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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 management
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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

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.

What can tinnitus be a symptom of?
 Tinnitus causes

What are the symptoms of severe tinnitus?

Tinnitus is very 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 your doctor or hearing care professional if you are concerned about your tinnitus or if it is affecting your daily life.

Online Tinnitus Quiz

People with tinnitus often experience hearing loss too. Our quick online 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 clinics. There are hearing aids that can treat your hearing loss and might give you relief from your tinnitus.*


Book a FREE hearing test in a clinic near you

* The result of the test 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 clinics to to see if you have a hearing loss that should be treated.*


Book a FREE hearing test in a clinic near you

* The result of the test 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 the test 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 do not have tinnitus - or that you have non-bothersome tinnitus that is not currently affecting your everyday life. If you experience symptoms of tinnitus in the future, we recommend visiting your local health care provider.

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

Step 1 of 5

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 is when the tinnitus is audible to another person as a sound emanating from the ear canal. It is very rare and can be caused by a vascular disorder or muscle contractions.
Illustration of letter
Pulsatile
This is when you (and sometimes your doctor) can hear sounds that are in sync with your heartbeat and is also relatively rare.

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 many people with tinnitus. When you hear better, your brain is given more sound information to process, just as it is supposed to have.3 Hearing aids help you access the sounds around you so that you can listen with less effort. Many hearing aids today also come equipped with soothing tinnitus relief sounds

Hearing aids for tinnitus Tinnitus causes

Tinnitus relief can be an emotional relief

We know tinnitus can be mentally taxing,4 especially when the people around you may not 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 that can alleviate the symptoms and take charge of your well-being. If your tinnitus is related to hearing loss, modern hearing technology can often be a great help for you.

Learn about helpful remedies for tinnitus:

Management

Diem_grey_background_196
Diem Smith - Clinician

BSc, M.Aud (Hons), MNZAS, CCC

Diem graduated from the University of Auckland in 2000 and began her career in the public sector at the National Audiology Centre.  She then went on to work in London at a specialist paediatric hospital for 2 years.

On her return to New Zealand Diem worked for a hearing aid manufacturer for 5 years as a sales and product support audiologist before a move to the Bay of Plenty where she worked with adults and children for 5 years at a private clinic in Whakatane. This clinic also provided public hospital audiology support for the Eastern Bay of Plenty.  

Diem has now been with Audika for the past 10 years in various roles, one of which was Clinical Trainer where she enjoyed being able to support her fellow clinicians to provide quality hearing care for all Audika clients. During this time, Diem was also on the NZAS Executive Council for two years. Her many years of experience and well-honed skills has allowed her to help reconnect her clients with their family and loved ones on their hearing journey.

 
 
 

Last reviewed 2024-08-30

If you experience sudden onset of hearing
loss or tinnitus, contact your 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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