If you or somebody you know has ever had ringing, buzzing or whistling in the ear, you might be asking what it could be. Chances are, it may be a condition called “tinnitus,” which comes from the Latin for “ringing.” And once you think you have it, and need to be tested, you might be asking what makes up a tinnitus test?

Unceasing buzzing or ringing that comes in and out are two signs of a problem you might have with tinnitus. While sometimes a subtle hum, for many it could be higher-pitched whistling, which many times is more common. When it’s really bad, some people say tinnitus is there all day, every day.

Sufferers who need a tinnitus test will usually tell a physician that they hear a ringing sound. Remember; tinnitus itself is not a disease, but a symptom of an underlying condition, like an ear infection or a problem with loud noise, to name things that can create it. Also, allergic reactions and certain heart medications can cause tinnitus, so try to relate your signs and any medications you’re taking to your doctor.

Tinnitus reveals itself through those ringing or whistling tones. Most of the time only the person suffering from it can hear them. It may be steady and long-lasting, or it may be intermittent. Tinnitus is different from the occasional ringing in the ear, though. That goes away soon enough. An old wife’s tale about this sort of ringing says that when it occurs, somebody somewhere is talking about you!

How tinnitus affects people varies from person to person. Being a purely subjective illness, some people complain of serious problems, while other describe it as no more than a nuisance, like a mosquito buzzing in their ear. An interesting fact is that doctors themselves can sometimes hear the sound tinnitus creates in the ear of the person affected. The medical name for the sound is “bruit,” which is a general term for any sound an illness may cause in a person.

If you suffer from steady or intermittent ringing in one or both ears, get an examination. Most of the time, a hearing test, called an audiometric exam, will be done. The doctor will use it in an attempt to gauge how serious the tinnitus is so that a treatment regimen can be devised. Discuss any issues you may have in a direct manner with your doctor, and try not to leave out anything out. Commonly, things like lapses in memory or general fatigue usually occur along with tinnitus.

See a doctor if you have prolonged buzzing or ringing in one or both ears. A tinnitus test doesn’t take much time and it isn’t very involved. But, you need to do everything you can to help your doctor identify its true cause or causes so that proper treatment can occur. Also, try to avoid allergy-causing foods, medicines or other substances, and be proactive in seeking help.