Why ear ringing: Tinnitus – Symptoms and causes

19.08.202313.06.2023 by alexxlab

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6 Causes of Ringing in the Ear & Preventing Tinnitus

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Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) can be a temporary annoyance or a constant problem. Because tinnitus can seriously affect your quality of life, it’s important to see your doctor to get relief.

Written by

David Lee, MD.

Clinical Fellow, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Last updated June 11, 2022

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Causes

Next Steps

Treatment

Prevention

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Written by

David Lee, MD.

Clinical Fellow, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Last updated June 11, 2022

Ear ringing quiz

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3 most common causes

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Ménière’s Disease

Ear Infection

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Earwax Blockage

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Most common questions

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Why are your ears ringing?

Ringing in the ear, also called tinnitus, is a common problem. Sometimes the ringing in your ear sounds more like buzzing, hissing, or a high-pitched whine. It usually isn’t any louder than background noise. But in some cases, it may be so loud that it makes it difficult to hear and concentrate.

Tinnitus can affect one or both ears. It may be a constant problem or it may come and go. Many people who have tinnitus say that if they think about it, the sound is always there. They just don’t notice it when they’re focused on other things.

The most common causes of tinnitus are hearing loss and loud noises. The sound is from damage to the nerves in the ear that help you hear. This is why many people with hearing loss also experience tinnitus.

Some people are more likely than others to develop tinnitus. These include cigarette smokers and people who have cardiovascular disease. Men are more likely to get it than women.

If the ear ringing does not go away, you should make an appointment with an otolaryngologist (also known as an ENT—ear, nose, and throat doctor).

Depending on the cause, ringing in the ear may be treated with hearing aids, behavioral therapy, medication, or surgery.

Causes

1. Hearing loss

Symptoms

Ringing in the ears that’s worse when it’s quiet
Difficulty hearing
Difficult participating in conversations
Difficulty hearing in loud environments
Dizziness

Hearing loss is the most common cause of ringing in the ears. The hearing loss may be very noticeable. Or it may be so mild that you don’t even realize you have a problem.

It’s not unusual to experience some hearing loss as you age. The most common causes of hearing loss are regular exposure to loud noise and age-related hearing loss. Other causes include abnormal bone growths or tumors, or damage to the inner ear or eardrum.

It’s not clear why people with hearing loss also experience tinnitus. However, in a study published in The Lancet, researchers theorized that hearing loss causes the brain to create a ringing noise to “replace” sounds patients are unable to hear. This may be why many people with hearing loss say that their tinnitus is worse when they’re in a quiet environment.

If you have tinnitus and hearing loss, your doctor may recommend “sound masking” to minimize the ringing. This means using a fan or white noise machine in quiet places (like your bedroom when you’re trying to sleep).

You may also need hearing aids to minimize the effects of hearing loss, which in turn increases the input of sound. This increase in sound input can reduce the intensity of the tinnitus.

Other treatments include behavioral therapy, which helps you train yourself to tune out the ringing.

Pro Tip

Ringing in the ears truly can come in all shapes and sizes. The ringing can be high pitched or a low sound. It can be a roaring or like a single note on the piano. —Dr. David Lee

2. Exposure to loud noise

Symptoms

Ringing in the ears
Difficulty hearing
Dizziness

Hearing a very loud noise can cause ringing that lasts for a short while. The loud noise may be brief (like a gunshot) or occur over a longer period of time, such as at a concert. This kind of ringing usually goes away on its own.

If you’re regularly exposed to loud noise, however, you may develop hearing loss with tinnitus, since it often accompanies hearing loss.

Noise above 70 decibels (dB), which is similar to a washing machine or dryer, for an extended period of time may start to damage your hearing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Loud noise above 120 dB, which is like standing near a siren, can cause immediate harm to your ears.

Prolonged or repeated loud noise exposure should be avoided if possible.

3. Meniere’s disease

Symptoms

Ringing in the ears
A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear
Dizziness
Episodes of vertigo (dizziness that feels like you’re spinning)
Hearing loss that comes and goes (and may become permanent)

Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear. It usually only affects one ear. Anyone can develop Meniere’s disease, but it’s most common in young and middle-aged adults. It’s not known what causes it.

