Imagine living with a noise in your ear that no one else can hear. For millions, that’s daily life. Tinnitus is much more common than most people think, touching around 15 percent of all adults at some point. The constant buzz, ring, or hiss may seem small, but when it follows you at breakfast, work, or bedtime, it can be hard to ignore.
Understanding what tinnitus is and what causes it matters. It helps you spot the signs early and steer toward relief. Whether you’re tuning out a faint ringing or trying to help someone who is, knowing what tinnitus is can make living with it a little easier. 
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus means hearing sounds that aren’t coming from an outside source. You might notice ringing, buzzing, hissing, clicking, roaring, or whistling. Some people hear just one sound, while others pick up several at once. It’s not an illusion or your imagination, but your ears and brain misfiring.
There are two main types:
- Subjective tinnitus: This is the most common. Only you can hear the noise. It’s often linked to problems in the ear or nerve pathways to the brain.
- Objective tinnitus: Rarely, a doctor can hear the noise with a stethoscope. This form might come from physical sounds in your body, like blood flow.
To figure out if you have tinnitus, doctors start by asking you about your symptoms and medical history. They’ll check your ears for wax buildup, infection, or other things that could explain the noise. Often, they’ll use simple hearing tests to see if your hearing is affected. If they can’t find a clear reason right away, they may order scans or send you to a specialist to rule out rare causes. Keep in mind, tinnitus is a sign that something else needs attention. It’s not a disease by itself but a signal from your body that deserves a closer look.
What Causes Tinnitus?
If you’re wondering what is tinnitus and what causes it, think of your ear as a sensitive microphone. Anything that rattles, damages, or blocks it can set off unwanted noise. Causes range from loud music to aging, injury, or other health conditions.
Exposure to Loud Noise
Blasting your favorite song through headphones, shouting at a concert, or grinding away at a work site can all harm tiny hairs inside your ear. These hairs send sound signals to your brain. When they break or bend, your brain tries to fill in the missing signals—a little like a radio searching for a lost station.
- Short-term noise exposure: You might walk out of a loud concert with ringing that fades in a day or two.
- Long-term noise exposure: If loud noise is constant, that ring may stick around. Workers in construction, musicians, and people who use earbuds daily are at higher risk.
Key advice: Keep the volume low, use ear protection, and give your ears regular breaks.
Age-Related Hearing Loss
Your ears are always working, picking up every sound from dawn until dusk. Over time, the inner ear can wear down. This process—often called presbycusis—usually starts around age 60.
- Ear structures break down slowly.
- The brain may start “filling in the blanks” with ringing or buzzing.
Getting older doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get tinnitus, but the odds do climb as your hearing naturally gets weaker with age. Some people keep healthy hearing into their 70s and never notice ringing, while others can start to struggle much earlier. Regular hearing checks are the best way to spot small changes early. Catching hearing loss before it gets worse can help you manage or even prevent tinnitus. If you notice any changes in your hearing, getting tested sooner rather than later can make a real difference.
Ear Injuries and Blockages
It’s not always about loud noise. Physical issues in your ear can set off tinnitus, too.
Some common triggers:
- Earwax buildup: Too much wax can block sound and trigger buzzing.
- Ear infections: Swelling can shift how your ear processes sound.
- Head or neck injuries: Trauma can change nerves and tissues that link ears to your brain.
- Perforated eardrum: Even a cotton swab used the wrong way can do harm.
This kind of tinnitus often goes away once the underlying cause gets treated. If a blocked ear canal or ear infection is behind the ringing, clearing the blockage or treating the infection can stop the noise. Some people notice relief right after their ears are cleaned or once an antibiotic finishes its job. In other cases, it might take a little longer for symptoms to fade as the ear heals. If the ringing sticks around, it’s a sign the problem might be from something else, not just a simple blockage or infection.
Medical Conditions and Medications
Tinnitus isn’t just an ear problem; it can start elsewhere in the body. Certain conditions and medicines play a role.
Common culprits:
- Meniere’s disease: A problem with inner ear fluid balance.
- TMJ disorders: Jaw joint issues can echo as ear noise.
- High blood pressure and cardiovascular conditions: Poor blood flow can create pulsing in the ear.
- Diabetes and thyroid problems: Changes in metabolism or blood supply may affect hearing.
- Ototoxic medications: Some drugs for cancer, infections, or heart conditions can damage ear cells.
Note: Always talk to your doctor before stopping any medication.
Conclusion
Tinnitus can seem harmless, but its non-stop noise can affect your focus, sleep, and even mood. It isn’t a disease but a sign that something is off—noise damage, aging, injuries, or other health problems.
If you notice new or lasting noise in your ears, don’t wait for it to fade. Reach out to a hearing specialist or doctor. Understanding what tinnitus is and what causes it can help you find the best way to handle it and, most importantly, keep your peace of mind.