Tinnitus Education Corner with Dr. Jennifer Gans

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

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans People with tinnitus are often told to avoid caffeine and reduce salt, as if these substances directly make tinnitus louder. Many patients give up coffee, switch to low-salt diets, and carefully monitor every bite and sip—only to discover that their tinnitus seems unchanged. This can be confusing and discouraging. The misunderstanding comes from a simple

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans One of the most common questions people with tinnitus ask is: “Why does my tinnitus get louder some days and quieter on others?” Many assume that these changes must reflect something happening in the ears or auditory system. Rather, tinnitus loudness does not fluctuate because the sound itself is changing—it fluctuates because attention and context

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans Tinnitus occupies a uniquely uncomfortable place in modern medicine. Patients come into the doctor’s office with a clear, credible complaint—ringing, buzzing, hissing, or electrical noise that won’t stop—yet exam after exam often shows nothing “wrong.” The ears look healthy. The scans are normal. The hearing test may even come back within normal limits. And still,

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans Our goal for the person with bothersome tinnitus is to find a way to make tinnitus boring to the brain. When a stimulus is boring, it floats out of awareness. The following explains why this works neurologically and how to apply it in practice. Why “Boring” Works: The Neuroscience of Habituation The brain’s attention system

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans Most people can tune out ordinary sounds—a humming refrigerator, footsteps, or the buzz of a light. The brain’s sensory system filters these background noises automatically, allowing us to focus on what matters. But for those with hyperacusis, this natural filtering process malfunctions. Everyday sounds feel unbearably loud or even painful. At its core, hyperacusis is

By Dr. Jennifer J. Gans When it comes to managing tinnitus, education is not just the beginning—it is the foundation. Tinnitus management exists along a broad spectrum, from 0 to 100. At zero lies education, the essential first step. Without it, relief is often variable and unlikely to produce lasting benefit. Zero: The Power of Education Understanding tinnitus—what it is,