You have a ringing in your ears or some other odd sound that does not come from any known source of noise. Is that tinnitus? The answer is: it could be. The truth is the symptoms for tinnitus often vary from one person to the next. But in all cases, the experience can be painful, annoying and even emotionally distressing.

When discussing the symptoms of tinnitus it is important to understand that the commonly referred to "ringing" in the ears is not always a symptom. In other words, some individuals may have tinnitus but rather than hearing the ringing noise they hear something else. This variance often causes confusion since most people believe that only "ringing" signifies true tinnitus. That is simply not the case.

Some of the other noises that people hear can include any of the following:

Humming sounds

Buzzing noise

Cracking or Sizzling sounds

Sound of running water that can vary in intensity

Repeating tones that are musical in nature

Intermittent whooshing sounds

Dull, heavy sounds

Less Common Tinnitus Symptoms

Dizziness or vertigo

Nausea

Loss of balance

Loss of hearing

Some individuals may also experience ghost sound. These are sounds that the person hears such as whistling or humming that no one else in the area can hear. These individuals may hear the noise in one ear or both. This condition, of course, can be very annoying to those who suffer from it.

It is also important to understand that many individuals who suffer from tinnitus only experience their symptoms at certain times. In other words, the noise is not constant. It may come and go and for no apparent reason. Also, the intensity level of the noise can vary from person to person. For some, the intensity is very loud, so much so that it causes them to be distracted or may even be loud enough to drown out other sounds that they should hear, such as people talking to them. Other individuals may only experience low intensity levels of noise.

What may surprise some people is that often the more quiet the person's surroundings, the louder the tinnitus may become inside their heads. One would think the opposite would be true, but it has been shown that quiet surroundings can actually intensify the level of tinnitus the person may experience. Many health care professionals will actually use this as a symptom of tinnitus, meaning they will quiz the person as to what they hear (or do not hear) when they are in a quiet, still environment. Tinnitus can also affect professional level hearing tests that are conducted in sound-proof rooms as these surroundings are incredibly quiet. But as the level of tinnitus increases, the responses to the hearing test often decrease!

If you believe you are suffering from tinnitus, consult a health care professional who can diagnosis the ailment. There are many treatments available today, many of which are very affordable and easy to use. You do not have to live with tinnitus in most cases if you seek professional help. Learn more now.