"I hear insect sounds all the time," said Fite. "It's similar to a bee buzzing. I've played music most of my life, and it came from hearing loss due to being around loud noises."

According to the American Tinnitus Association, tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head where no external source is present. The word comes from Latin and means "to tinkle or ring like a bell."

The ATA estimates over 50 million Americans experience tinnitus to some degree. Of those, 12 million have severe enough tinnitus to seek medical attention, and about two million patients are so seriously debilitated they cannot function on a "normal," day-to-day basis.

Fortunately, Fite has no long-term disability.

"I live with it, and can actually ignore it most of the time," said Fite. "After 15 or 20 years, you have to learn to work around the noise."

In almost all cases, tinnitus is subjective, meaning only the person who is afflicted can hear it. Someone with tinnitus often describes it as "ringing in the ears," but many, like Fite, report hearing other sounds: Crickets, whooshing, pulsing, ocean waves, buzzing, even music.

Most people will experience the problem temporarily or intermittently, however, those who seek help from the ATA report experiencing symptoms of tinnitus 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Dr. Gene Woodard, of Advantage Audiology in Tahlequah, treats patients with tinnitus on a regular basis.

"It [tinnitus] is very common," said Woodard. "It's probably one of the leading complaints we treat in the office. Unfortunately, barring other medical circumstances such as neurological problems or something more serious, tinnitus has no effective cure that we know of."

The exact physiological cause of tinnitus is not known. There are, however, several likely sources, all of which are known to trigger or worsen tinnitus. The ATA recognizes the following as possible causes: Noise-induced hearing loss, wax build-up in the hearing canal, ear or sinus infections, jaw misalignment, cardiovascular disease and certain medications.

There are ways to find relief from tinnitus.

"Sometimes hearing aids will help," said Woodard. "Other times masking devices or cochlear implants, similar to hearing aids in that they fit directly in the ear, help to replace the noises the patient hears."

Along with the treatments Woodard recommends, the ATA suggests several others. Some people have taken minerals such as magnesium or zinc, herbal preparations such as Ginkgo biloba, homeopathic remedies, or B vitamins for their tinnitus, and found them to be helpful. Other alternative treatments include acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, magnets, hyperbaric oxygen or hypnosis. Although a few of these therapies have been researched by the ATA in an attempt to verify anecdotal claims, results have not been conclusive.

Another method of treatment, according to the ATA, is biofeedback. Biofeedback is a relaxation technique that teaches people to control certain body functions, such as pulse, muscle tension and skin temperature. The goal of the therapy is to help people manage stress, not by reducing it, but by changing the body's reaction to it. The ATA found many people notice a reduction in tinnitus when they are able to modify their reaction to stress.

Before diagnosing yourself with tinnitus because you recognize some of the symptoms, see your doctor.

"Rather than deciding you have tinnitus and trying to live with it, I recommend patients have a thorough exam by a qualified ear, nose and throat physician, as well as having a complete audiological exam," said Woodard. "Only then will you know if treatment is available, or if the noises you hear are something you may have to learn to adjust to."

By Teddye Snell, Tahlequah Daily Press