For millions of people suffering from hearing loss and other ear problems, tinnitus may be one of the most obvious symptoms. There are variations to this type of hearing perceptions as well depending on the severity of the condition as well as the areas affected. Learning how it develops and progresses will further help patients cope with temporary and long term effects.

Tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom. The term originated from the Latin word which means "ringing" since patients who have it perceive high-pitched ringing sounds at varying degrees and durations. Even without the presence of actual external sounds, the affected individual may still perceive or hear noises in one or both ears or in the head. Tinnitus is part of the compensatory mechanisms done by the auditory system due to underlying factors.

The ringing or noise perceived by affected persons is usually described as high-pitched buzzing, hissing, whistling, humming or whining similar to a boiling kettle. Others may also describe it as ticking, roaring, pulsing, clicking, beeping, whooshing or swishing like waves, similar to familiar tunes or songs or similar to sounds made by crickets, locusts and tree frogs. Even without any external background noises or with very loud ones the sounds may still be heard by patients.

The main problem of tinnitus is the nuisance or distress created although it is not a serious symptom. Around 36 million people in the United States have the disorder. Tinnitus is a symptom that arises from ear damage or other underlying ear problems. It can occur in any of the four ear regions namely the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear and brain. Mild tinnitus is normal which is perceivable in very quiet places.