ABSTRACT
How the patient describes the tinnitus is sometimes of diagnostic significance, although the description alone cannot be depended upon for etiological judgments. For example, a low-pitched type of tinnitus is more common in otosclerosis and other fonns of conductive hearing loss. Sounds like ringing and hissing are more common in sensorineural hearing loss. The ocean-roaring type of noise or a noise like a hollow seashell held to the ear is reported most often in patients with Meniere's syndrome.
