Tinnitus is a condition that is characterized by a ringing in the ear. It is a common problem as it affects about one in five people between the ages of 50 and 65. People often develop tinnitus as a result of an underlying condition such as hearing loss associated with age, an ear injury, or a circulatory system disorder. There are two kinds of tinnitus: subjective tinnitus and objective tinnitus. Subjective tinnitus is the most common type of tinnitus. It is a type of tinnitus that only you can hear. It can be caused by ear problems in your outer, middle or inner ear. It also can be caused by problems with the auditory nerves or the auditory pathways which is the part of the brain that interprets nerve signals as sound.