What Is Tinnitus? Understanding the Ringing in Your Ears
Tinnitus is hearing a sound (ringing, buzzing, hissing) that no outside source explains. The key point: tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. It is very common, it is closely linked to hearing loss, and while there is no universal fix, several evidence-backed approaches help make it less noticeable.
How common is tinnitus?
- About 1 in 7 people has tinnitus, making it one of the most widespread sensory conditions in the world.
- Around 90% of people with tinnitus also have some hearing loss, sometimes very mild and not yet detected.
Why tinnitus happens
Think of it as your ear’s “check engine” light. When the hair cells in the inner ear are damaged, they stop sending signals. The brain, still waiting for input, “turns up the volume” on its own internal circuits to fill the gap, and that internal noise is what you hear as tinnitus.
To go further, read our guide to the causes of tinnitus.
Documented approaches for living better with tinnitus
There is no universal treatment, but several methods supported by research help manage the symptoms:
- Sound therapy: using outside sounds such as white or pink noise to make the ringing less noticeable.
- CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy): changing how you react to and perceive the sound, to reduce the emotional distress it causes.
- TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy): helping the brain classify tinnitus as unimportant background noise, until you stop noticing it.
- Frequency matching: identifying the exact pitch of your ringing to target sound masking more precisely.
A personal toolkit for managing tinnitus
Tinnitus Relief App puts these management tools in your pocket. From frequency matching to soundscapes, relief is a few taps away.
Frequency matching
A guided adjustment to find the exact pitch of your tinnitus and fine-tune sound masking.
Custom soundscapes
Layer sounds such as waves, rain or forest to create the atmosphere that suits you.
Continuous background playback
The background sound keeps playing with the screen locked and under your other apps; a call pauses it, then it resumes on its own.
Start tonight
Download Tinnitus Relief App, free on iOS and Android with no account, and see how sound therapy can make your tinnitus less intrusive day to day. Individual results vary considerably. To understand the mechanism in more depth, read how sound therapy works, and for nights, see sleeping with tinnitus.
FAQ
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of a sound, such as ringing, buzzing or hissing, without any outside source explaining it. It is a symptom, not a disease.
How common is tinnitus?
About 1 in 7 people has tinnitus, making it one of the most widespread sensory conditions in the world. Around 90% of people with tinnitus also have some hearing loss, sometimes very mild and not yet detected.
Why does tinnitus happen?
When the hair cells in the inner ear are damaged, they stop sending signals. The brain, still waiting for input, turns up the volume on its own internal circuits to fill the gap, and that internal noise is heard as tinnitus.
What helps manage tinnitus?
There is no universal treatment, but several research-backed methods help manage the symptoms: sound therapy with white or pink noise, CBT to reduce the distress the sound causes, TRT to help the brain treat tinnitus as background noise, and frequency matching to target sound masking more precisely.
Disclaimer: we are not doctors. This information is for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice. Tinnitus Relief App is not a medical device. Individual results vary considerably. If your tinnitus is new, sudden, in one ear only or comes with hearing loss, dizziness or pain, see a doctor.