There are different variations of how ringing in the ears is called. But no matter how it is called - tinnitus, tinitis, ear ringing - one thing stays the same: it has become a nuisance to the lives of millions of people. To be more specific, around 66 million people in the United States are affected by it in one or another. Of this number, around 12 million are severely affected by it.

If we do not have ringing in the ears, we would think that it is just a petty condition. But, for those who hear it almost everyday of their lives loud and clear, then it is definitely not a petty thing. If not managed properly, it can cost you your grades, your job, or even your personal relationships.

Ear ringing, tinnitus, tinitis, whichever way you want to call and spell it, is defined as the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head where no external source is present. It is a physical sound, not the kind that you make up in your mind. It usually takes place when you are suffering from a certain medical condition.

The medical conditions that cause it include:

• noise-induced cochlear damage
• stress
• sinus problems or allergies
• Meniere's Disease
• presbycusis or age-associated hearing loss
• head injuries (skull fracture, closed head injury, whiplash injury)
• thyroid disorder
• hypertonia or muscle tension
• hypertension
• atherosclerosis

It is best to immediately visit your doctor when you frequently hear the ringing noise. Your doctor can run some tests and have the possible medical condition that you may be suffering from diagnosed.

There are natural treatments that can help you manage the unwanted sound. These include avoiding the consumption of foods that have high salt and sugar contents and substances that contain caffeine such as coffee and sodas. Your diet, on the other hand, should be rich in protein, zinc, choline, and the vitamins A, B, and E. Also, exercise properly and regularly to improve your blood circulation.

There are also commercially available remedies that can provide relief. Conventional drugs that are used as relief agents include antidepressants, anti-anxiety, and anticonvulsants. Alternative treatments are also being used, examples of which include homeopathic tinnitus remedies, herbal preparations, acupressure, acupuncture, meditation, and reflexology.

Tinnitus, tinitis, tinnutis, we may misspell and mispronounce the medical term for that haunting ringing noise, but we cannot afford to misunderstand it, underestimate it, and let it take control of our lives.