What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus occurs when the filters in your brain and ears that determine how you respond to sound tune in to a tinnitus signal. There are lots of different reasons for this.

We know that tinnitus can be linked to:

• Exposure to loud noise
• Hearing loss
• A side effect of medication
• Ear or head injuries
• Emotional stress
• Ear infections
• Diseases of the ear
• Or a combination of any of the above

For many people with tinnitus, the cause isn't clear. They may never have experienced any of the things mentioned above.