. This means it is not the result of a physical external sound and no one but the person with the ringing in the ears can hear the sound. It can be noticed in one ear or both ears or even just in general from the center of the head. The severity of the ringing in the ears can be divided into mild, moderate and disabling (severe) tinnitus.
For a majority of individuals the tinnitus can be mild and will not result in any problems. Moderate ringing in the ears can interfere with intellectual work and sleep and result in some degree of suffering. A severe or debilitating level of tinnitus can have a major effect on an individuals entire life, resulting in difficulty sleeping and making work or concentration almost impossible.
The exact number of people affected by ringing in the ears can be difficult to estimate. This is because tinnitus can have many different forms and also vary greatly with severity, so this can make gathering of statistics difficult. For people across all ages the incidence of tinnitus can range from 4 to 15 percent. It is agreed that ringing in the ears is a lot more common above the age of 50. In this age group the incidence can be from 7 to 20 percent. Most elderly people will suffer some form of tinnitus especially in a quiet environment but it is only disturbing for a small percentage of individuals.The problem of hyperacusis is often associated with tinnitus. Hyperacusis can be defined as an abnormal, lowered tolerance to any sound.
Lots of people seek alternative or natural treatment options of ringing in the ears. Medication or drugs are not an effective solution for the problem.