Living with Tinnitus: The sound no one else can hear, but you live with every day

Tinnitus is often described as “a ringing in the ears”.

If you live with it, you know how wildly inaccurate that is.

It can be a high-pitched whistle that cuts through your thoughts.

A buzzing that refuses to fade when the room goes quiet.

A constant background noise that follows you into meetings, bedtime, moments of rest, and moments of stress.

And because no one else can hear it, tinnitus is one of the most misunderstood conditions out there.

This Tinnitus Awareness Week, we want to talk about what tinnitus really feels like, why it is so often dismissed, and why awareness matters far more than most people realise.

When silence is not silent

For many people, silence is calming. For people with tinnitus, silence can be the loudest moment of the day.

The noise does not pause when you are tired. It does not disappear because you are trying to concentrate. It does not care if you are lying awake at 2 am, desperately wanting your brain to switch off.

That constant sound can affect sleep, focus, mood, and mental health. Over time, it can be exhausting in ways that are hard to explain to someone who has never experienced it.

This is often where the isolation begins.

What tinnitus really is and why it happens

Tinnitus is the perception of sound when there is no external sound source. It affects around one in ten adults in the UK, and for some people, it has little impact. For others, it significantly affects daily life.

It can be linked to hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, ear infections, stress, anxiety, certain medications, or physical issues such as jaw or neck problems. Sometimes, there is no clear cause at all, which can be one of the most frustrating parts.

The problem is not that people with tinnitus cannot hear. The problem is that their auditory system is sending signals that the brain interprets as sound. And that experience is very real, even if no one else can hear it.

Managing tinnitus is not about “getting used to it”

There is no single cure for tinnitus. Anyone who lives with it knows that learning to manage it is a personal process, not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Support can come from many places:

• Specialist clinics.

• Sound therapy.

• Stress management.

• Better sleep habits.

• Lifestyle adjustments.

• Mental health support.

Often, it is a combination rather than one answer.

What makes the biggest difference is access to good information and being taken seriously.

Why awareness still matters

Tinnitus is invisible. That is why it is so easy to minimise.

But invisibility does not mean insignificance.

Raising awareness helps people understand that tinnitus is not just an annoyance. It is something that can shape how someone experiences their day, their work, their relationships, and their well-being.

It also helps people with tinnitus feel less alone. Less dramatic. Less like they have to quietly cope.

Join us this Tinnitus Awareness Week

Throughout Tinnitus Awareness Week, we will be campaigning across our social channels in a fun, visual, and human way to spark conversation, challenge misconceptions, and share support.

If tinnitus affects you or someone you care about, follow us and be part of the conversation. Awareness grows when people talk openly, share experiences, and learn from each other.

You are not overreacting.

You are not imagining it.

And you deserve support.