A ringing sound when the room is quiet. A hum, hiss, whistle or buzz that no one else seems to hear. These are all ways people describe tinnitus.
Tinnitus means hearing a sound when there is no matching sound around you. It may come and go or be present much of the time. For some people it is barely noticeable; for others, it affects sleep, concentration or their sense of calm. Your experience matters, even if someone else cannot hear it.
Tinnitus is a symptom, with several possible contributing factors. It is commonly associated with hearing loss or noise exposure, but sometimes the first thing we find is much more straightforward, such as a build-up of earwax.
Ear pressure can be relevant too. When a cold, allergies or sinus and nasal symptoms affect the Eustachian tube—the passage that helps regulate pressure behind the eardrum—you might notice blocked ears, popping, muffled hearing and sometimes tinnitus. These symptoms do not automatically mean Eustachian tube dysfunction is the cause, which is why checking the ears and hearing is useful.
We begin by listening. When did the sound start? Is it in one ear or both? Does it pulse in time with your heartbeat? Have you noticed a change in hearing, ear pressure or dizziness? We also want to understand how tinnitus is affecting your day.
We then examine your ears and assess your hearing. Depending on what we find, we may check how the middle ear is functioning. Hearing tests help us identify whether hearing loss is present and what type it may be; they also give us a starting point for deciding what to investigate or address next.
Testing helps us avoid making assumptions. A blocked ear canal, a middle ear concern and a change in inner ear hearing can call for different next steps. Sometimes there is a treatable issue to address. Sometimes we do not find one clear cause, but we can still make a plan to help you manage the impact of tinnitus.
Your plan depends on your results and your goals. It may involve addressing wax, discussing ear pressure symptoms with your GP, arranging medical or ENT review, or exploring hearing care if hearing loss is present. If tinnitus continues to trouble you, we can discuss strategies and support aimed at making it less intrusive in everyday life. We will explain the findings and decide on the next step with you.
A sudden drop in hearing with tinnitus needs urgent medical assessment. Tinnitus that pulses with your heartbeat or is only in one ear should also be discussed with a health professional. Please do not wait for a routine hearing appointment if your hearing has suddenly changed.
