Tinnitus, also common in older people, is typically described as ringing in the ears, but it also can sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It can come and go. It might be heard in one or both ears and it may be loud or soft. Tinnitus can accompany any type of hearing loss and can be a sign of other health problems as well.
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. It can accompany any type of hearing loss. It can be a side effect of medications. Something as simple as a piece of earwax blocking the ear canal can cause tinnitus, but it can also be the result of a number of health conditions. Roughly 10 percent of the U.S. adult population, or about 25 million Americans, has experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.
If you think you have tinnitus, see your primary care doctor. You may be referred to an otolaryngologist—a doctor who specializes in the medical and surgical care of ear, nose, and throat diseases—also commonly called an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or an ENT. The otolaryngologist will physically examine your head, neck, and ears and request a hearing test by an audiologist.