Tinnitus is characterised by the perception of ringing, clicking, buzzing, or hissing sounds in your ears when there is no external sound source. However, it isn’t really a disease itself, but rather a symptom of a problem somewhere in your ear or the nerves that run through it.
About 10-15% of the population in the United Kingdom experience tinnitus to some degree each year. Sounds can show up in one ear or the other, and they can be loud or soft.
The prevalence of tinnitus can vary depending on different factors such as age, exposure to loud noise, and other health conditions.
