Tinnitus is the ear, nose and throat specialist’s term for noise in the ear. As ENT doctors, we define noise as any sound that a patient is hearing that is NOT coming from the outside world. Some common words patients use to describe it are: humming, ringing, buzzing, or hissing. The tinnitus can be high pitch or low.
The first step if you experience tinnitus is to see an ear, nose and throat doctor. In my office, I first perform a complete ENT exam followed by a comprehensive hearing evaluation. Using these tests, I then determine a plan of action. Contrary to popular belief, tinnitus can be helped and patients can go on to live healthier and more productive lives once this extraneous noise has “quietened” down.