Ontario Hearing Center is an audiology practice in Brighton. We provide tinnitus evaluation and management, and we have served the Rochester area since 1956.
What tinnitus sounds like at first
Ringing is the most common description, and tinnitus also sounds like buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing, humming, or whooshing. Some people hear a pulse that keeps time with their heartbeat. The pitch runs from a low roar to a high squeal, and you can hear it in one ear or both. Other people usually cannot hear it.
How long the first signs last
Tinnitus can be constant or come and go. Loud sounds can also cause short-term ringing and permanent hearing loss. If the ringing does not fade, or keeps coming back, get it checked.
Hearing changes that come with early tinnitus
Tinnitus often comes with hearing loss. About 9 in 10 people with tinnitus have some hearing loss, and a hearing test shows whether you do. Some people also notice a feeling of fullness in the ear.
Effects on sleep, focus, and mood
Tinnitus can make it harder to sleep and focus, and it can affect memory and mood. Quiet rooms make it easier to notice, and stress and anxiety make it feel louder.
Who is more likely to get tinnitus?
Common risk factors are loud noise exposure and age. Men are more likely to have tinnitus. Smoking, drinking alcohol, high blood pressure and other heart and blood vessel conditions, and a history of head injury also raise the risk.
Some medicines, including high doses of aspirin and some antibiotics, can cause it. Earwax or another blockage in the ear canal can also cause it.
When to get checked right away
See a doctor right away if tinnitus comes with sudden hearing loss, dizziness, or numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg. Get a prompt evaluation for any of these:
- Ringing in one ear only
- A sound that pulses with your heartbeat
- Ringing after a head injury or accident
- Ringing that follows a cold and has not improved in a week
- Anxiety, depression, or lost sleep from tinnitus
Ringing in one ear with a drop in hearing can be sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and treatment can be time sensitive. Audiologists and ENT doctors work together on tinnitus.
What happens at a tinnitus evaluation?
A tinnitus evaluation starts with a comprehensive hearing test and questions about your tinnitus: when you notice it, what it sounds like, how loud it is, what makes it worse, and whether it affects your sleep or concentration. The 2026 clinical guideline from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation says every patient with tinnitus should have a comprehensive hearing evaluation.
A doctor will also ask about your history and examine your ears, head, and neck. Scans are limited to people with specific concerning features. Every patient at Ontario Hearing Center is seen by a doctoral-level audiologist. If everyday sounds also feel painfully loud, we evaluate sound sensitivity, called hyperacusis.
What to do first
Start by booking a tinnitus evaluation. Until then, protect your ears from loud sound and add background sound in quiet rooms.
Turn down headphone volume and wear hearing protection around loud equipment. A fan, a white noise machine, or soft music makes tinnitus less noticeable. Some people notice more ringing after caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine, so cut back and see whether it changes. For more on what helps and what the research says, read our guide to curing tinnitus naturally.
Frequently asked questions
What does tinnitus sound like at first?
Usually ringing, buzzing, hissing, or humming that only you hear. It can be soft or loud, high or low, and constant or on and off.
How can I tell if I have early tinnitus?
If you hear a sound that no one else hears and nothing in the room is making it, it is likely tinnitus. A tinnitus evaluation finds out what is behind it.
What are the common early symptoms of tinnitus?
A sound with no outside source is the main one. Trouble sleeping or focusing, and a feeling of fullness in the ear, can come with it.
Is ringing in the ears a sign of tinnitus?
Yes. Ringing with no outside source is the most common way people describe tinnitus. Earwax or an ear infection can cause it, so have your ears checked.
Can tinnitus start suddenly?
Yes. Sudden tinnitus, especially in one ear or with a drop in hearing, needs prompt attention from a doctor and a hearing professional.
Book a tinnitus evaluation
If you have noticed ringing or buzzing in your ears, an evaluation with an audiologist is the first step. Our tinnitus evaluations include a hearing test and questions about your tinnitus, and we build a management plan around the results.
Our office is at 2210 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618. We are open Monday to Thursday, 8 to 12 and 1 to 5, and Friday, 9 to 12 and 1 to 4. Call (585) 442-4180 or book online to schedule.