title: The bells are ringing: tinnitus in their own words.
abstract: Tinnitus, commonly known as "ringing in the ears," is the perception of a ringing noise or other sound within the head when none exists. It is a malady that affects millions, so its occurrence among the famous comes as no surprise. Beginning with Pliny the Elder, who coined the term, this essay describes the travails of a dozen well-known subjects afflicted with this disorder, through several centuries, principally in their own words. For some it was a burden to be endured; for others, it was unendurable. Suggested remedies were many and oft-times strange; cure, even now, is nonexistent.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Care Ethics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. morgenstern@cshs.org
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morgenstern
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D005197:Famous Persons; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history*