Tinnitus is a sound or sounds that you can hear in either your ears or head that other people cannot hear. It’s usually described as a sound such as ringing, whistling, hissing or a roaring. The medical word comes from the Latin word ‘tinnire’, which means ‘to ring’.

You might only notice these sounds when it is very quiet, such as at night. Or they might be so loud that they intrude on your everyday life. Either way, tinnitus can be distressing and worrying – but you are not alone. Audiologists are very experienced in dealing with people with tinnitus and know how to ensure it does not affect hearing test results.

Many tinnitus sufferers do find hearing aids helpful as the sounds generated by the aids help to keep the brain 'busy' and the tinnitus sounds become less prominent.