Tinnitus is something that all of us have some experience of. You know, that temporary ringing in the ear that clears in a few seconds.

Tinnitus is the name given to the condition of noises in the ears and/or in the head with no external source. Tinnitus noises are described variously as ringing, whistling, buzzing and humming and become a problem when they become more or less constant.

The noise experience, may be heard in one ear, both ears or in the middle of the head or it may be difficult to pinpoint its exact location. The noise may be low, medium or high-pitched. There may be a single noise or two or more components. The noise may be continuous or it may come and go.
Tinnitus is not a disease or an illness, it is a symptom generated within a person's own auditory pathways. Although it is often assumed that tinnitus occurs as a result of disease of the ears, this is often not the cause. The precise cause of tinnitus is still not fully understood but is usually associated with some hearing deficits. Experiences of tinnitus are very common in all age groups, especially following exposure to loud noise, however, it is unusual for it to be a major problem. There is a widely held misconception that tinnitus is confined to the elderly, but various studies have shown that it can occur at any age, even quite young children. Mild tinnitus is common - about 10 per cent of the population have it all the time and, in up to one per cent of adults, this may affect the quality of their life.

If you have tinnitus that is persistent you should see your doctor for a diagnosis. There are many treatments that can be offered to relieve the symptoms and the Tinnitus Society in the UK give very useful and informative information.

If anyone has ever had Tinnitus for any length of time they will know that it can almost drive you to madness. There have been all sorts of 'cures' suggested one is to introduce another sound so that the brain cannot concentrate on the tinnitus noise and I believe that has had some success. It is a very tough thing though, for people who suffer from it badly. Like all medical specialities though it is evolving and hopefully soon there might be some more permanent help at hand.