Tinnitus in China: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | aihealz
ENTmoderateICD-10 · H93.1
Tinnitus.Care & specialists in China
In China, tinnitus is managed by ents. Tinnitus is the perception of sound — most often a ringing, hissing, buzzing, or whooshing — without any external source, generated by maladaptive plasticity in the central auditory pathway after the brain loses its normal input from the cochlea. Roughly 14% of adults worldwide and around 50 million Americans experience tinnitus, with about 2% reporting it as severely disabling (Jarach JAMA Neurol 2022; Bhatt JAMA OHNS 2016).
aliases · Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)· कान में आवाज (Kaan mein aawaaz)· Karna Nada· Acúfeno· reviewed May 12, 2026
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Reviewed by AIHealz Medical Editorial Board · ENTLast reviewed May 12, 2026
Tinnitus (ICD-10: H93.1) is the conscious perception of an auditory sensation in the absence of a corresponding external acoustic stimulus. It is a symptom, not a disease — generated almost entirely within the central nervous system after cochlear damage reduces afferent input and triggers compensatory changes along the auditory pathway from cochlear nucleus through inferior colliculus to primary and secondary auditory cortex. The AAO-HNS 2014 guideline divides tinnitus along several clinically useful axes: primary (idiopathic, often associated with sensorineural hearing loss) versus secondary (caused by a specific identifiable disorder such as vestibular schwannoma, Meniere disease, or a vascular lesion); subjective (heard only by the patient, more than 99% of cases) versus objective (a real acoustic signal audible to the examiner, usually pulsatile or muscular); and persistent (lasting six months or more) versus recent-onset. About 80% of patients also have measurable sensorineural hearing loss, and roughly 20% experience associated hyperacusis.
key facts
Prevalence
14.4% of adults globally (Jarach JAMA Neurol 2022 meta-analysis of 113 studies); 9.6% of US adults — about 25 million people — report tinnitus in the past 12 months (Bhatt JAMA OHNS 2016, NHIS)
Demographics
Roughly 2% of adults report severely bothersome tinnitus; prevalence rises sharply after age 60; men slightly more affected than women; correlates strongly with occupational and recreational noise exposure
Avg. age
Onset typically between ages 40 and 70; pediatric tinnitus exists but is under-reported and usually mild
Global cases
Approximately 740 million adults worldwide experience any tinnitus, with about 120 million reporting it as severe (Jarach 2022)
Specialist
ENT
ICD-10
H93.1
§ 02
How you might notice it
The key symptoms of Tinnitus are: Persistent ringing, hissing, buzzing, roaring, or cricket-like sound heard in one or both ears in the absence of an external source, often more noticeable in quiet environments and at bedtime., Constant or near-constant perception in most patients, though intensity typically waxes and wanes with stress, fatigue, caffeine, and ambient noise., Pitch most commonly in the high-frequency range (3-8 kHz), matching the audiometric region of associated sensorineural hearing loss in roughly 80% of patients., Worsening of perceived loudness in silent environments, in bed at night, and after prolonged exposure to loud noise such as concerts, machinery, or firearms., Co-existing hearing difficulty, especially understanding speech in background noise, present in approximately 80% of tinnitus sufferers., Hyperacusis — discomfort or pain from ordinary environmental sounds at moderate volume — affects around 20% of patients with bothersome tinnitus., Sleep disturbance: difficulty falling asleep, fragmented sleep, and early-morning waking, reported by roughly 50% of patients with persistent bothersome tinnitus..
01Persistent ringing, hissing, buzzing, roaring, or cricket-like sound heard in one or both ears in the absence of an external source, often more noticeable in quiet environments and at bedtime.
02Constant or near-constant perception in most patients, though intensity typically waxes and wanes with stress, fatigue, caffeine, and ambient noise.
03Pitch most commonly in the high-frequency range (3-8 kHz), matching the audiometric region of associated sensorineural hearing loss in roughly 80% of patients.
