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Tinnitus can be caused by a number of things, including broken or damaged hair cells in the part of the ear that receives sound (cochlea); changes in how blood moves through nearby blood vessels (carotid artery); problems with the joint of the jaw bone (temporomandibular joint); and problems with how the brain processes sound.

Tinnitus is when you experience ringing or other noises in one or both of your ears. The noise you hear when you have tinnitus isn't caused by an external sound, and other people usually can't hear it. Tinnitus is a common problem. It affects about 15% to 20% of people, and is especially common in older adults.

Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system. For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or with other treatments that reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.

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Tinnitus is most often described as a ringing in the ears, even though no external sound is present. However, tinnitus can also cause other types of phantom noises in your ears, including:

Most people who have tinnitus have subjective tinnitus, or tinnitus that only you can hear. The noises of tinnitus may vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal, and you may hear it in one or both ears. In some cases, the sound can be so loud it interferes with your ability to concentrate or hear external sound. Tinnitus may be present all the time, or it may come and go.

In rare cases, tinnitus can occur as a rhythmic pulsing or whooshing sound, often in time with your heartbeat. This is called pulsatile tinnitus. If you have pulsatile tinnitus, your doctor may be able to hear your tinnitus when he or she does an examination (objective tinnitus).

When to see a doctor

Some people aren't very bothered by tinnitus. For other people, tinnitus disrupts their daily lives. If you have tinnitus that bothers you, see your doctor.

Make an appointment to see your doctor if:

• You develop tinnitus after an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold, and your tinnitus doesn't improve within a week.

See your doctor as soon as possible if:

• You have hearing loss or dizziness with the tinnitus.
• You are experiencing anxiety or depression as a result of your tinnitus.

Mayo Clinic Minute: Is tinnitus causing that ringing in your ear?

About 1 in 5 people experience the perception of noise or ringing in the ears. It's called tinnitus.

Dr. Gayla Poling says tinnitus can be perceived a myriad of ways. "Ninety percent of those with tinnitus have hearing loss." Hearing loss can be age-related, come from a one-time exposure, or exposure to loud sounds over a lifetime. Dr. Poling says the tiny hairs in our inner ear may play a role.

"Those little hair cells in our inner ear are really delicate structures. That's what is actually damaged with noise exposure."

Dr. Poling says there's no scientifically proven cure for tinnitus, but there are treatment and management options.

"Something as simple as getting a hearing aid to really treat the hearing loss." Other options include using a sound generator or using a fan at night.

"There's something called 'tinnitus retraining therapy.'" There are more ear-level masking devices where you can hear sounds throughout the day, too, that are more distracting."

If ringing in your ears bothers you, start by seeing your health care provider for a hearing test.

For the Mayo Clinic News Network, I'm Ian Roth.

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A number of health conditions can cause or worsen tinnitus. In many cases, an exact cause is never found.

Common causes of tinnitus

In many people, tinnitus is caused by one of the following:

Hearing loss. There are tiny, delicate hair cells in your inner ear (cochlea) that move when your ear receives sound waves. This movement triggers electrical signals along the nerve from your ear to your brain (auditory nerve). Your brain interprets these signals as sound.

If the hairs inside your inner ear are bent or broken — this happens as you age or when you are regularly exposed to loud sounds — they can "leak" random electrical impulses to your brain, causing tinnitus.

• Ear infection or ear canal blockage. Your ear canals can become blocked with a buildup of fluid (ear infection), earwax, dirt or other foreign materials. A blockage can change the pressure in your ear, causing tinnitus.
• Head or neck injuries. Head or neck trauma can affect the inner ear, hearing nerves or brain function linked to hearing. Such injuries usually cause tinnitus in only one ear.

Medications. A number of medications may cause or worsen tinnitus. Generally, the higher the dose of these medications, the worse tinnitus becomes. Often the unwanted noise disappears when you stop using these drugs.

Medications known to cause tinnitus include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and certain antibiotics, cancer drugs, water pills (diuretics), antimalarial drugs and antidepressants.

Other causes of tinnitus

Less common causes of tinnitus include other ear problems, chronic health conditions, and injuries or conditions that affect the nerves in your ear or the hearing center in your brain.

• Meniere's disease. Tinnitus can be an early indicator of Meniere's disease, an inner ear disorder that may be caused by abnormal inner ear fluid pressure.
• Eustachian tube dysfunction. In this condition, the tube in your ear connecting the middle ear to your upper throat remains expanded all the time, which can make your ear feel full.
• Ear bone changes. Stiffening of the bones in your middle ear (otosclerosis) may affect your hearing and cause tinnitus. This condition, caused by abnormal bone growth, tends to run in families.
• Muscle spasms in the inner ear. Muscles in the inner ear can tense up (spasm), which can result in tinnitus, hearing loss and a feeling of fullness in the ear. This sometimes happens for no explainable reason, but can also be caused by neurologic diseases, including multiple sclerosis.
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Problems with the TMJ , the joint on each side of your head in front of your ears, where your lower jawbone meets your skull, can cause tinnitus.
• Acoustic neuroma or other head and neck tumors. Acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous (benign) tumor that develops on the cranial nerve that runs from your brain to your inner ear and controls balance and hearing. Other head, neck or brain tumors can also cause tinnitus.
• Blood vessel disorders. Conditions that affect your blood vessels — such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or kinked or malformed blood vessels — can cause blood to move through your veins and arteries with more force. These blood flow changes can cause tinnitus or make tinnitus more noticeable.
• Other chronic conditions. Conditions including diabetes, thyroid problems, migraines, anemia, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have all been associated with tinnitus.

Risk factors

Anyone can experience tinnitus, but these factors may increase your risk:

• Loud noise exposure. Loud noises, such as those from heavy equipment, chain saws and firearms, are common sources of noise-related hearing loss. Portable music devices, such as MP3 players, also can cause noise-related hearing loss if played loudly for long periods. People who work in noisy environments — such as factory and construction workers, musicians, and soldiers — are particularly at risk.
• Age. As you age, the number of functioning nerve fibers in your ears declines, possibly causing hearing problems often associated with tinnitus.
• Sex. Men are more likely to experience tinnitus.
• Tobacco and alcohol use. Smokers have a higher risk of developing tinnitus. Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of tinnitus.
• Certain health problems. Obesity, cardiovascular problems, high blood pressure, and a history of arthritis or head injury all increase your risk of tinnitus.

