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Tinnitus

January 19, 2024

Reviewed by James Naples, MD, Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Tinnitus is sound in your head or ears with no external source. It’s commonly referred to as ringing in the ear. That’s because, for many, it's a ringing sound; for others, though, it's whistling, buzzing, chirping, hissing, humming, roaring, or even shrieking. The sound may be perceived as coming from one ear or both, from inside the head, or from a distance. It may be constant or intermittent, steady or pulsating.

Nearly everyone experiences a few brief episodes of ringing in the ears at some point in life, for example after using a lawn mower or attending a loud concert. In some people with tinnitus, however, the problem is a persistent source of distress.

The condition is strongly associated with hearing loss but can also occur in people who have normal hearing. There are no treatments that specifically target the underlying causes of chronic tinnitus, but it often becomes less noticeable and more manageable over time. There are also several ways to help tune out the noise and minimize its impact.

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