TL; DR:
The blog is aimed at people experiencing ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming, or other unexplained sounds in the ears; people with hearing loss; frequent noise exposure; sleep or concentration problems due to tinnitus; and those considering an audiology or ENT evaluation.
- Tinnitus can sound different for different people: It may be experienced as ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing, roaring, clicking, or whistling, and can occur in one ear, both ears, or feel as though the sound is inside the head.
- There is no single cause of tinnitus: It can be associated with hearing loss, age-related changes, loud-noise exposure, earwax, ear infections, certain medications, head or neck injury, ear conditions, or jaw-joint problems.
- Diagnosis focuses on identifying associated hearing or medical issues: Assessment may include symptom history, ear examination, hearing tests, middle-ear testing, ENT evaluation, or imaging, depending on the symptoms and suspected cause.
- Treatment is individualized rather than one-size-fits-all: Management may include treating an underlying ear problem, hearing aids when hearing loss is present, counselling, sound-based strategies, CBT, sleep support, and professional follow-up, while sudden, one-sided, pulsatile, or rapidly worsening tinnitus needs medical assessment.
If no one else can hear it, it can be hard to ignore the ringing, buzzing, humming, or hissing sound, particularly if the room around you is very quiet. This is called Tinnitus and can be a very different experience for each individual.
The sound can be heard by some and not others, or may be disturbing for some but not others. In others, it may persist and begin to impact sleep, attention, school or work, or their comfort in daily life. If the sound is new, only in one ear, getting worse, or if there are changes in the person’s hearing, along with dizziness or ear symptoms, then it is important to learn what could be causing it.
At Resonnocare, we see beyond the sound itself. The onset of your tinnitus, as well as whether it is in one or both ears, and if you notice any changes in your hearing or balance, can all give important clues. A professional evaluation will allow you to find out what may have been a factor and what steps to take next.
What Is Tinnitus and What Can It Sound Like?
The sound is called various things. It can be a rattle, whistle, buzz, hum, hissing, roaring, or a clicking. It could be in one ear, both ears, or as if it is inside the head.
The majority of cases are subjective, so it can only be heard by the individual who is having it. A less common type could be associated with a physical sound in the body. For instance, if a sound appears to pulse with your heart rate, then it is a rhythmic sound and should be assessed by a medical professional.
Know More About
- Noise in the Ears: Is It Always Tinnitus?
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Process, Benefits and Results
- Audiologist Near Me: How to Choose the Right Hearing Specialist
What Causes Tinnitus?
Often there is no single cause. This symptom is often linked to hearing loss and can occur along with age-related hearing loss or as a result of exposure to excessive noise.
Other factors that can contribute include too much earwax, ear infection, some medications, damage to the head or neck, some ear conditions, and jaw-joint issues.
This is why it is better not to self-diagnose from the sound alone. If ringing occurs with blockage, discomfort, discharge, hearing difficulty, or dizziness, our guide to ear symptoms and conditions can help you understand why professional assessment may be appropriate.
What Are the Early Symptoms of Tinnitus?
The first sign can be a sound that you hear in a quiet room. Some people notice it for the first time when they get married, attend a concert, take a long trip, work a noisy job shift, or listen to headphones for a long period.
You may notice:
- Ring, ring, ring, hissing, hum, hum, hum
- A problem with hearing in one or both ears
- Intermittent symptoms.
- More awareness at nightime.More awareness during the night.
- Having trouble holding focus when hearing a lot of sound.
- Trouble sleeping
- Difficulty hearing and being sensitive to sound simultaneously
When Should You See an Audiologist or Doctor for Tinnitus?
Schedule an evaluation if the symptom continues, recurs, or intensifies, interferes with sleep or focus, or if you have difficulty hearing. An audiologist can evaluate your hearing and advise whether an ENT or other medical evaluation is necessary.
If you experience sudden hearing loss, extreme ear pain, ear discharge, sudden severe dizziness, or new neurological symptoms (including facial weakness), seek urgent medical help. If a sound keeps repeating in time with the beating of your heart, if you only experience symptoms in one ear, or if the hearing deteriorates quickly, the sound should also be assessed medically.
How Is Tinnitus Diagnosed?
The first step in assessment is the history of your symptoms. Your clinician or audiologist might want to know when the sound began, how it sounds, if it occurs in both ears, and if you have hearing loss, dizziness, pain, pressure, or discharge.
Your ears may be checked for wax, infection, or any visible issues. Hearing assessment is usually suggested, as hearing loss and tinnitus tend to go together. Sometimes further tests of the middle ear, an ENT assessment, or imaging may be recommended depending on your symptoms.
The goals are to detect hearing loss, determine if there are treatable contributors (wherever possible), and to decide whether further medical evaluation is required.
What Treatment Options Are Available for Tinnitus?