Meniere’s disease is a chronic condition. There’s no cure, but it can be treated with medications called diuretics and physical therapy and exercises to improve your balance. Your doctor may also recommend wearing a hearing aid. If these treatments don’t help, surgery may be necessary.

4. Earwax blockage

Symptoms

Ringing in the ears
Dizziness
Occasional cough
Ear canal pain
A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear

Your body naturally makes earwax to protect your ear from infection. It usually dries up and falls out of your ear on its own. But in some cases it can build up and create a blockage in your ear.

Some people are more prone to earwax blockages, such as those who wear hearing aids. Blockages also frequently develop in people who clean their ears with a cotton swab or other foreign objects. This pushes earwax deeper into your ear, so it is unable to fall out on its own.

You may be able to clear the blockage with ear drops that soften earwax. These are available at your local pharmacy. If this doesn’t work, see your doctor. Simple medical procedures can remove the blockage by irrigating your ear canal or with special tools that won’t push the wax deeper into your ear.

5. Middle ear infection

Symptoms

Ringing in the ears
Ear pain
A feeling of fullness in the ear
Drainage of fluid from the ear
Fever

Ear infections, called otitis media, are much more common in young children, but adults can get them, too. When fluid is trapped behind the eardrum, it can cause temporary hearing loss and tinnitus.

Ear infections may clear up on their own. If yours doesn’t, your doctor can treat it with ear drops that may contain an antibiotic. In some cases, you may also need to take oral antibiotics.

6. Side effect of medication

Symptoms

Ear ringing that coincides with medication use

According to a study published by the American Tinnitus Association, more than 450 prescription and over-the-counter drugs can trigger tinnitus or worsen existing symptoms. These include some antibiotics, diuretics, cancer medications, and Aspirin. Whether you develop ringing in the ears may depend on the dose you take. Higher doses are more likely to cause tinnitus.

Usually, stopping the medication will solve the problem. However, you should never stop taking a medication without talking to your doctor first. Your doctor may be able to lower your dose or put you on a different medication instead.

Pro Tip

Ask your doctor if any of your medications could be contributing to your ear ringing. Especially if you are taking multiple medications or recently changed dosages or prescriptions. Common offenders include some types of antibiotics, some diuretics, and many cancer treatment medications. —Dr. Lee

Other possible causes

Some conditions may cause ringing in the ears, but it isn’t one of the main symptoms or may occur in only a few people. These include:

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)
Blood vessel anomalies
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Intracranial masses
Head injuries
Muscle spasms

When to call the doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if tinnitus lasts for more than a couple weeks or is interfering with your quality of life (preventing you from sleeping, hearing conversations, etc. ). Your doctor may refer you to an ENT or an audiologist (hearing specialist). They will give you a physical exam and a hearing test.

Should I go to the ER for ringing in the ear?

You should go to the ER if you have the following:

Ringing in the ears along with a fever, headache, or changes in vision or mental status.
Ringing in the ears that begins suddenly along with muscle or body weakness.

Dr. Rx

Additional information that can help your doctor with a diagnosis of ear ringing include: Timeframe—does the ear ringing come and go? Is it worse at night or in quiet situations? And then not noticeable during the day or in areas with high ambient noise? Location—is it in one ear or both? If both, does one ear have louder or different ringing? Sound quality—I’ll often have patients try to mimic the sound. Is it a “whooshing” that is pulsatile? Or is it a constant note? Lastly, associated symptoms—Do you have dizziness or fluctuating hearing loss? Any ear fullness or pressure? —Dr. Lee

Treatments

At-home care

Run a white noise machine to ease the intensity of the ringing.
Practice behavioral therapies to learn how to tune out the tinnitus.
Wear hearing aids if your doctor has recommended them. It can reduce the tinnitus.

Other treatment options

Your doctor may recommend an antidepressant to help you cope with the severity of the ringing. (Though certain antidepressants may trigger tinnitus.)
Treating the underlying problem that caused the ringing (such as an ear infection) can reduce or eliminate ear ringing.
Surgery can help some causes of ear ringing (such as Meniere’s disease).

Preventative tips

To prevent ringing in the ears, you should:

Wear ear protection when you’re in loud environments.
Get routine ear screenings.
Watch TV or listen to the radio at a lower volume.
Quit smoking. Smoking is associated with tinnitus.
Eat healthy and exercise to improve your cardiovascular health.

