Living with tinnitus can be distressing. So what can you do about it?

Tinnitus is when you hear ringing, buzzing or hissing sounds in your ears when no external noise is present. Illustration: Anand Purohit/Getty Images

For some it’s a high-pitched mosquito whine; for others it’s a low bass hum. It might come and go with periods of stress, or it might be the permanent, irritating background track to daily life and nightly sleep.

Whatever form it takes, tinnitus – hearing sounds like ringing, buzzing or hissing when no external noise is there – can be extremely distressing because it’s quite literally in your head; there is no escaping it. Given that at least one-quarter of the population report experiencing tinnitus at some stage in their life, it’s surprising how little is understood about why.