Tinnitus Education Corner with Dr. Jennifer Gans

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans When tinnitus becomes bothersome, it can feel as if the sound is the whole problem. But often, the sound is only part of the story. Tinnitus is a real, brain-generated sound. The sound itself is not dangerous. The distress comes when the brain and nervous system mislabel the sound as important, threatening, or something that

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans People with bothersome tinnitus are particularly vulnerable to misinformation. This is not because they are gullible. It is because tinnitus can be frightening, unfamiliar, and difficult to understand—especially when it first appears. When someone suddenly hears a sound that no one else can hear, the natural response is often to search for an explanation. Why

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans Understanding tinnitus teaches us a fundamental principle about how the brain works across all sensory systems. The Brain Hates Missing Information When the brain loses or receives reduced sensory input—whether through changes in vision, hearing, touch, taste, balance, or smell—it does not simply go quiet. Instead, it often fills in the gaps. This is exactly

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans Tinnitus Explained in 60 Seconds Most people think tinnitus means something is wrong with the ear. But tinnitus is actually a remarkable example of how the brain works—and the kinds of errors it can make, especially during times of stress. Your brain is constantly predicting the world around you. In many ways, it is a

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans When the Brain’s Sound System Is Disrupted Tinnitus—the perception of sound without an external source—is commonly described as ringing, buzzing, or humming in the ears. While tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss from aging or noise exposure, it is also frequently reported after traumatic brain injury (TBI). In fact, tinnitus is one of the

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans When tinnitus first appears, the brain often reacts automatically. A sound is noticed—ringing, buzzing, or humming—and within seconds the mind begins to interpret it. What is that sound? Is something wrong? What if it gets worse? These thoughts are not unusual. The brain is designed to detect potential threats, and anything unfamiliar in our sensory

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans Reframing a Commonly Misunderstood Auditory Experience Tinnitus—the perception of sound in the absence of an external acoustic source—is one of the most common sensory experiences in humans. Millions of individuals report hearing ringing, buzzing, humming, or other internal sounds at some point in their lives. Despite its prevalence, tinnitus is frequently misunderstood by both patients

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans Tinnitus—the perception of sound without an external source—is often described as ringing in the ears. For the millions of people who experience it, the sound can range from a faint background tone to a persistent signal that captures attention and fuels distress. Yet tinnitus is far more than an ear problem. It sits at a

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans Tinnitus occupies a very unusual place in medicine. Most medical complaints follow a familiar pattern: a symptom points to a specific physical problem that can be identified and treated. A broken bone is repaired, an infection is treated with antibiotics, and a tumor is removed or managed with medication. Tinnitus does not fit neatly into

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans Tinnitus is the perception of sound—often described as ringing, buzzing, or humming—without an external source. Millions of people notice tinnitus at some point in their lives, yet only a small percentage find it distressing. Why does the same sound feel irrelevant to some people but overwhelming to others? The answer lies not in the sound