Tinnitus is when you experience ringing or other noises in one or both of your ears. The noise you hear when you have tinnitus isn't caused by an external sound, and other people usually can't hear it. Tinnitus is a common problem. It affects about 15% to 20% of people, and is especially common in older adults.

Is ear ringing normal in silence?

Phantom noises, that mimic ringing in the ears associated with tinnitus, can be experienced by people with normal hearing in quiet situations, according to new research.

Is ear ringing bad?

Constant noise in the head— such as ringing in the ears—rarely indicates a serious health problem, but it sure can be annoying. Here's how to minimize it. Tinnitus (pronounced tih-NITE-us or TIN-ih-tus) is sound in the head with no external source.