David Lee, MD.

Clinical Fellow, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Dr. Lee is a board-certified otolaryngologist and medical consultant for Buoy Health. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Spanish at the University of Arkansas (2011) and went on to complete medical school from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (2015). He completed his residency training in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Cincinnati (…

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Ringing in ear has no easy solutions

Dear Doctors: I am a woman in my 80s and have been in pretty good health. However, I now have ringing in my ears that drives me crazy. I’ve tried drugstore pills and drops and a sound machine as well, but nothing works. I am hoping you can explain this ordeal and offer suggestions for relief.

Dear Reader: You have described something known as tinnitus. It is defined as a perceived sound that does not arise from an external source.

Tinnitus is not a condition in and of itself, but it is, instead, a symptom of some other underlying problem. The sound — or sounds — that someone with tinnitus hears occur because something taking place within the body has begun to affect the complex apparatus that allows us to hear.

Ongoing tinnitus affects an estimated 15% of the population in the United States. Many more people report having had temporary episodes, often due to exposure to a loud noise, or sometimes due to a blow to the head.

The most common sound associated with tinnitus is the ringing that you have described. People also report hissing, buzzing, whistling, chirping, whirring and roaring sounds. It’s not common, but some people say that they hear phantom music.

Potential physical causes of tinnitus include high blood pressure or a buildup of earwax. It can also be a side effect of certain medications. These include some types of antibiotics, antidepressants and cancer drugs, as well as large doses of aspirin.

But the major causes of tinnitus are exposure to loud or persistent noise and hearing loss. These can result in damage to the part of the inner ear, known as the cochlea, that translates the vibrations from sounds into nerve impulses. The information gathered by the cochlea is sent to specialized areas of the brain, known as auditory cortices, where the nerve impulses are interpreted as sound.

Tinnitus can affect one or both ears, and it can range in volume from a forgettable background noise to loud and persistent sounds that interfere with daily life. While some cases are temporary, for many individuals the sounds of tinnitus persist. Unfortunately, there is not a single treatment.

We recommend that you schedule an appointment with an ear specialist, known as an otolaryngologist. They can identify potential physical causes, such as earwax buildup, medication or a blood vessel condition, which are often treatable. They can also make sure that your blood pressure is under control.

A hearing specialist can also help you explore noise-suppression techniques, such as the use of a masking device that is worn in the ears. When hearing loss is a factor, the use of hearing aids can be helpful. These amplify external sounds, which often are louder than the inner sounds of tinnitus.

As you say, tinnitus can be maddening. And, unfortunately, there may not be an easy fix. But by working with a specialist, and through a process of trial and error, you may be able to arrive at a combination of techniques that will give you some relief.

(Send your questions to [email protected], or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10960 Wilshire Blvd. , Suite 1955, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)

Tinnitus Treatment in Kiev

Tinnitus (tinnitus) is a sensation that appears regardless of the sound vibrations of the environment. That is, without external acoustic stimuli. It can be in both ears or in one ear. Ringing in the ear may indicate a pathology of the auditory organ (ear, auditory nerve, auditory areas of the brain). It is a subjective sensation – that is, the level of tinnitus cannot be measured by objective audiometry methods. It is characterized in different ways. For example, like ringing in the ears, ringing in the head, the sound of the sea in the head, hum, etc. It is considered not a separate disease, but more a symptom caused by various reasons.

The patient can characterize the following types of noise, tinnitus:

ringing
hum
whistle
sound of falling water
grasshoppers chirping

One of the most common types of noise is tinnitus. It is classified into four degrees of severity:

1 degree – ringing without a decrease in performance, not affecting the patient’s life.
2 degree – is pronounced, especially sharply felt at night
3 degree – constantly worried. Characterized by sleep problems, irritability
4 degree – almost unbearable constant ringing in the ears. Inability to focus on anything.

