However, research to find an effective treatment is continuing. There's currently no single treatment for tinnitus that works for everyone. Tinnitus can affect people of all ages, including children, but is more common in people aged over 65. In the UK, more persistent tinnitus is estimated to affect around six million people (10% of the population) to some degree, with about 600,000 (1%) experiencing it to a severity that affects their quality of life. Most people have experienced short periods of tinnitus after being exposed to loud noises, such as after a music concert. However, around one in every three people with tinnitus doesn't have any obvious problem with their ears or hearing.

otosclerosis – an inherited condition where an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear causes hearing loss.Ménière's disease – a condition that also causes hearing loss and vertigo (a spinning sensation).inner ear damage caused by repeated exposure to loud noises.It's not clear exactly why it happens, but it often occurs along with some degree of hearing loss. Tinnitus can develop gradually over time or occur suddenly. If necessary, your GP can refer you to a hospital specialist for further tests and treatment. They can also do some simple checks to see if you have any hearing loss. They can examine your ears to see if the problem might be caused by a condition they could easily treat, such as an ear infection or earwax build-up. You should see your GP if you continually or regularly hear sounds such as buzzing, ringing or humming in your ears. But it's important to seek medical advice to see if an underlying cause can be found and treated, and to help you find ways to cope with the problem. In many cases, tinnitus will get better gradually over time, either by disappearing or by the body getting used to it (habituation). However, for some people, it can have a significant impact on everyday life and be very distressing, affect concentration, and cause problems such as difficulty sleeping (insomnia) and depression. For some people it may come and go and only be a minor irritation. Tinnitus is rarely a sign of a serious underlying condition. You may also notice that your hearing is not as good as it used to be or you're more sensitive to everyday sounds (hyperacusis). Some people may hear sounds similar to music or singing, and others hear noises that beat in time with their pulse (pulsatile tinnitus).

It's often described as 'ringing in the ears', although several sounds can be heard, including: Tinnitus is the term for hearing sounds that come from inside your body, rather than from an outside source.

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