If you have ever heard a buzzing or a hissing sound, or even a ringing sound that no one else could hear, you’re not alone – you are suffering from tinnitus, one of the most common complaints by patients who visit their Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists. It can happen to those of any age, whether they are a student who is being exposed to loud music or older adults who have hearing changes that are due to the aging process.
This guide explains what tinnitus really is, why it happens, the various types of tinnitus, and – most importantly – when it’s time to put up with it and get an appointment with an ENT specialist in Siliguri instead.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound – such as ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking – in one or both ears without any external source producing that sound. It is a symptom, not a disease itself.
Tinnitus originates in how the brain and auditory system process sound signals. It can be constant or intermittent, mild or severe enough to interfere with sleep, concentration, and emotional well-being. Roughly 1 in 10 adults experiences some form of tinnitus at some point in their life, though most cases are mild and manageable.
Tinnitus is most commonly caused by exposure to loud noise, age-related hearing loss, earwax buildup, or underlying conditions affecting the ear, jaw, or blood vessels. In many cases, it’s linked to damage in the tiny hair cells of the inner ear.
Common causes include:
Tinnitus is broadly classified into two types – subjective tinnitus, heard only by the patient, and objective tinnitus, which can sometimes be heard by an examiner too. A specific subtype called pulsatile tinnitus follows the rhythm of your heartbeat.
| Type | Description | Who Can Hear It |
| Subjective Tinnitus | The most common type; caused by issues in the ear or auditory pathways | Only the patient |
| Objective Tinnitus | Rare; caused by internal sounds like blood flow or muscle spasms | Sometimes audible to a doctor during examination |
| Pulsatile Tinnitus | Rhythmic sound matching your heartbeat, often related to blood vessels | Only the patient (usually) |
| Neurological Tinnitus | Linked to underlying nerve or neurological conditions | Only the patient |
Most tinnitus cases are not dangerous and are linked to manageable causes like earwax or noise exposure. However, sudden, one-sided, pulsatile, or worsening tinnitus – especially with hearing loss or dizziness – can signal an underlying condition that needs prompt evaluation.
Tinnitus itself rarely indicates a life-threatening problem, but it can be an early warning sign the ear is trying to send. Ignoring persistent symptoms delays diagnosis of treatable conditions like Meniere’s disease, vascular abnormalities, or progressive hearing loss.
You should see an ENT specialist if tinnitus lasts more than a week, occurs in only one ear, is accompanied by hearing loss or dizziness, pulses with your heartbeat, or significantly affects your sleep or concentration.
If you’re based in Siliguri, an Hearing Care Clinic Siliguri Speech And Hearing Clinic Pvt. Ltd. can typically evaluate and diagnose the cause within a single visit using ear examination and hearing tests – there’s rarely a need to “wait it out” once symptoms persist beyond a few days.
ENT specialists diagnose tinnitus through a physical ear examination, a detailed hearing test (audiometry), and sometimes imaging or blood tests to rule out underlying causes like blood vessel issues or nerve conditions.
Typical diagnostic steps include:
Tinnitus caused by a specific issue – like earwax, infection, or medication – can often be resolved by treating that root cause. Chronic tinnitus without a single identifiable cause is usually managed rather than “cured,” using sound therapy, hearing aids and lifestyle adjustments.
Common management approaches:
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