Your Life
Tinnitus is that ringing, roaring, buzzing, or high-pitched sound you hear with no external source so only you can hear it. While everyone may have experienced this phantom noise, 10% - 25% of adults are diagnosed with it. If tinnitus lasts for three months or longer, it is considered chronic. The causes of tinnitus are unclear, but most people with it have hearing loss. Tinnitus is rarely associated with a serious medical problem and is usually not severe enough to interfere with daily life. However, some people find that it affects their mood and ability to sleep or concentrate. In extreme cases, tinnitus can lead to anxiety or depression. While hearing loss is strongly associated with tinnitus, some people with hearing loss never develop tinnitus. Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus, but there are ways to reduce symptoms. Common approaches include sound therapy devices (including hearing aids), behavioral therapies, and medications. Evidence suggests that tinnitus is caused by changes in neural networks in the brain, so many research efforts are aimed at testing the benefit of magnetic or electrical stimulation of the brain.
What is tinnitus, and what causes it?
source: National Institute of Health
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