It may surprise you that about 17% of the world population has suffered or is suffering from tinnitus. Although this problem is not life threatening, those with more severe tinnitus symptoms find it extremely hard to deal with the annoying noises day by day. In order to find the right cure, they will have to pinpoint the exact cause to their problem.

In case you are not yet certain, there are five parts to our hearing mechanism, and any problem in one or more of them can result in tinnitus. This is why it is so hard to diagnose the exact tinnitus causes.

Exposure to noises is unarguably the most common cause. Loud noises created by modern life, such as loud car stereos, concerts, iPods and MP3 players, and industrial noises, can all cause damage to the inner ear or our hearing mechanism. This can lead to hearing loss and tinnitus, either temporary or permanent.

Stress and depression account for the number two cause for tinnitus. As an indispensable part of our daily life, extreme stress such as traumatic life events, unemployment, financial pressure, or family relocation, can all lead to tinnitus. In other cases, tinnitus sufferers from other causes may also develop mental symptoms after dealing with the condition for some period of time, which will in turn worsen the symptoms of tinnitus.

Other common tinnitus causes include sinus infections, Meniere's disease, a blocked ear canal, blocked Eustachian tube or even something as simple as an ear infection. Did you ever experience an earache in your childhood? Did you feel a humming sound in your ear? This is exactly the type of tinnitus that is induced by an ear infection. Despite that such symptoms can usually clear up by themselves, there are cases where people have to battle against the problem for a long time.

One of the lesser known causes of tinnitus is the misuse of drugs, as drug abuse can damage the inner ear. Aspirin and certain antibiotics are the first two on the caution list.

Hearing loss can also cause tinnitus. Some people can notice an occasional ringing in the ear that is accompanied by a degree of hearing loss. Usually, this happens slightly and you tend to forget about it over time.

You may have been told that tinnitus is a condition and not a disease itself. This is because tinnitus is usually one of the symptoms of an illness with other parts of your body. Taking anemia for example, sufferers can experience tinnitus as their hearing mechanism is unable to obtain sufficient blood circulation. This again speaks for the importance of pinpointing the root causes of tinnitus in its treatment.