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What are the symptoms of tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head when no external source is present. In many cases, it can be a symptom of other conditions, such as hearing loss.

 

Learn more about the main causes of tinnitus and what you can do about it.

Take the Online Tinnitus Quiz Tinnitus treatment
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What are the signs of tinnitus?

The symptoms of tinnitus include noises in the ears or head that can sound like:

  • Ringing
  • Buzzing
  • Humming
  • Whooshing
  • Whistling
  • Crickets, vacuums, and many other sounds can be tinnitus, too.

The symptoms of tinnitus can vary depending on the underlying causes of the tinnitus and its severity. The phantom noise may vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal, and you may hear it in one or both ears. Tinnitus may be present all the time, or it may come and go intermittently.

Tinnitus is most commonly a symptom of hearing loss, but there can be other causes.
Click here to learn more.

What are the symptoms of severe tinnitus?

Tinnitus is rarely a sign of a serious underlying condition, but in the case of severe tinnitus, sounds can be so loud that they interfere with your ability to concentrate or hear actual, external sounds. When it lasts more than six months, it's known as chronic tinnitus.1

Please consult a hearing care professional if you are concerned about your tinnitus or if it is affecting your daily life.

Image show woman with tinnitus symptoms

Online Tinnitus Quiz

People with tinnitus often experience hearing loss. Our quick online tinnitus quiz can help you understand if you might have tinnitus and/or hearing loss and what you can do about it.

Question 1
Do you ever experience ringing or buzzing sounds in your ear(s) when no external sound is present?
Do you ever have trouble falling asleep or concentrating due to any ringing or buzzing sounds in your ear(s)?
Do you ever have trouble following conversations because you don’t hear properly?
Do you find yourself turning up the volume on the TV or radio louder than normal?

Your result:

Indications of tinnitus and hearing loss

Your answers indicate that you may experience symptoms of tinnitus and hearing loss. We recommend that you visit one of our hearing centers. There are hearing aids that can treat your hearing loss and might give you relief from your tinnitus.*


Book a complimentary hearing assessment at an office near you

† The result of this questionnaire may only be used for guidance. Official conclusions about hearing loss/tinnitus can be provided by our certified hearing care experts.

Your result:

Indications of hearing loss

Your answers indicate that you may experience symptoms of hearing loss but no symptoms of tinnitus. We recommend that you visit one of our hearing centers to to see if you have a hearing loss that should be treated.*


Book a complimentary hearing assessment at an office near you

† The result of this questionnaire may only be used for guidance. Official conclusions about hearing loss/tinnitus can be provided by our certified hearing care experts.

Your result:

Symptoms of tinnitus indicated

Your answers indicate that you may experience symptoms of tinnitus. We recommend that you read about tinnitus treatment options to learn about how to cope with and find relief from tinnitus symptoms.*

† The result of this questionnaire may only be used for guidance. Official conclusions about hearing loss/tinnitus can be provided by our certified hearing care experts.

Your result:

No tinnitus or hearing loss indicated

Your answers indicate that you may not have tinnitus - or that you have non-bothersome tinnitus that is not currently affecting your everyday life. However, we encourage you to book a complimentary hearing assessment to establish a baseline.

Request a complimentary hearing assessment*:

† The result of this questionnaire may only be used for guidance. Official conclusions about hearing loss/tinnitus can be provided by our certified hearing care experts.

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Signs and symptoms of different types of tinnitus

Subjective
This is when only you can hear the tinnitus sounds. This is the most common type of tinnitus.
Objective
This rare condition is when tinnitus is audible to another person as a sound emanating from the ear canal. Usually, it is caused by a vascular disorder or muscle contractions.
Illustration of letter
Pulsatile
This is when you hear a rhythmic thumping or whooshing in your ears that is in sync with your heartbeat. This is the rarest type of tinnitus. Learn more.

Can tinnitus be a symptom of hearing loss?

Tinnitus and hearing loss are closely linked. An estimated 90% of people who experience tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss.2

Hearing aids can be a great help for people with tinnitus. When you hear better, your brain is given more sound information to process, just as it is supposed to.3 Hearing aids help process the sound in a natural way so that you can listen with less effort. Many hearing aids today also come equipped with soothing tinnitus relief programs.

Hearing aids for tinnitus Sound therapy for tinnitus

Tinnitus relief can be an emotional relief

We know tinnitus can be mentally taxing,4 especially because other people may not experience it themselves or understand what it’s like to live with it. Since stress can exacerbate tinnitus symptoms, it can become a vicious cycle.

Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms and take charge of your well-being. If your tinnitus is due to hearing loss, modern hearing technology can be a great help for you.

Learn about the helpful remedies for tinnitus:
Tinnitus treatment

If you experience sudden onset of hearing
loss or tinnitus, contact a doctor today.

Sources

1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/tinnitus-ringing-in-the-ears-and-what-to-do-about-it

2. https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/hearing-loss-tinnitus-statistics

3. https://www.oticon.global/hearing-aid-users/blog/2020/all-about-tinnitus

4. Fetoni, A. R., Lucidi, D., De Corso, E., Fiorita, A., Conti, G., & Paludetti, G. (2016). Relationship between subjective tinnitus perception and psychiatric discomfort. The international tinnitus journal, 20(2), 76-82.

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