Key takeaways
- Affects ~1 in 10 adults.
- Not always hearing loss.
- Often temporary.
- CBT and sound therapy help.
- Beware of cure claims.
If you've noticed ringing, buzzing or humming in your ears, here's what's true and what isn't.
8 myths and the facts
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| It's rare | About 1 in 10 US adults experience it each year |
| It always means hearing loss | Earwax, noise, medicines, TMJ and stress can cause it |
| It's all in your head | It reflects real activity in the hearing system |
| It's always permanent | Often temporary, especially after noise |
| Nothing can be done | Sound therapy, hearing aids and CBT help many people |
| A pill or spray can cure it | No cure exists; beware of cure claims |
| It's never serious | One-sided or pulsing sounds need a doctor |
| Silence is best | Gentle background sound often helps |
What helps
- A doctor or audiologist evaluation
- Treating causes such as earwax
- Hearing aids if there's hearing loss
- Sound therapy and background sound
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Stress management and good sleep
Tinnitrol is a daily hearing support formula, not a tinnitus cure. Clinical guidelines do not recommend supplements as a tinnitus treatment.
Get urgent care for sudden hearing loss, ringing in one ear only, a pulsing sound or ringing with dizziness.
Sources
- Tunkel DE, et al. "Clinical practice guideline: tinnitus." Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 2014.
- Bhatt JM, et al. "Prevalence, severity, exposures, and treatment patterns of tinnitus in the United States." JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, 2016.
- NIDCD – "Tinnitus."
Common questions
Is ringing in the ears common?
Yes, about 1 in 10 US adults experience it each year.
Can anything help?
Yes: sound therapy, hearing aids and CBT help many people.
Is there a cure?
No; be wary of any product that claims to cure it.