TINNITUS
Tinnitus is commonly known as ringing in the ears or as sounds that originate in the head. Tinnitus may be perceived as ringing, crickets, roaring, hissing, bells, whistles, a roar or pulse, or a combination of sounds. Tinnitus can be heard in one ear or both and can be constant or intermittent.
These sounds are bothersome to about 17 percent of the general population. Tinnitus can be affected by stress and emotional or sleep states. People who hear a similar sound with the same degree of loudness may experience different degrees of annoyance.

HYPERACUSIS
Hyperacusis is sensitivity to loud sounds or the inability to tolerate common environmental sounds. Some individuals may experience pain in varying degrees when they hear common everyday sounds. Patients with more severe cases wear earplugs and earmuffs on a daily basis.

TINNITUS RETRAINING THERAPY
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, TRT, is a clinical approach to tinnitus developed by the neurophysiologist Dr. Pawel Jastreboff. In most cases, the cause of the tinnitus is not the most important aspect to consider. There can be many causes, and sometimes the initial cause is no longer present. The issue is what to do with the resulting sound that remains persistent and devastating to so many people.
The brain can be retrained so as not to perceive tinnitus signals. Auditory habituation—that is, the ability to no longer be aware of the tinnitus signal a majority of the time or not at all—is the goal of tinnitus retraining therapy.