Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no corresponding external auditory stimulus is present, a phenomenon often described as hearing a “phantom” noise. This experience is not a disease itself, but rather a symptom that arises from various underlying conditions affecting the auditory system or related neurological pathways. The sounds can be perceived in one ear, both ears, or within the head itself, and they vary widely from one individual to the next. For some, the sound is a mild, occasional annoyance, while for others, it is a continuous, intrusive presence that significantly affects their quality of life, sleep, and concentration.
Common Auditory Perceptions
The core question of what tinnitus sounds like does not have a single answer, as the reported auditory perceptions are diverse. The most frequently described sound is a high-pitched ringing, which is sometimes referred to as tinnitus aurium. The sounds can manifest across a wide spectrum of noise qualities.
Beyond the common ringing, many people report hearing a persistent buzzing, a steady hissing, or a deeper, pervasive roaring sound. Other descriptions include the sound of chirping crickets, a whooshing noise, static, or even a clicking or pulsing sensation. These sounds can be tonal, consisting of a single frequency, or noise-like, having no clear tonal quality.
The experience of the sound is also defined by its timing, as it can be either constant or intermittent. For example, some individuals experience temporary tinnitus after exposure to loud noise, such as a concert, which usually fades within a few hours. For many others, the sound is a persistent, chronic presence that is most noticeable in quiet environments, often leading to sleep disturbances.
Distinguishing Subjective and Objective Tinnitus
Tinnitus is primarily categorized into two types based on whether the sound can be detected by an external observer: subjective and objective. Subjective tinnitus is overwhelmingly the most common form, accounting for approximately 99% of all cases. In this type, the sound is a “phantom” noise heard only by the person experiencing it.
The source of subjective tinnitus is generally linked to neurological activity and damage within the auditory system, such as that caused by age-related or noise-induced hearing loss. This damage to the sensory cells in the inner ear is believed to cause the brain to reorganize and generate the perceived sound as it attempts to compensate for the lost external input.
Objective tinnitus is a rare form where the sound is physically generated within the body and, in some cases, can be detected by a doctor using a stethoscope placed near the ear or neck. This type is typically caused by mechanical or circulatory issues. The most common presentation is pulsatile tinnitus, which is a rhythmic sound, often described as a whooshing or rushing noise, that is synchronized with the patient’s heartbeat. This pulsing sound is often the result of altered blood flow or turbulence in the blood vessels near the middle or inner ear.
Characteristics of the Phantom Sound
The individual experience of tinnitus is defined by its psychoacoustic characteristics, namely its pitch, loudness, and constancy. The perceived pitch, or frequency, can range from a low-frequency hum to a high-frequency whistle or squeal. In many cases of subjective tinnitus, the pitch corresponds to the frequency range where the individual has the greatest amount of hearing loss.
The loudness, or intensity, of the phantom sound is subjective and is often measured clinically using masking techniques, where an external sound is used to match the perceived volume. Although a patient’s tinnitus may be matched with a tone that is only slightly above the hearing threshold, the perceived loudness can be highly distressing. This disparity is partly due to the phenomenon of loudness recruitment, where sounds in the affected frequency range are perceived as louder than normal.
The constancy of the sound may be continuous or fluctuate in both presence and intensity. For some, stress, fatigue, or changes in head or neck position can temporarily alter the sound’s volume or location. When the sound is intermittent, it may only become noticeable at night or in very quiet settings.