Complications

Tinnitus affects people differently. For some people, tinnitus can significantly affect quality of life. If you have tinnitus, you may also experience:

• Sleep problems
• Trouble concentrating
• Memory problems
• Anxiety and irritability
• Problems with work and family life

Treating these linked conditions may not affect tinnitus directly, but it can help you feel better.

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In many cases, tinnitus is the result of something that can't be prevented. However, some precautions can help prevent certain kinds of tinnitus.

• Use hearing protection. Over time, exposure to loud sounds can damage the nerves in the ears, causing hearing loss and tinnitus. Try to limit your exposure to loud sounds. And if you cannot avoid loud sounds, use ear protection to help protect your hearing. If you use chain saws, are a musician, work in an industry that uses loud machinery or use firearms (especially pistols or shotguns), always wear over-the-ear hearing protection.
• Turn down the volume. Long-term exposure to amplified music with no ear protection or listening to music at very high volume through headphones can cause hearing loss and tinnitus.
• Take care of your cardiovascular health. Regular exercise, eating right and taking other steps to keep your blood vessels healthy can help prevent tinnitus linked to obesity and blood vessel disorders.
• Limit alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. These substances, especially when used in excess, can affect blood flow and contribute to tinnitus.
• AskMayoExpert. Non-pulsatile tinnitus. Mayo Clinic; 2019.
• Kellerman RD, et al. Tinnitus. In: Conn's Current Therapy 2021. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 22, 2020.
• Tunkel DE, et al. Clinical practice guideline: Tinnitus. Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. 2014; doi:10.1177/0194599814545325.
• Flint PW, et al., eds. Tinnitus and hyperacusis. In: Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 22, 2020.
• Baguley D, et al. Tinnitus. The Lancet. 2013; doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60142-7.
• Tinnitus. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus. Accessed Dec. 22, 2020.
• Dinces EA. Etiology and diagnosis of tinnitus. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 22, 2020.
• Dinces EA. Treatment of tinnitus. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 22, 2020.
• AskMayoExpert. Pulsatile tinnitus. Mayo Clinic; 2019.
• Causes. American Tinnitus Association. https://www.ata.org/understanding-facts/causes. Accessed Dec. 22, 2020.

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What is tinnitus?

What are the symptoms of tinnitus, what causes tinnitus, what creates the perception of noise in the ears, how is tinnitus diagnosed, what treatments can help tinnitus, what types of tinnitus-related research are scientists conducting, where can i find additional information about tinnitus.

Tinnitus (pronounced tih-NITE-us or TIN-uh-tus) is the perception of sound that does not have an external source, so other people cannot hear it.

Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing sound, but some people hear other types of sounds, such as roaring or buzzing. Tinnitus is common, with surveys estimating that 10 to 25% of adults have it. Children can also have tinnitus. For children and adults, tinnitus may improve or even go away over time, but in some cases, it worsens with time. When tinnitus lasts for three months or longer, it is considered chronic.

The causes of tinnitus are unclear, but most people who have it have some degree of hearing loss. Tinnitus is only rarely associated with a serious medical problem and is usually not severe enough to interfere with daily life. However, some people find that it affects their mood and their ability to sleep or concentrate. In severe cases, tinnitus can lead to anxiety or depression.

Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus, but there are ways to reduce symptoms. Common approaches include the use of sound therapy devices (including hearing aids), behavioral therapies, and medications.

The symptoms of tinnitus can vary significantly from person to person. You may hear phantom sounds in one ear, in both ears, and in your head. The phantom sound may ring, buzz, roar, whistle, hum, click, hiss, or squeal. The sound may be soft or loud and may be low or high pitched. It may come and go or be present all the time. Sometimes, moving your head, neck, or eyes, or touching certain parts of your body may produce tinnitus symptoms or temporarily change the quality of the perceived sound. This is called somatosensory (pronounced so-ma-toe-SENSE-uh-ree) tinnitus.

Most cases of tinnitus are subjective , meaning that only you can hear the sounds. In rare cases, the sound pulsates rhythmically, often in time to your heartbeat. In these cases, a doctor may be able to hear the sounds with a stethoscope and, if so, it is considered to be objective tinnitus. Often, objective tinnitus has an identifiable cause and is treatable.

While the exact causes of tinnitus are not fully understood, it has been linked to the following:

• Noise exposure . Many people experience tinnitus after being exposed to loud noise in a workplace setting or at a sporting event or concert. Tinnitus is also the most common service-related disability among veterans because of loud noise they may have experienced from gunfire, machinery, bomb blasts, or other similar sources.
• Hearing loss. Hearing loss, which can be caused by factors such as aging or exposure to loud noise, is strongly associated with tinnitus. Some people with hearing loss, however, never develop tinnitus.
• Medications. Tinnitus can be a side effect of taking certain medications, especially if they are taken at high doses. Medications associated with tinnitus include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin), certain antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, anti-malaria medications, and antidepressants.
• Earwax or an ear infection. Blockage of the ear canal by earwax or by fluid from an ear infection can trigger tinnitus.
• Head or neck injuries. A head/neck injury can damage structures of the ear, the nerve that carries sound signals to the brain, or areas of the brain that process sound, causing tinnitus.

Less common tinnitus risk factors include:

• Ménière’s disease. Tinnitus can be a symptom of Ménière’s disease , an inner ear disorder that can also cause balance problems and hearing loss.
• Jaw joint problems. The joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull is close to the ear. Jaw clenching or tooth grinding can damage surrounding tissue, causing or worsening tinnitus.
• Tumor-related disorders. A vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) is a benign tumor on a nerve that leads from the inner ear to the brain. Acoustic neuromas and other head, neck, and brain tumors can cause tinnitus.
• Blood vessel problems. High blood pressure, atherosclerosis, or malformations in blood vessels, especially if they are in or close to the ear, can alter blood flow and cause tinnitus.
• Chronic conditions. Diabetes, migraines, thyroid disorders, anemia, and certain autoimmune disorders such as lupus and multiple sclerosis are among the chronic conditions that have been linked to tinnitus.

