Tinnitus is a condition where individuals experience a sound in the ears or head, when there is no external sound present. Because tinnitus is subjective, the sound varies between individuals and can be described as a ringing, buzzing, crickets, ocean-like whooshing, thumping, or pulsing sound. Tinnitus is a symptom not the disease, and it is a very common complaint for those with hearing loss, noise exposure and other disorders of the ear.
Tinnitus affects around 14% of people worldwide. The prevalence increases with age, affecting about 10% of young adults, 14% of middle-aged adults and 24% of older adults. (Jarach et al). Unfortunately about 2% of the population suffer from severe tinnitus.
