Subjective Tinnitus This is the most common type of tinnitus and represents sounds that only the sufferer can hear. While it remains a mystery about what causes this type of tinnitus, it is believed that it results from an issue in the structural tinnitus 911 foundation of the inner ear (cochlea, auditory nerve, etc.) The problem in the inner ear can result from hearing loss either due to age or damage from listening to loud noises. Most people with tinnitus usually have some form of hearing loss resulting from loud noises which damage the hair cells in the inner ear causing permanent hearing loss that can lead to tinnitus.