Updated on: · By Strange Sounds
Imagine a sound that never ends — a constant ringing, hissing, buzzing, or humming that follows you everywhere and makes true silence feel like a myth. That’s tinnitus, and it affects more than 50 million American adults. For around 5 million, it’s chronic and debilitating. One long-time sufferer, Ken Siebert, describes it as “like taking air out of a tire.”
TL;DR: Tinnitus is the perception of sound with no external source. It can sound like ringing, buzzing, hissing, or humming, and affects 50M+ U.S. adults. Causes vary (hearing loss, earwax, TMJ, blood-pressure issues, rarely tumors) and often remain unknown. There’s no cure, but hearing aids, CBT, and sound therapy can help people cope.
When Silence Isn’t Silent
Tinnitus is not a single disease — it’s a symptom. The brain registers sound without an external source, creating a private soundtrack you never asked for. It can be intermittent or constant, mild background noise or an intrusive roar that hijacks sleep, focus, and mood.
What It Sounds Like
- Ringing: High-pitched tone, pure or wavering
- Hissing: “Escaping air”/static noise (Ken’s description)
- Buzzing/Humming: Low or mid-frequency drone
- Roaring/Crickets: Broadband whoosh or insect-like chirp
Why It Happens (and Why It’s Hard to Pin Down)
There isn’t one cause. Common associations include:
- Hearing changes: Noise exposure or age-related loss
- Ear canal issues: Wax buildup, infections
- Jaw/neck factors: TMJ dysfunction, muscular tension
- Vascular & blood pressure: Pulsatile variants
- Neurological/rare causes: Certain tumors or conditions
For many, the exact trigger stays unknown — which is part of the psychological burden.
The Mental Health Hit
Living with nonstop sound can crank up anxiety, stress, and depression. Some report intrusive thoughts when symptoms spike. If tinnitus is impacting your mental health, seeking help is essential — treatment isn’t about “just ignoring it,” it’s about retraining attention and reducing distress.
It seems that drinking less coffee might reduce your tinnitus.
What Helps (Management, Not “Cure”)
- Hearing aids: Amplify real-world sound so the ringing isn’t front-and-center.
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): Proven to reduce tinnitus-related distress and improve coping.
- Sound therapy: Fans, white noise, nature soundscapes, or dedicated maskers can soften perception.
- Lifestyle & medical tune-ups: Address hearing protection, sleep, stress, jaw/neck tension, and blood-pressure control with a clinician.
Curious about other mystery sounds? Explore our hubs: Strange Sounds · The Hum · Unexplained Mysteries.
FAQ — Tinnitus (The Endless Ringing)
Is tinnitus a disease?
No — tinnitus is a symptom. It often tracks with hearing changes, jaw/neck issues, blood-pressure factors, or medications, but sometimes the cause remains unknown.
Can tinnitus get better?
Yes. While there’s no universal cure, many people improve with hearing aids, CBT, and sound therapy. Reducing stress, protecting hearing, and addressing contributing medical factors also help.
Why does it seem louder at night?
When the world goes quiet, your brain has fewer external sounds to “compete” with the internal noise — making tinnitus feel stronger. Gentle background audio can reduce the contrast.
Is tinnitus related to “The Hum”?
They’re both “mystery sounds,” but tinnitus is internal. “The Hum” is reported as an external low-frequency sound some communities hear. The experiences can overlap in description, but not origin.
When should I seek medical care?
If tinnitus is new, one-sided, pulsatile (in time with your heartbeat), or comes with hearing loss, dizziness, or pain, get evaluated promptly.
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