A: Tinnitus is ear noise described as a buzzing, ringing, roaring or hissing. Sometimes it's in synchrony with the heartbeat.

Hearing loss is a major cause. When deaf ears no longer transmit background sounds of daily life, the brain generates its own noise to compensate for that eerie silence. A hearing aid can often furnish the brain with normal ambient sound, lessening tinnitus.

Other tinnitus causes have to be addressed differently. High blood pressure is a possible cause. So too are allergies, problem arteries near the inner ear or tumors of the hearing nerve. Medicines sometimes bring it on. If these causes can be eliminated, so can tinnitus.

If, on the other hand, a treatable cause cannot be found, maneuvers can lessen the noise. Masking devices can drown out tinnitus. Worn like hearing aids, the gadgets emit sounds that can neutralize, at least partially, the internal noise. Larger masking devices are also available. At night, when tinnitus worsens, tuning the FM dial of the radio to a station that gives off static can sometimes drown out tinnitus.

For more information, contact the American Tinnitus Association at 800-634-8978 or www.ata.org.

By Dr. Donohue