Tinnitus is the term for the sensation of hearing a sound in the lack of any external sound. When perceiving tinnitus there may not be just one specific sound heard but often there is more than a single sound often you may hear different types of sound, e.g. ringing, whooshing or humming or buzzing in the ear. Sometimes tinnitus can have a musical quality and can seem like a familiar tune which is known as musical tinnitus or musical hallucination.
These sounds can be continuous or they can come and go. They may be perceived in one ear or both, in the middle of the head or are difficult to pinpoint as it maybe the noise noticed as coming from outside until it is discovered it’s actually inside their head. The tinnitus sounds with some people can be accompanied by sensitivity to certain sounds that is called Hyperacusis.
Tinnitus is very common and is reported in all age groups, even young children. About 30% of people will experience tinnitus at some point in their lives but the number of people who live with invasive tinnitus is approximately 13% (over 1 in 8). Tinnitus can also be found in people with normal hearing but is more common in people who have hearing loss or other ear related problems.
The experience of tinnitus is different for different people. Most people find that they are able to continue their normal day-to-day activities. However, a small percentage of people with tinnitus report it as severely affects them.
The estimated prevalence of significant tinnitus in adults is estimated between 10-15% in individuals that prompt them to seek medical attention, 50% of these sufferers will have improved to mild or no tinnitus by five years of the first perception.
Helpful websites:
The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)
British Tinnitus Association
