Anybody who’s ever heard a ringing in their ears usually finds themselves puzzled over what might be causing it or what it really could mean. Generally it goes away after a few seconds or, at worst, minutes and we tend to forget about it. However if it doesn’t go away it could be the condition known as tinnitus, which is Latin for “ringing.” Tinnitus can be minor, or it can be a major inconvenience to someone suffering from it. If this sounds like something you are suffering from then maybe you should consider a tinnitus test.

Unceasing buzzing or ringing that comes in and out are two signs of a problem you might have with tinnitus. While sometimes a subtle hum, for many it could be higher-pitched whistling, which many times is more common. When it’s really bad, some people say tinnitus is there all day, every day.

Health professionals report that most people who have the symptoms of tinnitus will usually complain they have “ringing in the ear.” They’re also mistakenly think that tinnitus by itself is a disease, which is not true. What it is, is a symptom of some other illness or the result of a reaction to a medicine, most times. Plus, if you’ve been exposed to loud noise, you’ll most likely have some amount of tinnitus, which may not dissipate with time. Be sure to tell all of your symptoms to your doctor.

Steady ringing in the ear is one sign of tinnitus. It’s also possible you may hear a sharp whistling tone which won’t go away. Most of the time, you’ll be the only one to hear it, and it may appear and disappear and then reappear. Don’t confuse the once-in-a-while ringing or whistling tone you may hear with tinnitus, though. That, according to fable, is just because somebody’s talking about you!

Tinnitus is usually a subjective matter to someone suffering from it. This makes it hard to relate it to somebody who doesn’t have it. But for many, it’s a serious issue. It can be so severe on occasion, that actual noise can be heard by others listening in the ear. This sound, called a “bruit” by doctors, is real and definable. It’s also a term used to describe any sort of sound an illness or condition might cause.

Tinnitus can be hard to test for, because of its subjectivity. Usually, the first thing to do is get a hearing exam. Some physicians will do a “Tinnitus Handicap Inventory,” to measure how severe the problem is before devising a treatment schedule. Also, giving the doctor a history of problems you might have is a good idea. Try to be upfront during this examination, because tinnitus may also go along with memory loss, poor general health, fatigue or anxiety. A tinnitus test and any treatment relies upon getting a good physical history, and embarrassment over one of these problems will hinder, not help, possible treatment.

Your first step if you think tinnitus is a problem for you is to see your doctor. Reliable tinnitus testing isn’t very complicated, but due to the subjective nature of the symptoms, it requires the active participation of the person suffering from it in order to design an effective treatment plan. Also, you can help things by removing things that may trigger or aggravate the problem like allergens, certain medicines or exposure to loud noises and the like.