Although ringing in the ears affects millions of individuals, many do not know that there is a formal term for it, that is, tinnitus. The American Tinnitus Association defines it as “the perception of sound in the ears or head where no external source is present.”

As common as it is, you or your loved one might be experiencing tinnitus or had experienced it some time of your life. Thus, it is important that you learn the need-to-know things about it:

1. It may come as a different sound besides the very common ringing sound.

The sound that a sufferer hears is associated with the root cause. If the cause is cochlea damage, sufferers may hear ringing bells, roaring, hissing and fluttering sounds. If it is caused by stress, they may perceive rushing, ringing, whistling, whizzing and whooshing sounds. If it is allergies or sinus problems, on the other hand, clucking, gurgling, and high-pitched ringing sounds may be perceived.

2. It is not a disease but is a symptom of an underlying medical condition.

These are some of the conditions that can cause the unwanted sound:

• external ear infection
• Meniere's disease
• ototoxic medications such as aspirin, tetracycline, bleomycin, and bumetanide
• multiple sclerosis
• head injuries (e.g. skull fracture, closed head injury)
• thyroid disorder
• depression

Thus, if you have the symptoms, visit your doctor so that he or she can diagnose the medical condition that you may be suffering.

3. Its treatment is dependent on its underlying cause.

Many sufferers have tried out various treatments to reduce or relieve them of the unwanted sound but have not seen improvements. It is basically because they are using the wrong treatments. Thus, knowing the root cause of the bothersome sound is a crucial step in treating it. We have mentioned some of the conditions that may cause it, but the four most common causes are cochlear damage, stress, allergies or sinus problems, and Meniere's Disease.

4. In the United States alone, an estimate of 12 million people are severely affected by it.

This means that if you are suffering from tinnitus, you should not feel depressed or frustrated because you are definitely not alone. You also have your family and friends that you can talk to about what it is that you are going through. Your attitude towards it is very important. You should know that it loves people who get depressed and frustrated easily. Therefore, keep a positive attitude – do not dwell on how much suffering it gives you. Instead, dwell on the things that you can do to fight against it.