While there are many possible causes of tinnitus, some people develop it for no known reason.

One leading theory is that tinnitus can occur when damage to the inner ear changes the signal carried by nerves to the parts of your brain that process sound. A way to think about this is that while tinnitus may seem to occur in your ear, the phantom sounds are instead generated by your brain, in an area called the auditory cortex.

Other evidence shows that abnormal interactions between the auditory cortex and other neural circuits may play a role in tinnitus. The auditory cortex communicates with other parts of the brain, such as the parts that control attention and emotions, and studies have shown that some people with tinnitus have changes in these nonauditory brain regions.

If you have tinnitus, first see your primary care doctor, who will check for earwax or fluid from an ear infection that could be blocking your ear canal. Your doctor will also ask about your medical history to find out if an underlying condition or a medication may be causing your tinnitus.

Next, you may be referred to an otolaryngologist (commonly called an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or an ENT). The ENT will ask you to describe the tinnitus sounds and when they started, and will examine your head, neck, and ears. You might also be referred to an audiologist, who can measure your hearing and evaluate your tinnitus.

The ENT may order imaging tests, especially if your tinnitus pulsates. Imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), or ultrasound can help reveal whether a structural problem or underlying medical condition is causing your tinnitus.

When tinnitus has an underlying physiological cause, such as earwax or jaw joint problems, addressing the cause can eliminate or greatly reduce symptoms. But for many people, symptoms can persist for months or even years. There are several ways to lessen the impact of tinnitus. Below are some of the treatments that your doctor may recommend.

Several types of devices are used in sound therapy. They include the following:

• Tabletop or smartphone sound generators are typically used as an aid for relaxation or sleep. Placed near your bed, you can program a generator or set a smartphone app to play pleasant sounds such as waves, waterfalls, rain, or the sounds of a summer night. You may also use other sound generators, such as a radio or a household fan. If your tinnitus is mild, this might be all that you need to help you fall asleep.
• Hearing aids are one of the main treatment options for people with tinnitus who have hearing loss. They amplify external noises, allowing you to better engage with the world, while also making your tinnitus less noticeable.
• Wearable sound generators are small electronic devices that fit in the ear much like hearing aids and emit soft, pleasant sounds. Because they are portable, these devices can provide continuous relief from tinnitus throughout the day. Smartphone apps may also be used to generate these sounds.
• Combination devices, which fit into the ear like hearing aids, provide sound amplification and sound generation in one device. These devices are another option for treating tinnitus in people with hearing loss.
• Education about tinnitus can reduce anxiety by helping you recognize that the condition, in most cases, is unlikely to be linked to a serious medical condition. Through counseling, you can learn coping techniques and strategies to avoid making symptoms worse, such as by limiting your exposure to loud noise.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches you how to identify negative thoughts that cause you distress. Your counselor will train you to change your response to negative thoughts and to focus on positive changes you can make to reduce the impact of tinnitus on your life. Studies have shown that this type of therapy can help improve the well-being of people with the condition.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy uses counseling and sound therapy to “retrain” the brain, both emotionally and physiologically, so that you no longer notice your tinnitus. The counseling aspect of therapy aims to help you reclassify tinnitus sounds as neutral, while the continuous low-level sound from a device worn in the ear helps you get used to the presence of tinnitus.
• Medications. There are no medications specifically for treating tinnitus, but your doctor may prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to improve your mood or help you sleep. While certain vitamins, herbal extracts, and dietary supplements are commonly advertised as cures for the condition, none of these has been proven to be effective.

Investigators at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and at other research centers across the country, many supported by NIDCD, are working to better understand what causes tinnitus and to develop new treatment strategies. Evidence suggests that tinnitus is caused by changes in neural networks in the brain, so many research efforts are aimed at testing the benefit of magnetic or electrical stimulation of the brain.

Here are some examples of current research topics:

• Electric stimulation. Cochlear implants have been shown to suppress tinnitus, in addition to restoring functional hearing in those with severe-to-profound hearing loss, but they are not suitable for the majority of tinnitus sufferers who have significant acoustic hearing. Researchers are using non-invasive electric stimulation on parts of the inner ear to suppress tinnitus while not damaging acoustic hearing.
• Bimodal stimulation. Acoustic stimulation may be combined with other types of electric stimulation on the tongue, head or neck areas, or vagus nerve to provide long-term relief for tinnitus.
• Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). In this painless, noninvasive procedure, short magnetic pulses are delivered to the brain using a device called an electromagnetic coil. Preliminary trials of rTMS have yielded mixed results, so researchers are now studying the ideal coil placement and frequency of patient visits.
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS). This procedure is normally used to treat people with certain types of movement disorders or neuropsychiatric conditions. Some people being treated with DBS found that the procedure unexpectedly reduced their tinnitus symptoms. Unlike rTMS, DBS is invasive and involves surgery to implant electrodes deep within the brain. While early results on the use of DBS for tinnitus have been encouraging, more research is needed to determine if the procedure is warranted for treating tinnitus alone.
• Researchers have identified a drug that reduces tinnitus in mice, and they are working to develop second-generation versions that may one day prove effective in people.
• Researchers are studying how tinnitus is linked to hyperactivity in central auditory neurons following damage to the cochlea, the structure in the inner ear that senses sound. Scientists are working to determine the cellular mechanisms that cause increased activity, and to identify drugs that may control it and relieve tinnitus symptoms.
• Genetic risk factors. Tinnitus and hearing impairment affect many older people. Scientists are reviewing a large genetic database of people with tinnitus and age-related hearing loss to identify genetic risk factors for both conditions. Determining genetic associations with age-related hearing impairment and tinnitus may have a broad impact on risk prediction, prevention, screening, and treatment.
• Personalized treatment. Tinnitus symptoms are diverse, with different people hearing different sounds in different patterns. The results of brain imaging studies in people with tinnitus also vary considerably from person to person. Using data gathered from study participants who are tracking their tinnitus using a smartphone app, along with brain imaging data, scientists are working to characterize the many forms that the condition can take. They aim to describe distinct tinnitus profiles and to identify the most effective treatment approaches for each one.