04
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How it’s diagnosed
diagnosis
Diagnosis of tinnitus is primarily clinical and follows the AAO-HNS 2014 guideline framework. The starting point is a structured history — laterality (unilateral or bilateral), character (pulsatile or non-pulsatile), onset, duration, association with hearing loss or vertigo, prior noise exposure, head injury, current medications, and impact on sleep, mood, and function. Physical examination includes otoscopy to exclude cerumen impaction and middle ear pathology, cranial nerve testing, auscultation of the neck and periauricular region for bruits in pulsatile tinnitus, and head and neck examination for masses. A comprehensive audiological evaluation — pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions, and acoustic reflex testing — is recommended for any patient with persistent tinnitus or asymmetric symptoms. Tinnitus pitch matching, loudness matching, and minimum masking level are documented at specialist centres. Standardised severity instruments such as the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) or Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) quantify distress and guide treatment intensity. Imaging is targeted, not routine: the AAO-HNS guideline recommends MRI of the internal auditory canals for any strictly unilateral or pulsatile tinnitus, and CTA, MRA, or MRV for pulsatile tinnitus to exclude vascular causes such as dural arteriovenous fistula, sigmoid sinus diverticulum, or idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Laboratory testing (thyroid function, fasting glucose, lipids) is reserved for cases with specific suggestive features. Critically, the guideline strongly recommends against routine imaging in patients with bilateral, non-pulsatile, symmetric tinnitus, which represents the great majority of cases and rarely yields treatable findings.
Key tests
01
Pure-tone audiometryDetects the sensorineural hearing loss that accompanies tinnitus in roughly 80% of cases, characterises its degree and configuration, and identifies asymmetric loss that warrants imaging. Establishes baseline for hearing-aid fitting.
02
Tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing
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Treatment & cost
medical treatments
✓Hearing aids (open-fit digital amplification, fitted for high-frequency loss)
✓Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for tinnitus, 6-12 weekly sessions
Cochlear implantation in severe-to-profound hearing loss with tinnitusTinnitus reduction or elimination in approximately 70-85% of cochlear implant recipients with pre-operative tinnitus (Quaranta 2015 systematic review).
Stapedotomy for tinnitus secondary to otosclerosisTinnitus improvement in 60-75% of operated patients; hearing improvement in 85-95%.
Microvascular decompression or vestibular schwannoma resectionTinnitus relief in approximately 40-50% of vestibular schwannoma resections; hearing preservation depends on tumour size and pre-operative function.
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Causes & risk factors
known causes
Cochlear damage and noise exposure
The most common driver. Loss of outer hair cells and cochlear synaptopathy reduce auditory nerve input to the brainstem; the central auditory system responds with maladaptive increases in spontaneous firing rate and synchrony that the cortex interprets as sound. Noise-induced hearing loss accounts for a large share of cases.
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)
High-frequency cochlear hair cell loss accumulates with age and is the leading cause of tinnitus after age 60. Roughly two-thirds of adults over 70 with hearing loss report tinnitus on direct questioning.
Ototoxic medications
Aminoglycoside antibiotics, platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin, carboplatin), loop diuretics at high doses, salicylates at anti-inflammatory doses, quinine, and macrolide antibiotics can all damage the cochlea or auditory pathway. Salicylate and quinine tinnitus is usually reversible; aminoglycoside and platinum damage is often permanent.
Specific otologic disease
Meniere disease, otosclerosis, chronic otitis media, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and vestibular schwannoma each cause tinnitus by reducing or distorting cochlear input. Vestibular schwannoma is identified in roughly 1-2% of patients with strictly unilateral tinnitus on MRI.
Vascular and pulsatile causes
Carotid atherosclerosis, dural arteriovenous fistula, sigmoid sinus diverticulum, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and glomus tympanicum tumours generate real acoustic signals transmitted to the cochlea. These present as pulsatile tinnitus and require CTA, MRA, or MRV to identify treatable lesions.
Somatosensory and temporomandibular factors
Aberrant connections between cervical spine and temporomandibular joint afferents and the cochlear nucleus can generate or modulate tinnitus. Patients can change the pitch or loudness with neck rotation or jaw movement; treatment of the underlying musculoskeletal disorder helps a subset.
