What best describes the experience of tinnitus?

The experience of tinnitus is best described as the perception of ringing in the ears. This condition can manifest as a variety of sounds, such as ringing, buzzing, hissing, or humming, and is often perceived when there is no external sound source present. Tinnitus can be subjective, meaning it is heard only by the individual experiencing it and can vary widely in intensity and pitch.

Individuals with tinnitus may have different personal experiences, but the hallmark characteristic is this phantom auditory perception. It is important for practitioners to recognize this key feature, as it can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life, often leading to difficulties with concentration, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

While sound sensitivity, hearing loss, and difficulty with phonation can all be associated with auditory issues, they do not define tinnitus itself. Sound sensitivity refers more to a heightened response to sounds, hearing loss involves a reduction in the ability to hear, and difficulty with phonation pertains to challenges in producing speech sounds. In contrast, tinnitus specifically relates to the ongoing perception of sound without an external source, making it a unique subjective experience in the realm of auditory symptoms.