NIDCD maintains a directory of organizations providing information on the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.

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NIDCD Information Clearinghouse 1 Communication Avenue Bethesda, MD 20892-3456 Toll-free voice: (800) 241-1044 Toll-free TTY: (800) 241-1055 Email: [email protected]

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Mayo Clinic Q and A: Understanding tinnitus

Liza Torborg

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ANSWER:  Tinnitus — the sensation of hearing a sound when no external sound is present — often is described as a ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, humming, pulsing, or hissing sound, or any combination of these sounds. You may hear it in one or both ears. The sound may be present all the time or off and on.

If you have tinnitus that doesn’t go away, a hearing evaluation is recommended. In most cases, tinnitus can be managed fully. But, for some, it’s a chronic condition that can affect sleep and everyday function. Fortunately, there are options to reduce its effects.

The cause of tinnitus is unknown. One idea is that tinnitus results from damage to the cells of the inner ear. This stems from the fact that about 90 percent of people with tinnitus have some hearing loss caused by noise.

The tiny, delicate hairs in your inner ear move in relation to the pressure of sound waves. This movement triggers the release of an electrical signal through your auditory nerve to your brain. Your brain normally interprets these signals as sound. If the hairs inside your inner ear are damaged, bent or broken, they may release random electrical impulses to your brain, resulting in tinnitus.

In many people, tinnitus has been linked to hearing loss — both age- and noise-related. It can occur from earwax blockage, from bone changes in the middle ear (otosclerosis) and as a side effect of a number of medications. Other conditions associated with tinnitus include head trauma or a concussion; inner ear conditions, such as Ménière’s disease or an acoustic neuroma; head or neck injuries; or problems with the joint where your lower jawbone meets your skull (temporomandibular joint). High blood pressure and factors that increase blood pressure, such as stress, alcohol use and caffeine consumption, can make tinnitus more noticeable.

Although there’s no known cure for most cases of tinnitus, many people can manage it. For most, the goal is to lessen their awareness of tinnitus. If tinnitus is due to a health condition, your health care provider may be able to recommend steps that could reduce the noise. This may involve removing excess earwax, treating an underlying vascular condition or changing medications if one is contributing to the problem.

Hearing aids also can help. Properly fitting hearing aids can address hearing loss. And tinnitus sometimes can be reduced if you can better hear sounds around you. In some cases, white noise (masking) may help suppress tinnitus so that it’s less bothersome.

In addition, there are several promising therapy options for management of tinnitus. These include music therapy devices and methods for managing tinnitus; tinnitus retraining therapy, which involves using devices to “train the brain” to ignore tinnitus; and cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on replacing negative thoughts with positive ones to change your reaction to tinnitus.

Although there is no approved drug to cure tinnitus, in some cases, medications, such as certain antidepressants, may reduce the severity of symptoms. Ongoing, research-focused tinnitus suppression and management solutions are underway.

Finally, a licensed therapist can help you develop coping techniques. Support groups also are available in person and online. Exercise and relaxation therapy also may help, as stress can worsen tinnitus. (adapted from Mayo Clinic Health Letter ) —   Dr. Gayla L. Poling , Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

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Tinnitus Signs, Symptoms, and Complications

Frequent symptoms, rare symptoms, complications, when to see a healthcare provider.

The hallmark symptom of tinnitus is ringing in one or both ears. However, this condition may also present as a ringing, buzzing, or clicking sound. About one in 10 Americans experienced tinnitus for at least five minutes over the past year.

This article will review the most frequent and rare complications of tinnitus and when to see a doctor about symptoms.

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There are two general types of tinnitus: subjective and objective.

Subjective tinnitus is an "electrochemical phenomenon" that is common and occurs when a sound is identifiable only to the person with tinnitus.

Objective tinnitus occurs when another listener can hear the tinnitus noise of the person experiencing it. Objective tinnitus sounds stem from somewhere else in the body and extend to the ears through body tissues. Usually, objective tinnitus stems from a blood vessel disorder or the muscular system.

People with tinnitus typically complain of hearing the following sounds in one or both ears:

The volume and pitch of tinnitus sounds can vary widely. When it is very quiet, some people report that they can hear their tinnitus more clearly. However, others also report that their tinnitus is loud even when they are in the presence of other loud noises, such as a noisy restaurant. Some even report that noise exacerbates their tinnitus symptoms.

Tinnitus may be frustrating or even debilitating for some and not for others. It may also worsen or improve over time. People with tinnitus often complain that these noises can make sleeping more difficult. Some people experience sounds that come and go, while others hear continuous noise.

Objective tinnitus, or tinnitus that another person can hear in addition to the person experiencing it, is far less common than subjective tinnitus. Diagnosing objective tinnitus depends on whether the provider can hear audible tinnitus sounds, which is difficult in many cases.

Because of this problem, some providers refer to objective tinnitus as "rhythmic" and subjective tinnitus as "non-rhythmic."

Two forms of rhythmic tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus and muscular tinnitus, are rare.

Pulsatile tinnitus symptoms include regularly hearing a steady whooshing sound that beats in sync with a person's heartbeat. Under normal circumstances, people may hear their heartbeat after physical exertion. However, people with pulsatile tinnitus often hear their heartbeat even at rest. Symptoms may also be more noticeable at night while people try to sleep because there is less external noise.

Muscular tinnitus symptoms are often referred to as a clicking noise caused by involuntary spasms or muscle jerking of the muscles near and inside the ear.

Identifying less common forms of tinnitus is important because a proper diagnosis can lead to medical care that can alleviate or reduce tinnitus symptoms.

At this time, there is no cure for tinnitus . If your healthcare provider can find an underlying cause for tinnitus, such as a new medication, high blood pressure, or a temporomandibular (TMJ) joint disorder, it may help your chances of reducing it. Treating the cause can help patients live more comfortable, healthy lives.

However, in some cases, if the tinnitus does not go away, it can be a frustrating situation that can lead to health issues, such as:

• Problems with memory and concentration.