§ 06
Living with it
01Wear hearing protection (foam plugs, earmuffs, or custom musician plugs) for any noise exposure above 85 dBA — concerts, machinery, firearms, motorcycling — the single most powerful intervention to prevent tinnitus and the underlying hearing loss
02Keep personal audio device volume below 60% of maximum for no more than 60 minutes at a time (WHO 60/60 rule); use over-ear rather than insert earphones where possible
03Treat sudden hearing loss within 72 hours — oral or intratympanic steroids substantially improve recovery and reduce associated tinnitus
04Review medications with a clinician if you start aminoglycosides, cisplatin, high-dose loop diuretics, or full-dose salicylates; report any new tinnitus promptly so doses can be adjusted
05Control vascular risk factors (smoking cessation, blood pressure, cholesterol) — cochlear circulation is a small-vessel bed and benefits from the same care as the brain and heart
06Manage stress, sleep, and mood proactively — anxiety and depression do not cause tinnitus but reliably amplify its perceived severity
recommended foods
•Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and oily fish — associated with lower vascular and cochlear risk in cohort studies
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When to seek help
why see an ent
Refer to an otolaryngologist or audiologist when tinnitus persists beyond six months, is strictly unilateral or pulsatile, is accompanied by hearing loss or vertigo, follows head or noise injury, or causes meaningful sleep, mood, or concentration impairment. Urgent referral is indicated for sudden hearing loss with new tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus with neurological features, and tinnitus with suicidal ideation. Primary care can deliver education, basic counselling, and a hearing-aid referral for uncomplicated bilateral non-pulsatile tinnitus.
01Sleep disturbance and chronic insomnia, reported by roughly 50% of patients with bothersome tinnitus — treatable with sound enrichment, sleep hygiene, and CBT for insomnia
02Major depressive disorder, with rates approximately 2-3 fold higher in severely affected tinnitus patients than in the general population
03Generalised anxiety and panic — share bidirectional amplification with tinnitus and require integrated care
04Cognitive impairment and reduced work performance, particularly in tasks demanding sustained attention in quiet environments
05Social isolation and avoidance of quiet activities such as reading, meditation, or solo travel
Primary subjective tinnitusIdiopathic tinnitus heard only by the patient, typically constant, and associated with sensorineural hearing loss in roughly 80% of cases. Accounts for the great majority of patients and is the main focus of the AAO-HNS clinical guideline.
Secondary tinnitusTinnitus attributable to a specific identifiable disorder — for example, Meniere disease, vestibular schwannoma, otosclerosis, ototoxic medication, head injury, or a vascular abnormality. Requires targeted imaging and treatment of the underlying cause.
Pulsatile tinnitusRhythmic sound that matches the heartbeat, suggesting a vascular source (dural arteriovenous fistula, carotid stenosis, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, glomus tumour). Always warrants imaging — CTA or MRA — to exclude treatable lesions.
Somatic (somatosensory) tinnitusTinnitus that changes with neck, jaw, or facial muscle activity. Driven by aberrant connections between somatosensory inputs (cervical spine, temporomandibular joint) and the cochlear nucleus. Responds to physiotherapy and dental treatment in selected patients.
Persistent bothersome tinnitusTinnitus of six months or longer that adversely affects quality of life and function. Defines the population for which the AAO-HNS guideline recommends history, examination, audiometry, education, hearing-aid evaluation, sound therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Living with Tinnitus
Timeline
Acute-onset tinnitus after a single loud noise exposure typically resolves within 24-48 hours; persistence beyond two weeks warrants audiology assessment. Tinnitus from a clear cause (wax, ototoxic drug, sudden sensorineural hearing loss treated within 72 hours) can resolve within days to a few weeks. For chronic idiopathic tinnitus, hearing aids fitted appropriately tend to reduce awareness within 4-12 weeks; CBT produces measurable improvement over 8-12 weeks of weekly sessions and persists at 6-12 month follow-up; tinnitus retraining therapy is a 12-24 month protocol. Habituation is typically gradual rather than dramatic — most patients describe a slow fading of the emotional charge of the sound over months.
Lifestyle
01Avoid prolonged silence — keep a low level of pleasant background sound (fan, soft music, nature sounds) in quiet rooms and at bedtime to reduce the contrast between tinnitus and background
02Establish a consistent sleep schedule with sound enrichment at the bedside — bedside maskers, free apps, or a fan reduce night-time tinnitus awareness in roughly half of patients
03Limit caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine if you notice a clear personal association — they do not cause tinnitus universally but amplify it in some patients
04Use over-ear noise-cancelling headphones for unavoidable noisy environments rather than turning music up to mask the noise
05Stay physically active — regular aerobic exercise improves sleep, mood, and vascular health, all of which reduce tinnitus distress
06Address comorbid temporomandibular dysfunction with a dentist or physiotherapist if your tinnitus changes with jaw or neck movement
Complementary approaches
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)Third-wave psychological therapies that emphasise non-judgemental awareness rather than directly challenging thoughts. Randomised trials (McKenna Ear Hear 2017) show effects comparable to traditional CBT for tinnitus distress; MBCT is a reasonable alternative for patients who prefer mindfulness approaches.
