What is tinnitus? Here is my personal definition as I am sure you can find more technical explanations on other sites.
Tinnitus is a constant noise that I sense in my head that sounds like a cross between ringing and static. If I had to label it, I would call it a fuzzy ringing.
On the surface my tinnitus sounds like a constant static noise that comes from both sides of my head even with or behind my ears. For others, I have read, the sound can range from a high frequency screeching to musical. I have had continuous tinnitus for over 11 years and it has changed over time.
When I focus on my tinnitus, I realize the sound is more dynamic and complex than a simple static noise. I hear more ups and downs and multiple simultaneous sounds almost like a symphony.
Although many people say they hear ringing in their ears, I have come to relate to it as more like that I sense stimulation. There is no noise coming into my ears. It all originates in my brain and nervous system. It is a sensing of stimulation without the traditional sound waves entering the ear drum and turning mechanical noise into electrical signals. This is an important distinction to make in my path to heal and cure my tinnitus.
No one else can hear the ringing. I think this is called subjective tinnitus. Objective can be sensed by others for example sounds caused by the whooshing sound of blood flow also referred to as bruit I think. Bruit is French for noise.
There is a big difference between subjective and objective. One has an actual source that causes sound waves otherwise no one else would hear it.
Lastly, tinnitus can be challenging…to understand, to not let it overwhelm you. I have had it for 11 years. What is tinnitus? Tinnitus is part of my life and that I will cure. This is my journey.