There are multiple theories on how tinnitus begins and why people experience it differently. Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound in the head when no external noise is present. Tinnitus manifests itself in a variety of different sounds ranging from white noise and high pitched tones to cricket, clicking, whooshing, or chirping sounds.
Currently, the most popular theory on the origin of tinnitus is the disruption of auditory input. In other words, the brain is no longer hearing all of the sounds it use to hear. To "fill in the space", the brain begins generating the noises we experience as tinnitus. It's no surprise then that 80-90% of people who experience tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss.
For more information on the origin of tinnitus, read this presentation given by Dr. Robert Sweetow.
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