Internet-delivered CBT for tinnitus (e.g., Tinnitus E-Programme, iCBT)Self-guided online CBT programs developed at the universities of Linköping, Bristol, and Auckland. RCTs (Beukes Trends Hear 2018) show outcomes within the range of in-person CBT, with much greater accessibility and lower cost.
Choosing a doctor
Look for an otolaryngologist with subspecialty interest in neuro-otology, or an audiologist with tinnitus-specific training (TRT or CBT certification). Ask whether the practice routinely performs full audiological evaluation, uses validated severity instruments such as THI or TFI, offers hearing-aid fitting on site, has psychology access for CBT, and follows the AAO-HNS clinical practice guideline. For pulsatile tinnitus, seek a centre with neuroradiology and interventional neuroradiology services. Continuity is important — tinnitus care is a long arc of habituation, not a one-visit fix.
Patient support resources
American Tinnitus Association →US patient organisation with education, support groups, and research advocacy. Hosts an annual conference and a peer-led helpline.
British Tinnitus Association →UK charity providing a free helpline, written guides, and accredited self-help materials based on CBT principles.
NIDCD — Tinnitus (NIH) →US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders patient page; updated, evidence-based, government-source information.
Idiopathic chronic tinnitus is rarely curable but is highly manageable. Hearing aids, sound therapy, and CBT reduce tinnitus distress in roughly 60-70% of patients. When a specific cause is identified (wax, ototoxic drug, vascular lesion), treating it can eliminate the sound.
What does tinnitus sound like?▾▴
Most patients describe a high-pitched ringing, hissing, or buzzing, though tones, crickets, roaring, whooshing, and musical sounds are all reported. Pitch usually matches associated hearing loss, often 3-8 kHz. Pulsatile tinnitus is rhythmic, synchronous with the heartbeat.
What causes tinnitus?▾▴
Tinnitus is generated in the central auditory pathway after the brain loses normal cochlear input. Common drivers are noise exposure, age-related hearing loss, ototoxic drugs, head injury, otosclerosis, Meniere disease, and vascular lesions. About 80% of patients also have hearing loss.
How is tinnitus diagnosed?▾▴
Diagnosis is clinical: structured history, otoscopy, and audiological evaluation including pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions. The AAO-HNS guideline recommends MRI for unilateral or pulsatile tinnitus and CTA or MRV for pulsatile cases.
When should I worry about tinnitus?▾▴
Seek prompt assessment if tinnitus is strictly one-sided, pulsatile, or accompanied by sudden hearing loss, dizziness, facial numbness, severe headache, or visual changes. Sudden hearing loss with new tinnitus benefits from steroids within 72 hours.
Can hearing aids help tinnitus?▾▴
Yes. Hearing aids reduce tinnitus awareness in roughly 60-70% of patients with co-existing hearing loss by restoring lost auditory input. The AAO-HNS guideline recommends a hearing-aid evaluation for every tinnitus patient with measurable hearing loss.
Does cognitive behavioural therapy work for tinnitus?▾▴
Yes. A Cochrane review of 28 trials with 2,733 participants found CBT produces significant reductions in tinnitus-related quality of life impairment and depression versus inactive controls (Fuller 2020). Benefits persist at 6-12 month follow-up.
What is pulsatile tinnitus?▾▴
Pulsatile tinnitus is a rhythmic whooshing or thumping synchronous with the heartbeat. It usually reflects a real acoustic signal from a vascular source — dural fistula, sigmoid sinus diverticulum, carotid stenosis, or intracranial hypertension. CTA, MRA, or MRV is required.
Will tinnitus damage my hearing?▾▴
Tinnitus itself does not damage hearing. It is a signal that the auditory system has changed, usually because of pre-existing hearing loss rather than a cause of further loss. Continued loud noise exposure can worsen both the underlying hearing loss and the tinnitus.
Why is my tinnitus worse at night?▾▴
Tinnitus is more noticeable in quiet because there is less external sound for the brain to attend to. At night the contrast is largest. Low-level sound enrichment such as a fan, soft music, or a bedside masker reduces this contrast and helps about half of patients sleep.
Can stress or anxiety cause tinnitus?▾▴
Stress and anxiety do not generate tinnitus from nothing, but they amplify its perceived loudness and emotional impact through limbic-auditory feedback. Treating anxiety or depression reduces tinnitus distress even when the perceived loudness is unchanged.
