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Tinnitus
Tinnitus is hearing a sound — ringing, buzzing, hissing or humming — with no external source. It is very common, often temporary after loud noise, and usually a symptom rather than a disease in itself.
This is general reference and self-screening information, not a hearing diagnosis. Online results depend heavily on your headphones, volume and surroundings. See a doctor or audiologist for a proper test, and treat sudden hearing loss as urgent.
Why it happens
Tinnitus frequently accompanies some hearing loss: when the ear stops sending certain signals, the brain seems to fill the gap with phantom sound. It can also follow loud-noise exposure, earwax, some medicines, or stress, and it often gets more noticeable in quiet, such as at bedtime.
Pitch matching
A pitch-matching tool plays adjustable tones so you can find the one closest to your tinnitus. It does not treat anything, but describing the pitch can help a clinician and can make the experience feel less mysterious. Sound therapy and other approaches aim to make tinnitus less intrusive rather than to switch it off.
When to see someone
See a doctor or audiologist if tinnitus is persistent, in one ear only, pulsing in time with your heartbeat, or comes with hearing loss, dizziness or ear pain. Sudden hearing loss with tinnitus should be treated as urgent.
More on hearing
Loudness guide (decibels)
What everyday sounds measure in decibels, and how long is safe before noise starts to damage hearing.
How online hearing tests work
What a frequency-sweep or word-in-noise check does, and why headphones and volume make it only a screen.
Source: Occupational-noise references (NIOSH and WHO guidance). Figures are approximate; this is not a diagnosis — see an audiologist. · checked 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
Will my tinnitus go away?
Short-lived tinnitus after a loud night out usually settles within a day or two. Persistent tinnitus may not disappear, but most people find it fades into the background over time, and therapies can help it bother you less.
Can I make tinnitus worse?
Loud noise without protection can worsen it, so protect your ears. Very quiet rooms make it more noticeable, which is why gentle background sound often helps at bedtime.
Protect your hearing for the long run
TempoLife helps you track the daily habits that shape your health over time.