Despite the many groundbreaking medical advances of the last century, there are still some conditions that continue to perplex scientists. One such symptom is tinnitus, which people have reported experiencing as far back as the 1600 BC. Tinnitus is characterised by hearing unwanted sounds, such as a ringing, buzzing or humming noise in your ears or head. For one in eight people, these sounds never disappear. Although the condition is more common in older adults – possibly due to the natural ageing process – tinnitus can affect people of all ages, including young children.
It’s estimated that 30% of people worldwide will experience tinnitus at some point in their life. This number is likely to rise, as increases in life expectancy and exposure to loud music are all reasons people develop tinnitus. But while it’s more important now than ever to find a cure for this condition which is likely to become more common, researchers still struggle to find one because of how complex tinnitus is.
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