Which medications can cause tinnitus?▾▴
Common ototoxic drugs include aminoglycoside antibiotics, platinum chemotherapy (cisplatin, carboplatin), high-dose loop diuretics, full anti-inflammatory doses of salicylates, quinine, and some macrolides. Salicylate and quinine tinnitus usually reverses when the drug is stopped.
Is tinnitus a sign of a brain tumour?▾▴
Most tinnitus is not caused by a tumour. Strictly unilateral tinnitus, however, can be a presenting symptom of a vestibular schwannoma, identified in roughly 1-2% of unilateral cases on MRI. The AAO-HNS guideline recommends MRI for any strictly one-sided tinnitus.
Does tinnitus go away on its own?▾▴
Tinnitus after a single loud noise exposure usually resolves within 24-48 hours. Chronic tinnitus rarely disappears on its own — about 25% of untreated patients improve over two years, 50% stay stable, and 25% worsen. Active treatment improves outcomes substantially.
Can children get tinnitus?▾▴
Yes. Tinnitus occurs in children but is under-reported. Estimates of pediatric prevalence range from 5% to 30% depending on question wording. Causes mirror adults: noise (often headphones), otitis media, and ototoxic drugs. Persistent pediatric tinnitus warrants audiology assessment.
How loud is too loud for my ears?▾▴
Sustained exposure above 85 decibels A-weighted (dBA) can damage cochlear hair cells. Risk roughly doubles for every 3 dB increase. Concerts, motorcycling, power tools, firearms, and personal audio at high volume regularly exceed 100 dBA. Hearing protection is the key step.
What is tinnitus retraining therapy?▾▴
Tinnitus retraining therapy is a 12-24 month protocol that combines directive counselling about how tinnitus works with continuous low-level broadband sound enrichment via in-ear devices. The goal is habituation — training the brain to filter the tinnitus out of awareness.
Is there a pill that cures tinnitus?▾▴
No medication reliably eliminates idiopathic tinnitus. The AAO-HNS 2014 guideline recommends against routinely prescribing antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anxiolytics, or intratympanic drugs solely to treat primary tinnitus. Treating co-existing anxiety, depression, or insomnia helps.
What is the Lenire device?▾▴
Lenire is a bimodal neuromodulation device that pairs sound through earphones with low-level electrical pulses to the tongue tip for 30-60 minutes daily over 12 weeks. FDA-cleared in 2023; trials report clinically meaningful improvement in roughly 70-80% of treated patients.
How much does tinnitus treatment cost?▾▴
Hearing aids in the US cost USD 1,500-3,500 per ear with limited insurance coverage. CBT sessions cost roughly USD 100-200 each in private practice; internet-based CBT is often low-cost. The Lenire device runs around USD 4,000 for a 12-week course. India pricing is much lower.
Can diet or supplements treat tinnitus?▾▴
No supplement reliably treats idiopathic tinnitus. Ginkgo biloba, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins have been studied without convincing benefit. A Mediterranean-style diet, adequate hydration, and avoidance of personal triggers are reasonable general measures only.
Is tinnitus linked to suicide?▾▴
Severely distressing tinnitus is an independent risk factor for suicide, particularly with depression, insomnia, and isolation. Patients with severe tinnitus should be screened for suicidal ideation at follow-up. CBT and antidepressant treatment substantially reduce risk.
Worsening of perceived loudness in silent environments, in bed at night, and after prolonged exposure to loud noise such as concerts, machinery, or firearms.
05Co-existing hearing difficulty, especially understanding speech in background noise, present in approximately 80% of tinnitus sufferers.
06Hyperacusis — discomfort or pain from ordinary environmental sounds at moderate volume — affects around 20% of patients with bothersome tinnitus.
07Sleep disturbance: difficulty falling asleep, fragmented sleep, and early-morning waking, reported by roughly 50% of patients with persistent bothersome tinnitus.
08Concentration and short-term memory difficulties during demanding cognitive tasks, particularly in quiet workspaces.
09Pulsatile, rhythmic, whooshing sound synchronous with the heartbeat in pulsatile tinnitus — a red flag that requires vascular imaging.
