Tinnitus is the medical nomenclature for a common problem involving the ears wherein an individual hears sounds without any exterior source for the sounds. These sounds are constant and can be heard in one or both the ears in the type of ringing, buzzing, or whistling. As there is no external source of sound, these noises are heard only by the patient and not others. Tinnitus of some sort is experienced by one out of every five people. Tinnitus is not considered a medical problem, or a grave problem, but it could be indicative of a more serious underlying condition like Meniere's syndrome, age-associated hearing loss, a trauma of the ear, a non malignant tumor or impairment of the cardiovascular system.

Almost everyone is vulnerable to subjective tinnitus at one time or another. This problem usually occurs temporarily and may recur now and again; nevertheless it can become lasting with the noise in the ear taking place 24X7. The sounds and outcomes of tinnitus ease with therapy, and in situations where the tinnitus is the outcome of an underlying medical condition therapy of the underlying condition usually resolves the patient's tinnitus.

Though not a difficult medical problem, Tinnitus can be debilitating. It can seriously impact the caliber of life of the patient. Though Tinnitus has different effects on different people, some common consequences related to it include:

- Fatigue

- Insomnia

- Depression

- Inability to Focus

- Restlessness

- Strain

- Anxiety

- Memory-Related Problems

Causes of Tinnitus Unrelated to an Underlying Medical Condition

Exposure to High Sound Levels - Piercing sound damages the capability to hear. People working in environments involving loud-sound equipment, firearms, and chain saws, are at high risk of hearing impairment. Constant usage of personal audio gadgets like MP3 players and iPods can likewise result in loss of hearing. While short-time exposure to loud sounds (Ex: attending a concert) can cause short lived tinnitus, continual exposure leads to lasting loss of hearing and can be one of many causes of tinnitus.

The actual cause remains a mystery in a good many tinnitus cases. One of the most suspected causes of tinnitus is inner ear cell damage. The inner ear has tiny, sensitive hairs that move relative to the pressure of acoustic waves. This movement stimulates a response from the ear cells in the form of an electric impulse that travels from the ear to the brain through the auditory nerve. The brain then identifies this signal as sound and a corresponding signal is deliver to enable an appropriate action. It is these days thought that a bend or breakage in these inner ear hairs disrupts the usual signal transfer, and 'leaks' the signals into the brain continuously, which results in tinnitus.

Ear disorders, ear or head injuries, and conditions that impair auditory nerves or the brain's hearing zone, can also cause tinnitus.

Common Medically Recognized Causes

Certain conditions like the next can lead to tinnitus:

- Age-Associated Hearing Impairment - The hearing capability of people starts worsening as they age, generally starting around 60 and getting progressively worse. Tinnitus is sometimes associated with the loss of hearing, and could even be a consequence of it.

- Blockage Thanks to Earwax - The role of earwax is to safeguard the ear canal by blocking dirt and reducing bacterial growth. But, when large measures of earwax accumulate, the natural cleansing process becomes ineffective, causing tinnitus and hearing problems.

- Abnormal Developments in the Ear Bone - If the bones of the middle ear stiffen, it can have a bearing on hearing capacity and cause tinnitus. Stiffening is a consequence of abnormal bone growth, and this is an inherited condition.

Other Less-Common Medical Causes

- Meniere's disease - A condition of the inner ear

- Strain and Depression

- Injuries of the Head or Neck

- Acoustic Neuroma - A benign tumor that develops in the cranial nerve, which affects hearing

- Certain Blood Vessel Disorders like High BP and Atherosclerosis

- Drugs such as antibiotics, aspirin (high doses), cancer drugs, chloroquine, and diuretics

If there is a medical cause for your tinnitus, the initial thing to do is to identify it and treat it. This will in the majority of cases cure tinnitus. If your tinnitus is subjective and not linked with any known medical condition than the remedies are usually more of a trial and error process until you discover a thing that works for you. While we want simple straight forward answers, tinnitus for most sufferers is not usually resolved so easily. That's the bad news. The best news is that many tinnitus sufferers have discovered a method to stop the ringing and ultimately find some peace and enjoy silent nights. Find people who have succeeded to resolve their own personal tinnitus and make use of them as a beacon to lead you to the means by which to resolve your own. Silence awaits you too.