistorical figures that reportedly had the condition include Charles Darwin and Beethoven. Both men wrote letters about the frustrations and pain they experienced from the condition. (Some users may experience a paywall.) NautilusAncient Egyptian papyrus from 16th century BCE seems to reference tinnitusAncient Egyptians wrote that they treated "bewitched ear" with herbal concoctions that involved frankincense and other ingredients, which were placed in the ear. Cambridge University PressTinnitus is a rare side effect of COVID-19The infection can affect inner ear cells, and a review of the literature across multiple studies concluded that hearing loss occurred in 3.1% of patients with the virus and tinnitus in 4.5%. The ConversationNotch music therapy may filter out some tinnitus frequenciesResearchers in Germany have developed a smartphone app-based therapy for individuals with tinnitus associated with hearing loss. Some people with tinnitus can use this Notch app with their hearing aids to at least partially block sound frequencies matching their tinnitus pitch—turning down the volume of their tinnitus. Karolinska Institutet A new tinnitus therapy involves mild electric tongue shocks and sound exposuresLenire, an FDA-approved bimodal neuromodulation treatment approach for tinnitus, aims to teach the brain to distract itself from tinnitus. It includes short-term daily sessions wearing a mouth device that delivers mild electrical pulses to the tongue while listening to different sounds. (Some users may experience a paywall.) The Washington PostMusicians are 57% more likely to have tinnitus compared to the general publicMusicians have four times the risk of developing hearing loss, and their risk of developing tinnitus is increased by more than half. Hearing Health FoundationSome men may be at elevated risk of inheriting tinnitusA 2017 Swedish Twin Registry study suggests that bilateral tinnitus—when tinnitus occurs in both ears instead of just one—appears to be heritable, at least in men. Karolinska InstitutetPulsatile tinnitus is when you hear thumping synchronized with your heartbeatThis rare type of tinnitus, which sounds like rhythmic thumping or whooshing, is often linked to blood vessel conditions or high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure through exercise and food choices can help reduce the severity of this condition. Miracle EarCertain medications can make tinnitus worseCertain antidepressants, antimalarial medications, antibiotics, ibuprofen, and cancer drugs have been linked with the condition. At higher doses, particularly, it seems they can trigger or worsen tinnitus in some individuals. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersTinnitus estimates vary, but may occur in 10%-15% of the populationThis video discusses the mechanisms underlying tinnitus and explores the knowns and unknowns about the condition. Tinnitus most commonly occurs among those with hearing loss, suggesting that cochlear damage may be a factor. Neuroscientifically ChallengedThere's no cure for tinnitus, but sometimes it goes away on its ownThough there's no cure, treatments and management approaches can significantly reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Hearing aids, sound generators, and other steps can help some people with this condition. But sometimes tinnitus resolves within hours or days for reasons that remain unclear. Johns Hopkins MedicineIf hearing is damaged, the brain may amplify remaining sounds, perhaps causing tinnitusRecent mouse brain and ear imaging revealed that the creature compensates for hearing loss by sending signals to the cochlea in the inner ear. This triggers nerve fibers in the inner ear to increase volume and become more sensitive. Learning about these boosted-sensitivity messages from the brain to the cochlea—if they're similar in humans—might help explain tinnitus and fuel experimental approaches to turn down that sensitivity. Keck School of Medicine of USCPeople with tinnitus should avoid silence—sound-rich environments distract the brainThis podcast from an audiologist discusses common questions about tinnitus. It notes that tinnitus could be described as a phantom sound associated with hyperactivity in the brain. It's linked with loud sound exposures above 85 decibels, hearing loss associated with aging and stress, among other factors. Sound Relief Tinnitus & Hearing CenterHear examples of what tinnitus can sound like to those suffering from itThis video, from a Scottish branch of the UK National Health Service, features different types of ringing, crackling, and other sounds that tinnitus sufferers experience. Individual responses to such phantom sounds may vary widely. NHS InformVestibular Paroxysmia is often overlooked as a vertigo-causing diagnosisVP causes brief, recurrent episodes of vertigo. It's often mistaken for the more common "benign paroxysmal positional vertigo," but its vertigo episodes are typically shorter and triggered by specific head movements. The condition is caused by compression of the eighth cranial nerve. Other symptoms that accompany it are nausea and unsteadiness and, more rarely, tinnitus and hearing changes. Brian WernerMénière's disease is a long-term, inner ear disorder that causes vertigoThis severe vertigo-causing disorder may involve long and recurrent episodes of vertigo. Symptoms of this disease include balance issues and hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. It typically affects only one ear and is linked to a buildup of excess fluid in the inner ear. Zero To Finals
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