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Ear Condition

Tinnitus — the sound only you can hear.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound — ringing, buzzing, hissing, or pulsing — without an external source. For most people it is a symptom rather than a disease, and identifying the underlying cause is the most useful first step. With the right combination of strategies, the vast majority of patients can be helped.

Medical name Tinnitus Aurium
Category Ear Condition
Common treatment Aids · Sound therapy
In-clinic Tinnitus care Ear Condition · Dr. Naseer's ENT

Overview

Tinnitus is common — surveys suggest one in seven adults will experience it at some point. It correlates strongly with hearing loss, even very mild hearing loss that you may not have noticed.

The brain "fills in" frequencies it stops hearing properly. Restoring those frequencies with a well-fitted hearing aid often reduces tinnitus significantly. Sound therapy, counselling, and addressing reversible factors (earwax, anxiety, sleep) round out the approach.

Symptoms

  • A persistent or intermittent ringing, buzzing, or hissing
  • A pulsing sound that beats with your heartbeat
  • Worsening of the sound in quiet environments
  • Difficulty falling asleep or concentrating
  • Often accompanied by some degree of hearing loss

Common Causes

  • Noise-induced or age-related hearing loss
  • Earwax pressing on the eardrum
  • Middle-ear fluid or Eustachian tube problems
  • Certain medications (ototoxic drugs)
  • Stress, poor sleep, or temporomandibular joint issues

Treatment Options

  • Treat any reversible cause (wax, fluid, medication review)
  • Modern hearing aids with built-in tinnitus masking
  • Sound therapy and white-noise devices for sleep
  • Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and CBT for chronic cases
  • Lifestyle work — caffeine, alcohol, sleep, and stress

When to See an ENT

Tinnitus in only one ear, pulsing tinnitus, or tinnitus with sudden hearing loss should be assessed soon. Even ordinary bilateral tinnitus benefits from a proper hearing assessment — what feels constant often turns out to be modifiable.

At Dr. Naseer's ENT, we run a full audiogram, identify reversible factors, and offer a structured plan — not just reassurance.

Concerned about Tinnitus? Let's talk.