Ringing in the ears, also calledtinnitus, is not triggered by an external sound.
Ringing in the ears often occurs as a result of another health condition.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you experience symptoms of tinnitus.
Peter Dazeley / Getty Images
Peter Dazeley / Getty Images
Symptoms
Ringing in ears affects people differently.
It may be faint or loud.
The pitch of the sound can also vary.
It can be erratic or, at times, seem to keep pace with your heartbeat.
Others may experience intermittent sounds, or hear them when they move their head a certain way.
Causes
Ringing in the ears is brought on by a disorder in the auditory system.
The causes can range from simple to complex.
For some people, there isn’t an obvious reason for the sound they hear.
Ringing in the ears can also result fromage-related hearing loss.
This normal deterioration of hearing usually starts around age 60 and affects both ears.
It often begins with the loss of high-frequency sounds, such as a whistle or squeal.
Outer Ear Canal Obstruction
Outer ear canal obstruction is often sparked by anearwax blockage.
When earwax builds up, it can block the ear canal and cause ringing in the ear.
Medications
Ringing in the ears can occur as a side effect of more than 200medications.
These medications are referred to asototoxic.
In many cases, the problem disappears when the medication is stopped.
Temporary ringing can resolve without treatment.
If your tinnitus is linked to a health problem, that issue is treated first.
If the ringing remains, the treatment goal is to reduce it and help you live with it.
Check with your healthcare provider before trying commonnatural remedies for ringing in ears.
Complications and Risk Factors
Ringing in the ears often occurs as the result of an underlying condition.
The symptom doesn’t cause harm on its own but can impact your quality of life and emotional well-being.
Sources of hearing damage can include rock concerts, power tools, and fireworks.
Seek evaluation for any key in of sound that interferes with your sleep and/or concentration.
In some cases, tinnitus is associated with the risk ofmental health problems.
Report feelings of depression or anxiety to your healthcare provider as soon as you recognize them.
It can also be linked to a health condition or medication side effect.
Chronic tinnitus may improve with hearing aids and other hearing devices.
Treatments that include counseling can help you deal with the challenges of living with the problem.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Tinnitus.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Tinnitus.
Hearing Health Foundation.Diagnosing tinnitus.
2024 Jul 19;12(7):1615. doi:10.3390/biomedicines12071615
American Tinnitus Association.Facts and causes.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Sensorineural hearing loss.
New York University Langone Health.Diagnosing Tinnitus.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).Ototoxic medications (medication effects).
2022;13. doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.1061431
Hearing Health Foundation.Protecting your hearing means protecting your mental health.
American Tinnitus Association.Tinnitus patient navigator.