If you or a loved one is experiencing tinnitus, the first step may be to see your healthcare provider. In some cases, tinnitus may be due to something as simple as excess earwax lodged in the ear. Your healthcare provider will review your current health and past medical history, medical conditions, and medications to see if there is a connection with the tinnitus symptoms.

Other common causes of tinnitus may include:

• Damage to the nerve endings in the inner ear
• Stiffening of bones in the middle ear
• Exposure to loud noises
• Hormonal changes

Other causes of tinnitus that may warrant a trip to your healthcare provider or a hospital could include the following:

• Head or neck injury
• High or low blood pressure
• Reaction to certain medications
• Thyroid abnormalities
• Jaw misalignment

Your primary care physician may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat doctor called an otolaryngologist . They may also refer you to an audiologist to measure your hearing and evaluate your tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, pulsating, clicking, or other noise in one or both ears. The symptoms and severity of tinnitus vary between people. There are two general types of tinnitus: subjective and objective. Subjective tinnitus is an "electrochemical phenomenon" that is common and occurs when a sound is identifiable only to the person with tinnitus.

Objective tinnitus, or tinnitus heard by another person other than just the person experiencing it, is far less common than subjective tinnitus. Diagnosing objective tinnitus depends on whether the provider can hear audible tinnitus sounds, which is difficult in many cases. Because of this problem, some providers refer to objective tinnitus as "rhythmic" and subjective tinnitus as "non-rhythmic."

If you or a loved one is experiencing tinnitus, see your healthcare provider and learn about what you can do to find the cause and alleviate symptoms.

A Word From Verywell

The symptoms and severity of tinnitus can vary widely between different people. Sometimes it can also be very frustrating and impact the overall quality of life. Contact your healthcare provider if you or a loved one experiences tinnitus so severe that you find it difficult to hear, concentrate, or sleep. Your provider can help you find ways to reduce tinnitus severity and its impact on your life.

National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Tinnitus .

National Organization of Rare Diseases. Tinnitus .

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Tinnitus .

American Tinnitus Association. Why are my ears ringing?

By Sarah Jividen, RN Sarah Jividen, RN, BSN, is a freelance healthcare journalist and content marketing writer at Health Writing Solutions, LLC. She has over a decade of direct patient care experience working as a registered nurse specializing in neurotrauma, stroke, and the emergency room.

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What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a problem that causes you hear a noise in one ear or both ears. In most cases, nothing outside of you caused that noise. It’s an internal noise that only you hear in your ear. People commonly describe the noise as a “ringing in the ear.” It also can be roaring, clicking, buzzing, or other sounds. Some people who have tinnitus hear a more complex noise that changes over time. You may hear the noise constantly, or it may come and go.

There are two types of tinnitus.

• Subjective tinnitus happens when you hear a sound that’s not really there. These phantom sounds are caused by certain nerves that aren’t functioning properly or because there is a problem with part of your ear.
• Objective tinnitus is caused by an actual sound that occurs inside or near the ear, such as from nearby blood vessels. Your doctor can hear this sound during an exam. This type of tinnitus rare.

Symptoms of tinnitus

The main symptom of tinnitus is hearing sounds in your ears that aren’t really there. The sound could be ringing. It may also sound like blowing, roaring, clicking, buzzing, hissing, or humming. The noises can be soft or loud. They can be high pitched or low pitched.

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus is not a disease. It’s a symptom of an underlying health problem. Most of the time, it’s cause by sensorineural hearing loss (nerve damage in your ear). Sometimes it’s caused by something as simple as earwax blocking the ear canal. Here are some other common causes of tinnitus:

• Exposure to loud noises, which can lead to  noise-induced hearing loss  over time
• Hearing loss related to aging
• Certain medicines that can damage the inner workings of the ear (for example, taking high doses of aspirin every day)
• Eustachian tube dysfunction (the tube that leads from the middle ear to the back of the throat)
• Inner ear infections, such as otitis media or labyrinthitis
• Meniere’s disease , an inner-ear condition that involves hearing loss and dizziness

Allergies, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, diabetes, tumors, and head injuries can also cause tinnitus. If you have a foreign object in your ear or a build-up of ear wax, you may also experience tinnitus.

In many cases, the cause of tinnitus can’t be identified.

How is tinnitus diagnosed?

Your doctor will take a detailed medical history, including a family history of hearing loss. They will want to know about any medical conditions you may have and any history of infections. Your doctor also needs to know what medicines you’re taking, including herbal products or supplements. They will check your ears. They may give you a hearing test. They may also order other tests to find out what is causing your tinnitus. These could include a head CT scan, a head MRI scan, or blood vessel studies. Your doctor might refer you to an otolaryngologist. This is a doctor that specializes in the ear, nose, and throat (also called an ENT doctor).

Can tinnitus be prevented or avoided?

To prevent tinnitus or keep it from getting worse, avoid long-term exposure to loud noises and activities that put you at risk for hearing loss. If you know you’re going to be around loud noises, take precautions by wearing earplugs or noise-canceling headphones. If you listen to music through headphones, keep the volume low.

If you have tinnitus, avoid things that seem to make it worse. These may include nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine.

Treatment will depend on what is causing your tinnitus. If earwax is causing your tinnitus, your doctor will remove it. If a medicine you’re taking is causing the issue, your doctor may recommend you stop taking that medicine. But never stop taking a prescription medicine without talking to your doctor first.

If an underlying condition, such as high blood pressure, is causing your tinnitus, your doctor can create a treatment plan for you to follow. Usually, tinnitus goes away once the condition that is causing it is treated. If diabetes is causing your tinnitus, take your prescribed medicine and follow your doctor’s orders for diet and exercise to manage the condition.

