What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound without a corresponding external sound source. People may describe ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing, clicking or other sounds.

Why it happens

Tinnitus is a symptom rather than a single disease. Potential contributors include hearing loss, loud-noise exposure, earwax or infection, certain medicines, head or neck injury and jaw-related problems. Because causes differ, the useful next step depends on the individual situation.

What can help

Management may include addressing an identifiable underlying cause, hearing aids when hearing loss is present, sound-based approaches and behavioral therapy. There is no single approach that works for everyone.

What about supplements?

Supplements are heavily marketed to people with tinnitus, but marketing and clinical evidence are different things. NIDCD states that advertised vitamins, herbal extracts and dietary supplements have not been proven effective for tinnitus.