Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a perception of sound often described as a ringing, buzzing or humming in the ears or head that affect millions of people. Usually accompanied by hearing loss, tinnitus has many causes including noise exposure, physical injury such as head trauma or whiplash, ear diseases, muscle spasms, circulatory changes, side effects from medication, nerve pathway irritation and central auditory system changes.

For some, tinnitus symptoms are associated with depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and interference with concentration.

Some 50 million Americans experience tinnitus, with more than 10 million seeking medical help. At the Audiology Clinic at UCSF Medical Center, our experts assess the potential causes of tinnitus and offer possible treatments.

While there is no known cure for most forms of tinnitus, there are many management options, including medications, retraining and habituation therapy, amplification, sound therapy, counseling and stress management.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call:
Audiology (415) 353-2101.

See Audiology patient education

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated February 3, 2009