When no specific cause can be identified, your doctor will probably focus on making your tinnitus easier to tolerate. Some possible methods include:

• Hearing aids: For people who have tinnitus and hearing loss, using a hearing aid may be helpful. When you wear a hearing aid, things you need to hear will be louder than the ringing, buzzing, or clicking sound. Hearing aids are available by prescription or over the counter. Talk to your doctor about which is best for you.
• Sound generators (maskers): Wearable sound generators can be placed behind your ear and create white noise (constant background noise) or other sounds. This “masks” the tinnitus and makes it less noticeable. Some people also use bedside sound generators to help them sleep.
• Counseling: Some people who have tinnitus become anxious or depressed because a hearing loss can isolate a person, socially. If you have tinnitus and are struggling, seek help through a counselor and/or a support group to help you cope. Counseling can also be used to help you take the focus off your tinnitus.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy: This method uses a mix of counseling with maskers or other approaches. The goal is to teach your brain to ignore the sounds you hear. This isn’t a quick fix, but many people find it useful with time and practice.
• Relaxing: Stress can make tinnitus worse. Your doctor can suggest relaxation techniques that might help you deal with your stress.
• Medicines: Currently, there are no medicines specifically designed for treating tinnitus. Some medicines, such as certain ones used to treat anxiety, have been shown to relieve tinnitus for some people. Talk to your doctor about whether medicine might relieve your symptoms.

Living with tinnitus

For many people with tinnitus, the condition is just a mild distraction. But for some, tinnitus causes distress and negatively affects their quality of life. It can cause anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and poor concentration. To lessen the impact of tinnitus on your life, try the following:

• Avoid loud noises and sounds.
• Control your blood pressure and diabetes.
• Exercise regularly for good circulation.
• Get plenty of sleep and avoid fatigue.

Take the focus off your tinnitus. Use techniques such as sound generators and counseling to push it to the background. Remember that the more you think about tinnitus, the more bothersome it will become.

Questions for your doctor

• The noise in my ears makes it hard for me to sleep. What can I do?
• Is there something causing my tinnitus that we could treat?
• Will I lose my hearing?
• I also get dizzy a lot. Could I have Meniere’s disease?
• Could this be caused by an ear infection?
• Should I avoid listening to music on headphones?
• Is there anything I can do at home to help?

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Tinnitus

National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Tinnitus

Last Updated: May 15, 2023

This article was contributed by: familydoctor.org editorial staff

Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

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Tinnitus: stopping the sound in your head.

In a silence where some people could hear a pin drop, people with tinnitus hear a constant ringing in their ears. Or the sound may be a buzzing, rushing, pinging, clicking, whistling, or roaring.

Some people describe it as a freight train constantly rolling through their brains. But tinnitus has nothing to do with actual sound waves hitting the ear.

What causes tinnitus

Millions of Americans have tinnitus. Tinnitus can be temporary (acute) or ongoing (chronic).

People with hearing loss can have tinnitus. Being exposed to loud noise for a long time can cause tinnitus, as well as hearing loss. It can also be caused by simple wax buildup in the ear canal, ear or sinus infections, and TM joint (temporomandibular joint) problems. Many medicines can cause tinnitus. If you think that your medicine is causing your tinnitus, talk with your healthcare provider. Allergies, tumors, heart problems, and jaw and neck illnesses also can cause tinnitus.

How to treat it

Sometimes tinnitus is a short-term (temporary) symptom of a physical problem. In those cases, treating the physical problem may end the tinnitus. For example, having a healthcare provider remove earwax may stop the tinnitus.

In most other cases, there is no known cure. But doing the following can provide relief.

Have a checkup by an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT or otolaryngologist). Or get care from an audiologist. If tinnitus is affecting your quality of life and daily activities, a healthcare provider can help you manage your condition. Anyone who has tinnitus should get medical care to rule out any physical problems.

If you have both hearing loss and tinnitus, see your healthcare provider for help with both problems. You may want to try these treatments:

A masking device. This device makes a low-level sound. It helps you to ignore the tinnitus and fall asleep. Listening to radio static at low volume also can help.

A tabletop sound generator. This device uses nature sounds to help you ignore tinnitus. This includes sounds, such as a babbling brook, ocean waves, or forest life.

Medicine therapy. Medicines are available that may ease tinnitus. But more research is needed to confirm how well they work. If your provider prescribes a medicine, ask if there are any side effects.

Tinnitus retraining therapy. This method also uses a masking device. But this is done at a lower intensity than the tinnitus. This can help the brain filter out (habituate to) the sound. Cognitive behavioral therapy is included to help treat the person's emotional reaction to tinnitus.

Biofeedback. This relaxation method often helps to ease tinnitus symptoms, by helping to reduce stress.

Other treatments that help some people with tinnitus include cochlear implants. These are only available to people who are totally deaf. Or to people with profound hearing loss in both ears. There are also medicines that reduce anxiety or depression, or that help you sleep. Ask your healthcare provider which treatment may work best for you.

What can I do for myself?

Here are some tips on coping with tinnitus:

Think about things that will help you cope. Many people find listening to music very helpful. Focusing on music may help you forget about your tinnitus for a while. It can also help hide the sound. Other people like to listen to recorded nature sounds, such as ocean waves, the wind, or crickets.

Keep away from anything that can make your tinnitus worse. This includes smoking, alcohol, and loud noise. In some cases, it's helpful to wear earplugs or special earmuffs. These can protect your hearing and keep your tinnitus from getting worse. If you are a construction worker, airport worker, or hunter, or if you are regularly exposed to loud noise at home or work, always wear protective hearing devices.

Ask friends and family for help. If it is hard for you to hear over your tinnitus, explain your condition to your friends and family and ask them to face you when they talk. Then you can see their faces. Seeing their expressions may help you understand them better. Ask people to speak louder, but not shout. Also tell them they don't have to speak slowly, just more clearly.

You may hear your heartbeat in your ear or a swishing sound. This may mean that a more serious condition is present. You should see an ear, nose, and throat specialist for further evaluation.

To learn more

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

American Tinnitus Association

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

American Academy of Audiology

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

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Constant Motor Revving in Ears

Discussion in ' Support ' started by Broadus Palmer , Jul 19, 2016 .

