Symptoms of Tinnitus

The term Tinnitus is a label given to a condition in which noises or sounds are perceived to be heard but where there is no apparent source for that sound external to the ear. In most cases these symptoms of tinnitus are indeed phantom sounds although there is a condition known as pulsatile tinnitus where the noise heard is in fact that of sounds generated from within the body itself.

For most people the symptoms of tinnitus will be characterised by a ringing in the ears or a whistling or rushing sound. The word tinnitus is derived from the Latin word tinnire which means to imitate a bell ringing.

These sounds of tinnitus can also manifest themselves as a ticking, roaring or tapping noise. They will be different sounds to different people. So variable are the symptoms of tinnitus that you may have a ringing ear or have ringing ears. The sounds of tinnitus can come and they can go and they can be of varying intensity. They can even appear to come from somewhere deep inside the head rather than in the ear itself. However what most people with tinnitus will know is that they have a noise in their head that just shouldn’t be there.

Tinnitus is a condition that affects most people to a greater or lesser degree at some point during their lives. Almost everyone put in a completely silent room will hear some degree of noise within their head. What is different for the tinnitus sufferer is that the intensity or incidence of the condition takes on a more invasive element in their lives altogether.

From my own experience I can say absolutely that the more you think about your tinnitus the more you focus in on it. The more you focus on it the louder and more invasive it becomes. For the most part being occupied or busy takes the focus away from the ear ringing and it fades off into the background. It is always there but it is not an issue. The problem comes when you don’t have something specific to think about. The sounds of tinnitus come back to visit at that point and a vicious circle starts. As soon as you start to think about your ringing ears, the ear ringing intensifies. The more it intensifies, the more you focus on it.

There is some very good news here though. We are saying it is possible to fade out the ringing in the ears by somehow taking the mind off your tinnitus and for most people that is undoubtedly the case. That said then we must be able to at least to some degree train our minds to not think and focus on those unwelcome sounds of tinnitus. This is known as tinnitus retraining therapy and for many people it provides a significant degree of tinnitus liberation.

related articles about the symptoms of tinnitus:

• What is that Constant Ringing in the Ears. The term Tinnitus is a label given to a condition in which noises or sounds are perceived to be heard but where there is no apparent source for that sound external to the ear.   
• Ear ringing and Tinnitus There will be very few people who will go through life without at some time being aware of a loud ringing in the ears.  
• Recognising Pulsatile Tinnitus. For most tinnitus sufferers the sounds of tinnitus, that familiar hissing, buzzing or ringing in the ear tends to be a steady unchanging noise that comes and goes or is perhaps omnipresent