Tinnitus is an unwanted sound heard only by the person experiencing it.
The first signs can be a ringing, whooshing, clicking or buzzing noise.
It can be whisper soft or piercing.
It can be intermittent or constant.
The condition can be maddening, as often there is no main cause.
Although there are treatments, there are currently no cures.
For some people, its a minor nuisance, easily ignored.
What is tinnitus?
There are a couple of important things to know about tinnitus.
In the first place, we dont hear with our ears; we hear with our brain.
For that reason, much of the current research is focusing on ways to reprogram the brain.
So the brain continues to focus on that sound and tries to solve the puzzle.
Because we focus on the phantom sound, it becomes more important.
Because it becomes more important, it becomes louder.
Its an unfortunate side effect of how the brain works, Searchfield says.
Medical professionals emphasize the first syllable (TIH-nu-tus).
The Merriam-Webster dictionary says accenting the second syllable (tih-NY-tus) is also common.
Plus, its incredibly heterogeneous, meaning the causes are diverse.
Some medications, like aspirin or some antibiotics, can contribute to tinnitus.
Start with your primary care physician, who can determine if there is an underlying medical cause.
But, the study warns, there is no firm evidence that those medications cause tinnitus.
If you think one of your medications may be causing your tinnitus, speak to your doctor.
There may be an alternative.
