This week's theme... hearing, sound, and lack thereof.

tinnitus

Meaning:
A sensation of noise (like ringing) in the ear due to internal bodily conditions.  It is a condition caused by different , not a disease.

Reference:
Here's the Wikipedia entry.

Example:
"Ludwig van Beethoven is known to have suffered tinnitus that got progressively worse that by the time he wrote his Ninth Symphony, he was totally deaf."

Digression Points:
Hypersensitivity to sound is known as Hyperacusis. (Reference).
The most common type of hearing loss is called "sensorineural hearing loss" or "cochlear loss".  (Reference).