Woman tries to identify the ringing, whooshing sound only she can hear.

A buzzing and ringing sound is what the majority of people hear when they suffer from tinnitus. But that description, though useful, is dismally inadequate. Tinnitus doesn’t always show up in one of those two ways. Rather, this specific hearing ailment can make a veritable symphony of various sounds. And that’s important to note.

Because, as useful as that “buzzing and ringing” shorthand might be, such a limited description could make it challenging for some people to recognize their tinnitus symptoms. If Barb from down the road hears only whooshing or crashing in her ears, it may not even occur to her that tinnitus is responsible. So everybody, including Barb, will profit from having a better idea of what tinnitus can sound like.

A List of Noises You May Hear With Tinnitus

Tinnitus is, generally, the sound of noises in your ears. Sometimes, this is a real noise (this is known as objective tinnitus). And in other situations, it can be phantom noises in your ears (which means that the sounds can’t be heard by others and don’t actually exist – that’s known as subjective tinnitus). The exact kind of sounds you hear will likely depend on what form of tinnitus you have. And there are a lot of possible sounds you could hear:

  • Electric motor: Your vacuum cleaner has a rather distinct sound, mostly due to its electric motor. Some individuals with tinnitus hear a similar noise when their tinnitus flares up.
  • Ringing: A ringing in the ears is the most common of the tinnitus sounds. This is frequently a high pitched ring or whine. Occasionally, this sound is even referred to as a “tone”. When most individuals think of tinnitus, most of them think of this ringing.
  • High-pitch whistle: Picture the sound of a boiling tea kettle. Occasionally, tinnitus can sound like that specific high-pitched squeal. This one is undoubtedly quite unpleasant.
  • Whooshing: Frequently experienced by individuals with objective tinnitus, a rhythmic whooshing noise in the ears is often caused by circulation through blood vessels around the ear. You’re basically hearing the sound of your own heart pumping blood.
  • Static: The sound of static is another kind of tinnitus noise. Some people hear a high intensity static and others hear a low intensity static.
  • Roaring: The sound of roaring ocean waves is another common tinnitus sound. It may sound calming at first, but the reality is that the sound is much more overpowering than the gently rolling waves you might think.
  • Screeching: Have you ever heard the sound of grinding metal? You might have heard this sound if you’ve ever been around a construction project. But for people who cope with tinnitus, this sound is commonly heard.
  • Buzzing: At times, it’s a buzzing rather than a ringing. Many people even hear what sounds like cicada’s or other insects.

Someone who has tinnitus may hear lots of possible noises and this list isn’t exhaustive.

Over Time Tinnitus Sounds Can Change

It’s also entirely possible for one individual to experience a number of tinnitus-related sounds. Brandon, for example, spent most of last week hearing a ringing noise. Now, after going out to a loud restaurant with friends, he hears a static sound. It isn’t unusual for the sound you hear from tinnitus to change in this way – and it may change frequently.

The explanation for the change isn’t always well understood (mostly because the causes of tinnitus aren’t really well known).

Canceling Out Tinnitus

There are usually two possible approaches to treating tinnitus symptoms: masking the noise or helping your brain determine how to ignore the noise. Whatever your tinnitus sounds might be, the first step is to identify and familiarize yourself with them.

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The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
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