What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus ("acúfenos" in spanish) is a sound or noise perceived in the ears in absence of external sound stimulation. It can be present in a single ear, in both, or in the head.

As hyperacusis, tinnitus is not considered a disease, but a symptom of an underlying problem.

Since tinnitus is generated in the head, it can arise due to mechanical causes (e.g. a dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint or repetitive muscular contractions near the ears) which may produce a constant movement in the eardrum, and by this also sounds. This type of tinnitus is called "objective tinnitus".

In the other hand, when its origin is in the auditory system, tinnitus is called "subjective tinnitus".

Tinnitus can take the form of humming, whistles, hissing, roaring, strumming sounds, as well as wind or sea roaring, waterfalls, engines, unintelligible human voices, telephone line tone, indefinite noise (like white noise), etc.

These sounds can be perceived single or mixed, in high o low pitch. They can also be constant or intermittent, have a specific tone (e.g. in the case of whistles or strumming) or be indeterminate (as in the case of white noise, or waterfalls).

Tinnitus can arise suddenly or gradually, and when it reaches a very high level can become quite intrusive to the sufferers daily life.

Several treatments have been tried for tinnitus, but the most successful at present is a retraining therapy called Tinnitus (and Hyperacusis) Retraining Therapy - TRT, developed by the Dr Pawel J. Jastreboff based on neurophysiological principles.

(Text copied from an original post published in the blog: http://thehyperacusisandi.blogspot.com/
where you can find additional information about Tinnitus, Hyperacusis and TRT. If you wish to read this post in its spanish version, head to:
http://lahiperacusiayyo.blogspot.com/2008/01/el-acfeno-tinnitus.html).