Tinnitus is the medical term for what is often described as a ringing, buzzing, humming or roaring noise in the ears, or somewhere in the head, in the absence of an external source. It affects 10’s of millions of people in Canada and the US alone. Tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom related to hearing loss, infection, wax build-up, trauma, noise exposure, medications and/or stress. While there is no known cure for tinnitus, it is often successfully managed by treating the underlying cause of the symptom. When hearing loss is a factor, properly fitted hearing devices often alleviate one’s perception of tinnitus.