10Tinnitus that changes in pitch or loudness with jaw movement, neck rotation, or pressure on facial muscles, characteristic of somatosensory tinnitus and often linked to temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
early warning signs
•Brief episodes of ringing lasting minutes to hours after concerts, motorcycling, or use of power tools
•A rising sense that quiet rooms are no longer quiet, especially noticeable at bedtime
•Difficulty understanding conversation in restaurants or crowded settings — an early sign of the high-frequency hearing loss that often precedes tinnitus
•Recent ototoxic exposure (aspirin at full anti-inflammatory doses, aminoglycosides, loop diuretics, cisplatin)
•New-onset tinnitus within days of starting a new medication or after a head or neck injury
● emergency signs
•Sudden unilateral hearing loss accompanying new tinnitus — possible sudden sensorineural hearing loss, an audiological emergency that benefits from oral or intratympanic steroids within 72 hours
•Pulsatile tinnitus with headache, visual obscurations, or papilloedema — possible idiopathic intracranial hypertension or dural sinus thrombosis; requires urgent imaging
•Unilateral tinnitus with facial numbness, imbalance, or asymmetric hearing loss — possible vestibular schwannoma; MRI of the internal auditory canals is indicated
•Tinnitus with sudden severe vertigo, vomiting, and gait imbalance — exclude vertebrobasilar stroke and labyrinthitis
•Active suicidal ideation in a patient with severely distressing tinnitus — refer urgently to mental health services; tinnitus distress is an independent risk factor for suicide
Assesses middle ear function and the stapedial reflex arc. Useful to detect otosclerosis, middle ear effusion, eustachian tube dysfunction, and conductive causes of tinnitus.
03
Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)Measures sounds produced by healthy outer hair cells in response to stimulation. Absent emissions confirm cochlear dysfunction even when audiometry is near-normal, identifying the cochlear synaptopathy thought to underlie much idiopathic tinnitus.
04
Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) or Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI)Validated questionnaires that quantify distress, sleep disturbance, emotional impact, and functional handicap. Scores guide whether to offer education alone, sound therapy, hearing aids, or CBT, and they track response to treatment.
05
MRI of internal auditory canals with gadoliniumRecommended by the AAO-HNS guideline for any strictly unilateral, asymmetric, or pulsatile tinnitus to exclude vestibular schwannoma, demyelinating lesions, and other retrocochlear pathology.
06
CT angiography or MR angiography/venographyUsed in pulsatile tinnitus to identify treatable vascular causes — dural arteriovenous fistula, sigmoid sinus diverticulum or dehiscence, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, jugular bulb anomalies, glomus tumours.
07
Tinnitus pitch and loudness matchingSpecialist measurement to characterise the perceived sound — most often a high-frequency tone between 3 and 8 kHz at 5-15 dB above hearing threshold. Useful for guiding sound therapy and counselling.
08
Targeted laboratory testsThyroid function, fasting glucose, lipid panel, and complete blood count are considered when the history suggests systemic contributors such as thyroid dysfunction, anaemia, hyperviscosity, or vascular disease in pulsatile tinnitus.
Outlook
Tinnitus is rarely cured but is highly manageable in the majority of patients. Without active treatment, roughly 25% of patients experience spontaneous improvement over two years, 50% remain stable, and 25% worsen. With structured care — hearing aids where indicated, sound therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy — clinically meaningful reductions in Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores occur in 60-70% of patients, and most are able to live without daily preoccupation. Severely distressing tinnitus persists in approximately 2% of the adult population, and these patients carry an elevated risk of depression, anxiety, and insomnia that requires integrated mental health care. The strongest individual prognostic factors are duration (recent-onset tinnitus has the best chance of habituation), comorbid hearing loss (treatable with hearing aids), psychiatric comorbidity (treatable with CBT and where needed medication), and continued noise exposure (modifiable with protection). Once tinnitus has been present for over a year and the patient has engaged with evidence-based care, complete resolution is uncommon — but successful habituation, in which the sound is still detectable but no longer occupies attention, is achieved by most patients.
Head and neck trauma
Concussion, temporal bone fracture, and whiplash all increase tinnitus incidence, often within days of injury. Mechanisms include direct cochlear injury, brainstem disruption, and somatosensory dysregulation. Tinnitus is a recognised long-term sequela of military blast exposure.
Psychological and stress-related amplification
Anxiety, depression, and chronic stress do not generate tinnitus de novo but markedly amplify its perceived loudness and distress through limbic-auditory feedback. This is why the same loudness level can be ignored by one patient and disabling for another, and why CBT works.
risk factors
Occupational and recreational noise exposuremodifiable
Cumulative exposure above 85 dBA without hearing protection roughly doubles tinnitus incidence. Construction workers, military personnel, musicians, and frequent concert-goers carry the highest risk; protective earplugs reduce risk substantially.