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Broadus Palmer Member

has anyone experienced this before? constant buzzing motor revving up and down in ear, it seem to be in right ear then moves over to left ear. I woke up with this all of a sudden, I thought it was our hvac downstairs but it follows me everywhere I go. Im trying to stay positive because I have tinnitus and I have habituated for the most part, but this new sound puts me back at square one with panic and feeling of I cant live like this at all or how can I live like this? I think everyone has been there, cant sleep, hardly eat, cant mask it. last night I had the ceiling fan, box fan and tv to try to drown it im feeling helpless all over again as to I cannot find anything on what I'm experiencing contstant engine revving in my ear all day everyday? smh when I plug my ear with my fingers it seems to calm down but soon as I unplugged them its going crazy again im breaking down yall, I need some help  

ruben ruiz Member

get some ear plugs... i feel for you yet imgoing through the same thing. Wat too much anxiety, lost 40 lbs, lost all my strength.  

April Member

I had that same revving motor when my tinnitus first started. I actually got out of bed to go yell at my neighbor to turn off the motor to his car but after I went outside realized that the sound was coming from somewhere in my head/ear. Try to stay positive as the revving in my case finally went away. It came back one more time a few years ago but that also was a temporary thing and left after a few hours. I understand your panic at the new development and just try to be really kind to yourself right now.  

im falling apart all over again, like im thinking how can I be there for my family? how can I have a little peace without thinking about this, it sounds like someone is literally stepping on the gas of a car and letting off, stepping on , letting off... and I feel it also  

glynis Member Benefactor Ambassador Hall of Fame

Hi @Broadus Palmer , If it does not calm down overnight I would see your doctor to see if he can give you a short course of meds like Diazipam to see if it helps. If that doesn't help then maybe a ENT referral and hearing test.....lots of love glynis  

do we have any doctors that post on threads?  

Yes, I agree with Glynis, see if you can get some temporary relief with an anxiety medication. Your regular doc may be able to prescribe that for you.  

Mojo Member

When you talk is it then gone to return when you dont speak? if so i had the same when i had a cold. sounds like a engine or humm at first i went outside to see who"s car was running that long. it sometimes comes and then goes away for a long time.  

@Mojo is actually there all day low, but when I hear certain sounds it gets louder like a car engine of course but also fan, ac hvac noise etc  

clayman Member

I also have this.I know i have tinnitus also,first it was cicada,which drove me crazy,only thing i wish for is for it to go away.But now it this revving humming sound,it almost drown out the cicada sound,now i prefer the cicada over this one..Only way for me to cope is to focus on breathing technique exercises,when its get really bad ,it seem to calm it down.I was reading online that breathing technique is the best way to cope with it ,along with Yoga,because its all base on good circulation to the ears..Try it for 3 week or more  

amymilly Member

This is exactly what I'm experiencing right now. My ears are like rumbling/ vibrating. It was on and off. Now almost constant. Sometimes it's in both ears. Sometimes one. And sometimes my head. And it makes me feel really uneasy. I put my fingers in my ear and the sensation stops. When I talk it stops. When I'm on the move outside I don't sense it much. The second I'm at stand still. It's all buzzing. Noises are making it really weird for me. Like an plane flying over the house. My ears go awful. Car engines. People banging. Iv wrote a post on here but no one seems to get back. One girl suggested mineres but I'm not sure. I'm new to tinnitus. Had it 4 months now. I haven't yet seen an ENT. I'm waiting for an appointment to come through.  

volsung37 Member Benefactor

It is probably a venous hum. Sometimes blood vessels can get constricted and resonate against the mastoid. I've had a sound like a humming generator for a month and a half now. Most noticeable at night unfortunately.  

valeri Member Benefactor Hall of Fame

amymilly said: ↑ This is exactly what I'm experiencing right now. My ears are like rumbling/ vibrating. It was on and off. Now almost constant. Sometimes it's in both ears. Sometimes one. And sometimes my head. And it makes me feel really uneasy. I put my fingers in my ear and the sensation stops. When I talk it stops. When I'm on the move outside I don't sense it much. The second I'm at stand still. It's all buzzing. Noises are making it really weird for me. Like an plane flying over the house. My ears go awful. Car engines. People banging. Iv wrote a post on here but no one seems to get back. One girl suggested mineres but I'm not sure. I'm new to tinnitus. Had it 4 months now. I haven't yet seen an ENT. I'm waiting for an appointment to come through. Click to expand...

@valeri have you seen an ENT. Any ideas what it is. It's annoying huh  

amymilly said: ↑ @valeri have you seen an ENT. Any ideas what it is. It's annoying huh Click to expand...

japongus Member

japongus said: ↑ Sounds like TTTS. Click to expand...

amymilly said: ↑ What's that Click to expand...

i had the same thing when having a cold it went away by itself  

VickiZ Member

I can't remember when I didn't hear the sound of motors, for a long time I thought maybe there were actual cars revving their engines somewhere and the sound carried. Or the freeway. Or deep in the earth there was a military? installation, a factory,,,something. I have a 50 % hearing loss, but I have had that for over 60 years (I am 66). Mostly I hear it at night, when things are quiet, when I want to sleep...  

Nikkiag007 Member

Did you ever figure this out? I have same sound.  

Constant Pulsatile Tinnitus That Stops When I Press on My Left Jugular Vein in My Neck

Acoustic Trauma from a One-Day Music Festival → Persisting Symptoms: Constant Tinnitus and Earache

43 Years with Tinnitus: How I've Learned to Live with the Constant Companion

Could My Constant Tinnitus Have Been Caused by Buspirone, Fluoxetine, Atorvastatin — Or Anxiety?

Alterations in Auditory Brain Stem Response Distinguish Occasional and Constant Tinnitus

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Tinnitus: Ringing or humming in your ears? Sound therapy is one option

That recurring sound that you hear but nobody else does? It's not all in your head. Well, not exactly.

You may be one of the estimated 50 million-plus people who suffer from tinnitus. The mysterious condition causes a sound in the head with no external source. For many it's a high-pitched ringing, while for others it's whistling, whooshing, buzzing, chirping, hissing, humming, roaring, or even shrieking.

The sound may seem to come from one ear or both, from inside the head, or from a distance. It may be constant or intermittent, steady or pulsating. One approach to managing this condition is different forms of sound therapy intended to help people tune out the internal soundtrack of tinnitus.

What causes tinnitus?

