What is the medical term for ringing in the ears?

What is the medical term for ringing in the ears? The medical term is tinnitus.

Tinnitus is the perception of ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing, clicking, or other sound when no corresponding external sound is present. It may be heard in one ear, both ears, or seemingly inside the head. The name comes from the Latin tinnire, meaning “to ring.”

Tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss, especially hearing damage from loud noise, but it can also accompany ear infections, impacted earwax, Ménière's disease, head injuries, or certain medications. In some people it is temporary, while in others it persists and interferes with sleep, concentration, or communication.

Tinnitus is not the same as vertigo, which is a sensation of spinning or movement. It is also not synonymous with Ménière's disease; Ménière's is an inner-ear disorder that can include tinnitus along with episodic vertigo, hearing loss, and ear pressure. Tinnitus is common—roughly 10% to 15% of people experience it—but only a smaller proportion find it severely disabling.