Tinnitus is the perception of sound when there is no external sound source. The most common sounds heard include ringing, buzzing or hissing. It can occur in one ear, two ears, or fluctuates between the two and it is usually not something that someone else can hear. It can be either temporary or permanent.

There are no known cures for tinnitus, but in some cases it may go away completely if it is just a side effect of another health condition. So if you treat and cure the other health issue, the tinnitus may also stop. Otherwise, the only treatments for tinnitus are meant to help you manage the symptoms so it doesn't affect you as much.