Tinnitus is a condition that most of us experience at some point of our lives. Usually the symptoms are so mild that they don't affect for our everyday life. However, sometimes the ringing in the ears can be so intense that it significantly impairs the quality of the sufferer's life.

Tinnitus is not a disease. It is only a symptom of some other disorder in a human system. It is rather common that tinnitus comes along with hearing loss.

So, what exactly is tinnitus? Tinnitus symptoms have been described as a ringing, hissing, buzzing, or even roaring sound heard emanating from the ear drum. Over 20 million Americans suffer from tinnitus each year in one or both ears.

Tinnitus can be described as a physical disruption in one of the many tissues related to the handling of incoming sounds. These tissues include all of the areas of the actual ear, such as the ear drum, cochlea, and inner ear, all the way to the brain itself. Any disruption in these tissues can lead to tinnitus.

There are some diseases that have been associated with tinnitus. Some of the most typical ones include ear infections, circulatory disorders, and changes in hormone levels.

Tinnitus has been associated with hearing loss in several instances. However, hearing loss and tinnitus are not always related. Also, among elderly people tinnitus has often been seen to be the first sign of age-induced hearing loss. That is why a hearing test might be wise when an individual at higher age is affected by tinnitus.

The most common cause of tinnitus is an exposure to loud noises. People who are working in noisy areas or constantly expose themselves to loud noises, such as musicians and factory workers, are at higher risk of having tinnitus.

Still other forms of hearing related tinnitus occur when the brain is damaged due to powerful explosions or changes in air pressure. This is, unfortunately, a common concern for war veterans and is happening more and more now that soldiers are being exposed to considerable explosive devices in the form of IEDs.

Considering all the multiple ways tinnitus can occur in a person, it is even more shocking and perplexing that tinnitus can also occur for no reason in a person with otherwise healthy hearing. This ailment often shows no physical cause, but can still tremendously disrupt the life of one suffering with it.

Fatigue, anxiety, and issues with memory are common in these types of tinnitus sufferers, as it is extremely difficult to rest or concentrate when a constant ringing is being heard in the ears. Understanding that tinnitus can have no cause does, unfortunately, little to answer the question of whether your tinnitus is related to your hearing.