What is tinnitus?

As our daily lives become increasingly noisy, most of us will at some point experience a buzzing or ringing in the ears, especially after exposure to loud noise.

Although this is a temporary problem for most people, nearly 5 million people in the UK live with these noises, known as tinnitus, to varying degrees. In some cases, symptoms can be severe and permanent, causing acute anxiety and distress.

The way people experience tinnitus varies enormously – the perceived loudness can be anything from a whisper to a roar; it can be either constant or intermittent and may be experienced in one or both ears.

Although a relatively small percentage of the population is aware of tinnitus, head noises are actually thought to be experienced by nearly everyone. In the early 1950s a series of experiments were carried out into tinnitus involving 80 people with normal hearing. After being placed in a soundproofed room for five minutes, 93% reported hearing tinnitus sounds, although none had previously complained of tinnitus.

So what is it that makes these sounds so prominent for tinnitus sufferers?

Although scientists disagree over the exact nature of tinnitus, the problem is believed to involve processes in both the ear and the brain. It is also known that symptoms can be exacerbated by environmental factors such as stress, depression and tiredness. Given that tinnitus itself can lead to anxiety, sleep deprivation and stress, those experiencing tinnitus can find themselves trapped in a vicious circle.

Different factors are associated with the development of tinnitus, including exposure to loud noise, use of some prescription drugs and middle ear infection. Some people are aware of tinnitus symptoms as they get older and it can precede or coincide with the development of hearing problems. However, many people are unable to attribute the onset of tinnitus to anything specific.

Tinnitus is rarely a symptom of a more serious problem. However, anyone becoming aware of a problem with tinnitus should see their family doctor to check that it is not associated with any other medical condition.