- Treatment depends on the cause: There is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Management depends on the underlying cause and how much the symptom affects your daily life.
- Treat underlying ear problems: If the symptom is linked to earwax build-up or an ear infection, treating the underlying condition may help reduce it.
- Review medicines with your doctor: If a medicine may be contributing to the symptom, speak with the doctor who prescribed it. Do not stop any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Hearing aids may help when hearing loss is present: Properly selected hearing aids can make speech and everyday sounds easier to hear and may make the internal sound less noticeable for some people. Hearing aids should be recommended only after a professional hearing assessment.
- Counselling and sound-based strategies can help: Education, counselling, and techniques that reduce the contrast between silence and the internal sound may make the symptom easier to manage.
- Psychological support may be useful: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help people who find the symptom particularly distressing or disruptive to daily life.
- Background sound may provide relief: Some people find soft background sounds, especially at night, helpful for reducing awareness of the symptom.
- Be cautious with supplements and “cure” claims: There is currently no medicine or supplement proven to cure the symptom in everyone. Be careful with products that claim to provide a guaranteed cure.
What Can You Do at Home to Make Tinnitus Easier to Manage?
You can make some simple changes that might help to make the symptoms of the day easier to manage as you plan for appropriate assessment.
Limit exposure to loud noises, but do not ignore normal sounds! A quiet room may be more tolerable at night with a fan, soft music, or other comfortable low-level background noise. Having a regular sleep schedule can also be useful if the noise is more intrusive when you go to bed.
Does Hearing Loss Make Ringing More Noticeable?
The difficulty in hearing is usually accompanied by the ringing, and these two symptoms do not necessarily go hand in hand, meaning that if one is severe, so is the other. Others may have obvious hearing loss but not a lot of ringing, while others may have the sound problem despite relatively mild hearing loss.
Upon testing, if your child is identified with hearing loss that impacts their communication, an audiologist will discuss with you the options for amplification and other ways to listen. The choice of hearing aids should be based on your hearing loss, communication requirements, comfort, and lifestyle, not just because you are experiencing ringing.
When a hearing device is prescribed, follow-up matters too. Resonnocare’s hearing aid aftercare can include fitting checks, programming adjustments, device care, and continued hearing review where appropriate.
Why Choose Resonnocare for Hearing and Audiology Care?
We, at Resonnocare, take an approach that is clinically driven and starts with acknowledging what you’re going through instead of prescribing the same solution to all patients.
Our experienced audiologists and clinicians perform accurate hearing assessments to assess your hearing and communication issues. Results are communicated in an easy-to-digest format so that you and your family can see what else to do next.
An individual care plan can involve hearing tests, hearing aids (if required), hearing protection advice, home visits, video consultations, and follow-up care. If symptoms indicate that a condition may need medical evaluation, an ENT or other appropriate clinician may be recommended.
You can also read more about Resonnocare’s clinical approach to hearing care, which focuses on structured assessment, evidence-based decision-making, rehabilitation, and continued support.
Find a Resonnocare Clinic Near You
Select your city to find the nearest Resonnocare clinic and book an appointment with our hearing care team.
Bangalore
Ear 360, Jayanagar
Ground Floor, Site No. 499, Municipal No. 499/97, East End Main Road, 9th Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore, Karnataka 560041
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Ear 360, Spandana Sarjapura Hospital
239/205/34A, near Trinity Complex, Sompura Gate, Sarjapura Main Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 562125
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Resonnocare, HSR Layout
150/5/72, 7th Cross, 24th Main, HSR Layout, Bangalore, Karnataka 560102
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
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Resonnocare, Banashankari
272, 7th Cross Road, BSK 1st Stage, 2nd Block, Srinivasan Agra, 80 Feet Road, Bangalore, Karnataka 560050
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
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Resonnocare, Indiranagar
34, Wind Tunnel Road, Murugeshpalya, Muniyappa Layout, Bangalore, Karnataka 560017
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
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Resonnocare, JC’s ENT Center, Nagarbhavi
57, 3rd Main Road, 2nd Block, Govindaraja Nagar Ward, Kalyan Nagar, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560072
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
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Resonnocare, Dr Bhattacharyya ENT Clinic
No. 14, 17th Cross Road, Sector 7, HSR Layout, Bangalore, Karnataka 560102
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
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Delhi
Ear 360, Dr Hans Anand Lok
46, Anand Lok Road, Anand Lok, Sadiq Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110049
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
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Resonnocare, Dr Hans Vasant Vihar
28, Basement, Paschimi Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110057
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
