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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Tinnitus (TIN-i-tus) is noise or ringing in the ears. A common problem, tinnitus affects about 1 in 5 people. Tinnitus isn't a condition itself — it's a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury or a circulatory system disorder.
Although bothersome, tinnitus usually isn't a sign of something serious. Although it can worsen with age, for many people, tinnitus can improve with treatment. Treating an identified underlying cause sometimes helps. Other treatments reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.
- About tinnitus. American Tinnitus Association. http://www.ata.org/for-patients/about-tinnitus. Accessed May 20, 2010.
- Dinces EA. Pathogenesis and diagnosis of tinnitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 6, 2010.
- Dinces EA. Treatment of tinnitus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 6, 2010.
- Holmes S, et al. Review paper: More than ringing in the ears — A review of tinnitus and its psychosocial impact. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2009;18:2927.
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