Sensorineural hearing lossnon-modifiable
About 80% of tinnitus patients have measurable hearing loss, and most adults with hearing loss have at least intermittent tinnitus. The two share underlying cochlear pathology.
Age over 60non-modifiable
Presbycusis-related cochlear hair cell loss progresses with age. Tinnitus prevalence rises from roughly 8% in adults under 40 to over 25% above age 60 (Bhatt 2016, NHIS).
Ototoxic medication usemodifiable
Aminoglycosides (gentamicin), cisplatin, loop diuretics at high doses, high-dose salicylates, and quinine derivatives are the most common pharmacologic causes. Risk rises with cumulative dose and pre-existing hearing loss.
Head injury or temporal bone traumamodifiable
Concussion increases tinnitus risk approximately 3-fold; military blast exposure is the most common service-connected disability among US veterans because of tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss.
Smoking and cardiovascular diseasemodifiable
Smoking, hypertension, and atherosclerosis are independently associated with tinnitus, plausibly via cochlear vascular compromise. Cessation and blood pressure control are part of risk reduction.
Anxiety or depressionmodifiable
Pre-existing anxiety and depression roughly triple the risk of tinnitus becoming bothersome rather than ignored, even at similar perceived loudness. Treatment of mood symptoms is part of tinnitus care.
Male sexnon-modifiable
Men are slightly over-represented in tinnitus cohorts, largely reflecting greater lifetime noise exposure rather than an intrinsic biological difference.
Service in the armed forcesenvironmental
Tinnitus is the most common service-connected disability claim among US veterans (over 2.9 million claimants), driven by blast and weapons noise exposure (VA 2022 data).
Temporomandibular joint disordermodifiable
TMJ dysfunction roughly doubles the prevalence of bothersome tinnitus through somatosensory pathways converging on the cochlear nucleus.
•Adequate hydration through the day to support cochlear fluid balance, especially in hot climates
•Magnesium-containing foods (leafy greens, nuts, seeds, whole grains) — limited evidence for benefit in noise-induced cochlear damage
•B-vitamin rich foods (whole grains, eggs, fish, dairy) — deficiency is rare but plausibly linked to cochlear function
•Foods high in antioxidants (berries, citrus, leafy greens) — observational support for protection against age-related hearing loss
foods to avoid
•Excessive caffeine if you notice a personal trigger pattern — most patients tolerate moderate intake without change in tinnitus
•Heavy alcohol consumption — sleep disruption and vascular effects can worsen tinnitus distress in vulnerable individuals
•High-sodium processed foods if you have Meniere disease as the underlying cause — sodium restriction is part of standard Meniere care
•Tobacco — smoking impairs cochlear microcirculation and worsens both hearing loss and tinnitus over time
•Routine restrictive elimination diets — no specific food group reliably causes or cures tinnitus; restrictive diets risk nutritional gaps without measurable benefit
06
Suicidal ideation in severely distressed patients — tinnitus is an independent and well-documented risk factor for suicide and warrants direct screening at follow-up visits
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07Pace high-cognitive-demand work — schedule challenging tasks for times of day when tinnitus is least intrusive, and use brief restorative breaks
Daily management
01Use hearing aids consistently for at least 8 hours per day if prescribed — irregular use reduces benefit
02Run low-level sound enrichment in the bedroom at night and in quiet workspaces; aim for a level just below the tinnitus, not above
03Practise the relaxation and cognitive strategies learned in CBT every day, not only during peak distress
04Keep a brief diary during flare periods (sleep, stress, noise exposure, caffeine, mood) to identify modifiable amplifiers
05Refresh hearing-aid filters and batteries on schedule and book annual audiology review to reassess hearing and hearing-aid fit
06Reach out to mental health support if tinnitus distress is rising — early CBT or pharmacological treatment of anxiety and depression improves tinnitus outcomes
Exercise
Regular moderate aerobic exercise is safe and beneficial in tinnitus. Aim for 150 minutes per week of activity such as walking, cycling, or swimming. Exercise improves sleep, mood, and vascular health and reduces tinnitus-related distress in observational data. There is no need to avoid physical activity because of tinnitus, and rest does not relieve it. Wear hearing protection if your exercise environment is noisy (motorised sports, shooting ranges, indoor cycling classes with loud music).