Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom arising from a range of underlying causes. Tinnitus is one of the most common conditions that people experience – approximately 1 in 10 adults will have persistent tinnitus. Tinnitus is often described as ringing in the ears, buzzing or humming noises but it can be experienced differently from person to person. What you’re hearing is sounds generated by your nervous system, or by your brain.
Tinnitus has also been associated with ear infections, earwax and sensory nerve disorders. Tinnitus can be triggered by a number of different things, but it is most often caused by loud noise that damages the delicate cells of the inner ear. Alternately, stress, high blood pressure and even excessive earwax can set off tinnitus.