What does tinnitus sound like?
Many people experience tinnitus as a ringing in their head or ears, but it can take a variety of forms. You might experience it as a buzzing, hissing, humming, screeching or whistling sound. Some people describe it as the sensation of a roaring ocean or even music or singing. Moreover, tinnitus can be a constant tone (tonal tinnitus) or a pulsating sound (pulsatile tinnitus).
“Some people pronounce tinnitus as “TINN-a-tus” while others say “ti-NIGHT-us”. The word tinnitus actually comes from the Latin for ‘to ring’, or ‘to tinkle’ “.
Tinnitus and hearing loss
An estimated 90%2 of people who suffer from tinnitus also experience some degree of hearing loss, though they may be unaware of it. What is more, people can experience temporary tinnitus, which is a sign that your ears have been overexposed to sound. So, we know tinnitus is closely linked to hearing loss.
Hearing aids can help reduce tinnitus for people with hearing loss, because they give the brain more sound to focus on.
Tinnitus facts
• Tinnitus can be temporary or permanent
• It can be constant or intermittent
• You may experience it in one ear or both
• Tinnitus may even wake you up when you are asleep
• It can begin gradually or suddenly
• It can be soft or loud, or fluctuate in volume
• It can be a particular tone (frequency), or multiple frequencies, either all at once or at different times
