Understanding Tinnitus: What It Sounds Like & Types

Approximately one out of every five people experience tinnitus, a condition that affects the ears, according to the Mayo Clinic. While most people define tinnitus as ringing in the ears, the condition actually has a number of possible sounds.

Identification: Sounds

• Besides ringing, tinnitus has the potential to sound like buzzing, roaring, clicking, whistling or hissing.

Types of Tinnitus

• There are two main types of tinnitus, subjective and objective. While subjective tinnitus is a noise that only you can hear, the sounds of objective tinnitus can be heard by a doctor during an examination.

Causes

• Potential causes of tinnitus include hearing loss caused by age, exposure to loud noise, earwax build-up, conditions such as Meniere's disease, high blood pressure and medications such as antibiotics and aspirin.

Significance

• Tinnitus is a symptom rather than an illness. If it persists or if you feel dizzy or experience hearing loss along with the sounds of tinnitus, talk to your doctor.

Prevention

• If work-related sounds or noise are contributing to your tinnitus, try wearing protective ear coverings. Exercise and a nutritious diet also help reduce tinnitus, according to the Mayo Clinic.