Tinnitus is a symptom where a person perceives a sound in the head which does not come from any outside source. That sound or noise usually is an ear ringing, but it can also be in a form of a humming, buzzing, roaring, hissing ticking, chirping, clicking, whoosing, or clicking sound. Tinnitus is an ear ringing and an ear ringing is a tinnitus.

People commonly refer to tinnitus as ear ringing. Tinnitus is a condition which is as common as fever. Most of us have in one way or another experienced tinnitus. The ear ringing that we may hear may vary in several cases. Some experience a mild and temporary ear ringing while others get to experience a loud and quite persistent. Mild ears ringing usually take place if the ear is suddenly exposed to loud noise, there is a sudden change in air pressure, or there is a temporary obstruction in the ears like an impacted earwax, causing for a temporary hearing problem.

Loud ear ringing is heard by those who have severe hearing problems which can either be caused by ear infections, ototoxic drugs, frequent exposure to loud noise, or punctured ear drums. Most cases of tinnitus however, may be caused by an unidentified cause. Other possible causes of a tinnitus which can make a person hear an ear ringing, are head and neck injuries, stress, hypertension and tumors.

Most cases of tinnitus is not dangerous if left untreated, but most of those who may have a tinnitus, especially those with a very loud ear ringing prefer to have it treated, to minimize the ear ringing that they keep hearing. Most physicians would advise for the cause of the tinnitus to be checked rather than just doing a self treatment for the ear ringing. This is to avoid further complications if the exact cause of the ear ringing is not treated properly.