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Resonnocare, Clarity ENT Clinic
Clarity, 2-10, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi 110016
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
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Resonnocare, Dr Hans Center for ENT, Punjabi Bagh
2/5, West Avenue Road, West Punjabi Bagh, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi, Delhi 110026
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Gurgaon
Resonnocare Head Office, M3M Urbana
Office 403, Office Block, 4th Floor, above Retail Blocks R1 and R5, M3M Urbana, Sector 67, Gurgaon, Haryana 122101
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Resonnocare, Dr Hans Sector 28 DLF Ph-1
Metro Station, Plot No. 1SP, adjoining DLF Phase 1, Sector 28, Gurgaon, Haryana 122002
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Ludhiana
Ear 360, BRS Nagar
963, Block B, BRS Nagar, Ludhiana, Punjab 141012
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Resonnocare, Fawwara Chowk
565-A and 565-B, Upper Ground Floor, Cemetery Road, near Fawwara Chowk, West City, Ludhiana, Punjab 141001
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
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Pune
Ear 360, Vighnaharta Healthcare Center
D-106-107, Choice Arcade, opposite Ruby Hall Hospital, Dhole Patil Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411001
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Ear 360, Khan Parab ENT Hospital
Plot No. 102, Anand Nagar, Talegaon Dabhade, Taluka Maval, Pune, Maharashtra 410507
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Tumkur
Resonnocare, Ashok Nagar
PID No. 3563, 8th Main, 8th Cross, Ashok Nagar, Tumkur, Karnataka 572103
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Resonnocare, Ganadhal ENT and Dental Hospital
3rd Cross, Somashekara Puram, Coffee Board Colony, Tumkur, Karnataka 572102
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Mangalore
Ear 360, Bunts Hostel Circle
Shop No. 6 and 7, Basement Floor, Javed Plaza, Bunts Hostel Circle, Mangalore, Karnataka 575003
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Resonnocare, Dr G K Hebbar ENT Clinic
M-2-153/6, K.S.R.M. Building, Lighthouse Hill Road, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575001
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
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Resonnocare, Dr Navisha ENT Centre
3rd Floor, Falnir Health Center, Falnir Road, Falnir, Mangaluru, Karnataka 575002
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Mysore
Ear 360, Ramaswamy Circle
371/A, Ramaswamy Circle, Mysore, Karnataka 570024
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Hubli
Ear 360, Vidya Nagar
Srishti Elite, Shirur Park Road, Shirur Park, Vidya Nagar, Hubballi, Karnataka 580031
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Davangere
Ear 360, P J Extension
Shop First Floor, 2nd Main, P J Extension, Davangere, Karnataka 577002
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Indore
Resonnocare, Dr Navnit Jain ENT Hospital
Dr Navnit Jain ENT Hospital, C/o Unique Hospital, 335, Jawahar Marg, Opp. Nafees Bakery, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 452007
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Resonnocare, Hearing Solutions Dr Agarwal
7, Gulmarg Complex, First Floor, near Sapna Sangeeta Lumiere, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 452001
Timings: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
[Call] [Book an Appointment]
Conclusion
Tinnitus is different for everyone, and for some it is a minor distraction while for others it is a major problem. The key to this is not just the sound you hear, but the duration of the sound, whether your hearing has changed, and if other symptoms are present.
There is no such thing as being too early for a professional hearing evaluation with Resonnocare if the sound persists, is recurring, interferes with sleep or concentration, or is accompanied by hearing difficulties. Our staff can assess your hearing, interpret the results, and help you receive the proper audiology or medical treatment.
FAQ’s
What are the best ways to cope with tinnitus?
The most effective methods for dealing with tinnitus are sound therapy, avoidance of loud noises, stress management, sufficient rest, and addressing any hearing loss. Hearing aids, counseling, and tinnitus retraining therapy can also be beneficial in minimizing the effects of tinnitus and enhancing quality of life.
What is the main cause of tinnitus?
Most frequently, the cause of tinnitus is hearing loss, often age-related hearing loss, or damage to the ears due to exposure to loud noise. Other causes are ear infections, earwax, some drugs, Ménière’s disease, and a problem with blood flow. It is essential to determine the cause of the problem in order to decide on the most suitable treatment.
Is there a cure for tinnitus?
There is no cure for tinnitus yet, but there are many effective tinnitus treatments that can help ease symptoms. These can include sound therapy, hearing aids, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and lifestyle changes, all of which help to decrease the perception of the noise or buzzing and enhance functioning.
Is tinnitus permanent?
The type of tinnitus may be temporary or permanent, depending upon its cause. Sometimes, tinnitus is temporary and happens after exposure to loud noises or an ear infection and can get better with treatment. Tinnitus can last for months or years, and many learn to cope with their tinnitus effectively, with the help of professionals and treatment.
What is tinnitus a warning of?
Tinnitus may also be a symptom of hearing loss, noise-induced ear damage, earwax blockage, ear infections, or some inner ear diseases. It can also sometimes be a sign of circulatory or neurological problems. Medical evaluation is recommended if the tinnitus is sudden, unilateral, or accompanied by dizziness and a hearing loss.