The exact cause (or causes) of tinnitus is not known. There are, however, several likely factors which may cause tinnitus or make existing tinnitus worse: noise-induced hearing loss, wax build-up in the ear canal, certain medications ear or sinus infections, age-related hearing loss, ear diseases and disorders, jaw misalignment, cardiovascular disease, certain types of tumors, thyroid disorders, heal and neck trauma and many others. Of these factors, exposure to loud noises and hearing loss are the most common causes of tinnitus. It is strongly recommend that an audiologist and a physician should evaluate all tinnitus patients.