Have you ever heard a ringing in your ears and wondered what to do? Up to 50 million people report having tinnitus in the U.S. Yet it is typically a benign condition. What can cause it? And how should you treat it?
Would you do a podcast about ringing in the ears in the future?”
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- W.S.
What a great suggestion, W.S. Thank you. Ringing in the ears, referred to as “tinnitus” in doctor-lingo, is quite common. In fact, approximately 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from this annoying medical condition. Let’s learn what tinnitus really is, what can cause it, and how you can treat it.
What Is Tinnitis?
If you’ve ever experienced it, you know what it feels like. Tinnitis refers to a misperceived sound that is not externally audible. Patients describe it as a “buzzing” or “ringing,” “clicking,” or “pulsating,” and even akin to a “factory working in my brain.” It can be loud or only faintly audible. It can involve only one ear or both. For most, it is intermittent but can become chronic in 1 in 4 sufferers.
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