Tinnitus is a variety of sounds heard internally — such as ringing, clicking, buzzing, hissing, etc. — without an accompanying external source. The sound or sounds may be heard in one or both ears, can be hard or soft, intermittent or continuous. Sometimes the intensity changes if a person changes the position of their shoulders, neck, head, or jaw, etc.
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Although almost everyone experiences a faint tinnitus in an entirely quiet room, the affliction becomes problematic when it interferes with normal hearing or concentration ability.
Tinnitus is a symptom that can result from a enormous variety of underlying causes, both present in the auditory system or in other bodily systems.
Yet, the most common causes are hearing damage, noise-induced hearing loss, or age-related hearing loss, but other conditions such as ear infections, heart or blood vessel disease, brain tumors, temporomandibular joint disorders, migraines, certain medications, a previous head injury, and/or earwax may also be the cause.
In addition, tinnitus may also be accompanied by Hyperacusis, which is an affliction that presents itself as an increased sensitivity to sound(s).
Although tinnitus is usually associated with physical causes and malfunctions, it may also be the result of underlying emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress which can cause tinnitus rather as a psychosomatic disorder. At any rate, treatment of tinnitus depends much on the specific underlying cause.
By the way, tinnitus should not be confused with auditory hallucinations, which is often known as “hearing voices” or “hearing music,” and is thought to result from mental disorders and psychological trauma, among other — sometimes physical — causes. However, some physical or neurological dysfunction can cause both tinnitus and auditory hallucinations.