There are many possible causes of tinnitus . Long-term exposure to loud noises is often blamed. But other sources include middle ear problems like an infection, a tumor or cyst pinching nerves in the ear, or something as simple as earwax buildup . Tinnitus also can be a symptom of Meniere's disease, a disorder of the balance mechanism in the inner ear.

Even old-fashioned aging can lead to tinnitus, which is common in people older than age 55. As people get older, the auditory nerve connecting the ear to the brain starts to fray, diminishing normal sounds.

"Neurons (nerve cells) in areas of the brain that process sound make up for this loss of input by increasing their sensitivity," says Daniel Polley, director of the Lauer Tinnitus Research Center at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear. "The sensitivity knobs are turned up so high that neurons begin to respond to the activity of other nearby neurons. This creates the perception of a sound that does not exist in the physical environment. It's a classic example of a feedback loop, similar to the squeal of a microphone when it is too close to a speaker."

At times, everyone experiences the perception of a phantom sound. If it only lasts for a few seconds or minutes, it's nothing to worry about. However, if it pulsates in sync with your heart rate, it's definitely something to get checked out by a physician, says Polley. If it's a relatively continuous sound, you should see an audiologist or otolaryngologist (ears, nose, throat specialist).

Can sound therapy help tune out tinnitus?

There is no cure for tinnitus, but it can become less noticeable over time. Still, there are ways to ease symptoms and help tune out the noise and minimize its impact. Treatments are a trial-and-error approach, as they work for some people but not others.

One often-suggested strategy is sound therapy. It uses external noise to alter your perception of or reaction to tinnitus. Research suggests sound therapy can effectively suppress tinnitus in some people. Two common types of sound therapy are masking and habituation.

• Masking. This exposes a person to background noise, like white noise, nature sounds, or ambient sounds, to mask tinnitus noise or distract attention away from it. Listening to sound machines or music through headphones or other devices can offer temporary breaks from the perception of tinnitus. Household items like electric fans, radios, and TVs also can help. Many people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids can be used to mask tinnitus by turning up the volume on outside noises. This works especially well when hearing loss and tinnitus occur within the same frequency range , according to the American Tinnitus Association.
• Habituation. Also known as tinnitus retraining therapy, this process trains your brain to become more accustomed to tinnitus. Here, you listen to noise similar to your tinnitus sound for long periods. Eventually your brain ignores the tone, along with the tinnitus sound. It's similar to how you eventually don't think about how glasses feel on your nose. The therapy is done with guidance from a specialist and the time frame varies per person, usually anywhere from 12 to 24 months.

Additional approaches may help with tinnitus

Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor also may recommend addressing issues that could contribute to your tinnitus.

• Musculoskeletal factors. Jaw clenching, tooth grinding, prior injury, or muscle tension in the neck can sometimes make tinnitus more noticeable. If tight muscles are part of the problem, massage therapy may help relieve it.
• Underlying health conditions. You may be able to reduce the impact of tinnitus by treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
• Negative thinking. Adopting cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis to redirect negative thoughts and emotions linked to tinnitus may also help ease symptoms.
• Medication. Tinnitus can be a side effect of many medications, especially when taken at higher doses, like aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and certain antidepressants. The problem often goes away when the drug is reduced or discontinued.

About the Author

Matthew Solan , Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch

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• Otolaryngology
• Hearing Disorders

felt like a motor running in ear

Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises that do not come from an outside source. It's not usually a sign of anything serious and may get better by itself.

Check if you have tinnitus

Tinnitus can sound like:

• music or singing

You may hear these sounds in 1 or both ears, or in your head. They may come and go, or you might hear them all the time.

Causes of tinnitus

It's not always clear what causes tinnitus, but it's often linked to:

• some form of hearing loss
• Ménière's disease
• conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders or multiple sclerosis
• anxiety or depression
• taking certain medicines – tinnitus can be a side effect of some chemotherapy medicines, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

• you have tinnitus regularly or constantly
• your tinnitus is getting worse
• your tinnitus is bothering you – for example, it's affecting your sleep or concentration, or is making you feel anxious and depressed

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment if:

• you have tinnitus that beats in time with your pulse

What happens at your appointment

The GP will look in your ears to see if your tinnitus is caused by something they can treat, like an ear infection or a build-up of earwax .

They might also check for any hearing loss.

You may be referred to a specialist for further tests and treatment.

Immediate action required: Go to A&E or call 999 if:

• you have tinnitus after a head injury
• you have tinnitus with sudden hearing loss, weakness in the muscles of your face, or a spinning sensation (vertigo)

Things you can try to help cope with tinnitus

If you have tinnitus there are things you can do to help cope.

Do try to relax – deep breathing or yoga may help try to find ways to improve your sleep, such as sticking to a bedtime routine or cutting down on caffeine try to avoid things that can make tinnitus worse, such as stress or loud background noises join a support group – talking to other people with tinnitus may help you cope Don’t

do not have total silence – listening to soft music or sounds (called sound therapy) may distract you from the tinnitus

do not focus on it, as this can make it worse – hobbies and activities may take your mind off it

The Tinnitus UK website has more information about self-help for tinnitus . Their free helpline number is 0800 018 0527.

You can also find a tinnitus support group near you on the Tinnitus UK website .

Treatments for tinnitus

If the cause of your tinnitus is unknown or cannot be treated, your GP or specialist may refer you for a type of talking therapy.

This could be:

• cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – to change the way you think about your tinnitus and reduce anxiety
• tinnitus counselling – to help you learn about your tinnitus and find ways of coping with it
• tinnitus retraining therapy – using sound therapy to retrain your brain to tune out and be less aware of the tinnitus

You'll usually be offered digital CBT first, which is a type of CBT that's delivered through an online programme or app on your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Tinnitus retraining therapy may be available on the NHS for people with severe or persistent tinnitus. It's unclear if tinnitus retraining therapy works for everyone. It's widely available privately.

If you have hearing loss, hearing aids may be recommended.

Video: Tinnitus (BSL version)

In this video, learn about tinnitus, its possible causes and the effects and how to deal with it.

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Page last reviewed: 12 January 2024 Next review due: 12 January 2027

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