Association Stresses Importance of Prevention and Availability of Treatment for Tinnitus Awareness Week
Rockville, Md., Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As many as one in three people globally have experienced tinnitus, making it one of the most prevalent health challenges facing people of all ages. However, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), tinnitus is widely misunderstood—and highly undertreated. ASHA hopes to contribute to improving these realities this Tinnitus Awareness Week (February 2–8, 2026) by sharing information and resources with the public.
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a sound that a person hears, even though there is no outside sound source. Tinnitus is not a disease but, rather, a symptom that can vary significantly in duration, severity, and impact.
“A temporary ringing in the ears—for example, after a loud event like a concert—may be a minor nuisance for some people,” explains ASHA 2026 President Linda I. Rosa-Lugo, EdD, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow. “However, other people experience tinnitus chronically. This can severely affect their ability to function in ways that include disrupting their sleep, causing or exacerbating mental health difficulties, and impacting job performance and personal relationships. It is critical that people know that help is available, and that is what drives our participation in Tinnitus Awareness Week.”
Key Facts About Tinnitus
Learning about tinnitus can be a relief to people who experience it. Many people with tinnitus are unfairly dismissed because it is an invisible condition—others cannot hear what they hear or fully understand how profoundly it can disrupt daily life.
Below is some key information for the public about tinnitus:
- How it sounds: People with tinnitus may hear it as a ringing in the ears, but the sensation can also be described as hissing, roaring, pulsing, whooshing, chirping, whistling, or clicking. There can be more than one tone, and these sounds can feel anywhere from soft to shatteringly loud.
- How it makes people feel: Tinnitus can cause people to feel depressed, fatigued, and helpless; anxious, irritable, and angry; and nervous, scared, and unfocused. It’s important to recognize the severe strain that tinnitus can put on people’s lives.
- What causes it: The exact cause of a person’s tinnitus isn’t always known, but it is often associated with hearing loss or other conditions including head injuries, high blood pressure, and migraines.
- Who’s at risk: Tinnitus is more common among older adults, although anyone can experience it. It is the most common disability among veterans. Certain lifestyle factors—such as frequent exposure to loud noise, smoking or vaping, and dealing with high levels of stress—put people at higher risk of tinnitus.
- How it’s treated: Tinnitus is not curable, but it’s often treatable. Addressing any underlying medical issues like hearing loss can help. Lifestyle modifications and other techniques and tools can also be helpful (more on that below).
Preventing and Treating Tinnitus
Because exposure to loud noise is a leading cause of tinnitus, prevention plays an important role. ASHA encourages people of all ages to practice safe listening in these ways:
- Turn the volume down. Keep the volume of personal listening devices (e.g., smartphones, gaming systems) to 50% or less, especially if you are wearing earbuds or headphones. Consider using noise-canceling earbuds or headphones so you aren’t tempted to crank the volume to drown out competing noise.
- Wear hearing protection. Use earplugs when you’re in a noisy place (e.g., concert venue, sports stadium) or participating in a noisy activity (e.g., spin class, woodworking). Be especially careful if you have noisy hobbies (e.g., playing an instrument) or noisy jobs (e.g., dentist, bartender) that place you in loud situations frequently. In those cases, musician’s earplugs or custom earplugs fitted by an audiologist can be a worthwhile investment.
- Take listening breaks. If you’re in a noisy environment, step outside periodically to allow your ears to recover. Similarly, when using earbuds or headphones, take a break every hour. Even just a few minutes can make a big difference for your ear and hearing health.
If you already have tinnitus, there are multiple ways that you can manage your symptoms to reduce their impact.
- Talk to your doctor, who can check for some of the medical issues that may cause tinnitus. They may also be able to advise about helpful lifestyle modifications. You should also have an audiologist test your hearing because some types of hearing loss and hearing problems can cause tinnitus.
- Consider using hearing aids. In some cases, hearing aids can help: An audiologist can help you find and use the most effective hearing aid for you.
- Other tinnitus management tools may include sound machines, tinnitus-reducing applications on your smart device, hypnosis, and therapy.
Professionals Who Can Help You
To best manage your tinnitus, you may need to see a specialist—such as an audiologist; an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT); a psychologist; or another professional (depending on your symptoms and preferences). More information about treatment for tinnitus is available at www.asha.org/public/hearing/tinnitus. Find an audiologist near you by visiting www.asha.org/profind.
###
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 241,000 members, certificate holders, and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) identify, assess, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders. www.asha.org
Contact Info
Francine Pierson
fpierson@asha.org
+1 301-296-8715