The sounds of tinnitus that will be so well known to those living with this condition are variously described as ringing in the ears , hissing, whistling or buzzing. In fact the noise heard in the head of no two sufferers is likely to be exactly the same sound. The reason behind that is that the sounds of tinnitus rarely have any obvious physical origin. For most people the ringing in the ears comes from somewhere in their head and that somewhere will never divulge its exact location. In reality little is known about the causes of tinnitus although strides are being taken which can now deliver some very effective relief from it.

What is certain about the condition is that the sounds of tinnitus can be divided into two distinct categories. Subjective Tinnitus where the noise is only heard by the sufferer and Objective Tinnitus where it is possible for a third party to hear that noise albeit with the aid of a device such as a stethoscope.

With Subjective Tinnitus there is no way or scale on which the intensity of the sounds of tinnitus can reliably be measured. What matters is the degree to which the noise impacts on the life of the person hearing it. Once the case is established that there is no underlying medical problem responsible for the intrusion of the tinnitus on the sufferer the accepted route to relief is through the application of some form of tinnitus therapy. This can be with the aid of tinnitus masking where the unwelcome perceived noises are matched with a more therapeutic input of sounds. Alongside this a controlled diet where the consumption of alcohol, caffeine and nicotine is reduced or stopped and a course of dietary supplements started and can be quite effective. The use of alternative remedies such as acupuncture and or Chinese herbal medicines has also proven helpful to a good many people.

Objective Tinnitus more commonly has a point of origin which a doctor can potentially investigate and alleviate. Oftentimes that noise source is from blood vessels in the area of the ear. The sounds being heard are associated with turbulence in the blood flow caused by some form of blood vessel restriction. This along with perhaps physical abnormalities within the ear itself can often be successfully treated with surgery.

A lot of progress has been made recently in alternative forms of tinnitus treatment that have resulted in much needed relief for many sufferers today. Often not accepted in mainstream medical circles as having any great value some of these methods of treatment have transformed the lives of people well beyond their own expectation. The reality is that as much as there is no known definitive cause for most tinnitus symptoms there is no definitive cure for them either. What may work wonders for one person might do absolutely nothing for another. One needs to keep an open mind and be prepared to try a number of options until some amount of tinnitus liberation is achieved.