Also, ringing in the ears is distinguished by the following types:

TEMPORARY :

acute – felt less than 3 months
mild – 3 months to 1 year
chronic – heard for more than 1 year

SECONDARY:

compensated – ringing in the ear or both ears is present, but the patient practically does not pay attention to it
decompensated – significantly complicates life, leads to the development of secondary symptoms (sleep problems, reduced concentration, neurological pathologies)

Causes of ringing in the ears

The mechanism of the appearance of ringing in the ears is most often a violation of the conduction of sound or irritation of the nerve cells of those parts of the brain that are responsible for hearing. Such activity of cells or receptors can occur when:

degenerative changes in the cervical spine
ischemia (impaired circulation as a result of a stroke or in the precursors of a stroke)
brain tumors
increased intracranial pressure
treatment with certain drugs
vestibulocochlear nerve tumors
decreased function of the auditory nerve
decrease in blood flow in the vessels supplying blood to the auditory conductors inside the brain or areas of the cortex of the temporal areas of the brain
inflammation of the auditory nerve (neuritis)
Spasms and atherosclerosis of blood vessels of the brain

Symptoms

The main symptoms of tinnitus can be considered the appearance of various sounds that only you hear:

ringing in the ears or in a separate ear
wave noise
whistle
hiss
buzz
squeak

Also ringing in the ear may be accompanied by headache, earache, ear congestion, dizziness.

Treatment of tinnitus

All of the above symptoms are quite unpleasant to feel. As a result, a natural question arises: how to get rid of ringing in the ears? First you need to find out the reason for the appearance of these sounds. To do this, you need to seek advice from an ENT doctor or neuropathologist. Since tinnitus is not an independent disease, the doctor, first of all, collects the patient’s life history. The history of the disease, the professional activity of a person are studied. Most often, tinnitus has neurological and vascular causes. Therefore, close attention is paid to the condition of the spine, auditory organs and brain. For a full study of the causes of tinnitus, a neurologist, after studying the results of an examination by an ENT doctor, will prescribe an examination:

Brain MRI
Ultrasound of vessels of the head
Duplex ultrasound scan of cerebral vessels with functional tests

Equipment we use to diagnose the causes of tinnitus

Toshiba Vantage Elan 1. 5 tesla MRI machine

Philips AFFINITY ultrasound machine 50

Radspeed X-ray system SHIMADZU 90 003

Ultrasound machine GE LOGIQ F8

Based on the results of the above studies, it will be possible to establish the causes of tinnitus. The main goal is to diagnose and treat the disease, the symptom of which may be ringing in the ears. Because tinnitus (ringing in the ears) can be the first (and often the only) sign of serious problems with the brain and its vessels. For example, atherosclerosis.

If the cause of ringing in the ear is vascular in nature, then the treatment of ringing in the ears will be based on a selective effect on spasmodic precapillary arterioles (development of the Meddiagnostika Center). This method in the shortest possible time restores blood microcirculation in the vessels of the inner ear, in the auditory nerve itself and in the brain. If after a procedure or a series of procedures the noise disappears, then we will get an answer why the ears are ringing: these were spasms of small vessels of the brain.

If this method did not help, it is worth conducting an ultrasound atherosclerotic test (development of the Meddiagnostika Center) to detect atherosclerotic vascular lesions. In the case of a positive test result, the treatment of tinnitus will be characterized by stopping the vasoconstriction due to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can cause future deafness, as well as a heart attack or stroke.

Prevention

Since there can be quite a lot of options for the appearance of tinnitus (and most of them do not have external signs), a person should carry out a preventive regular medical examination in order to identify diseases and pathologies that can lead to the appearance of such a disease at an early stage. an unpleasant phenomenon like tinnitus (tinnitus).

The main method of external prevention of tinnitus can be considered avoidance of auditory overload as a result of constant exposure to noise or traumatic effects. And, most importantly, you do not need to endure and try not to pay attention to the ringing. You should immediately consult a doctor for examination and timely treatment of the disease, a symptom of which may be ringing in the ears.

The clinic is attended by doctors with many years of experience in the successful treatment of neurological diseases, and the technical base of the clinic is represented by the most modern equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system. You can always turn to us for help.

causes, symptoms of what it could be, how to get rid of ringing in the ears

Have you ever had annoying ringing in your ears that prevents you from falling asleep? You are not alone in your problem: according to research, tinnitus bothers every fifth person. What causes ringing in the ears? Could it be a sign of disease? What to do to get rid of it? Says the medical author of the section “Health” on Sports.ru, general practitioner Alexander Shestakov.

What allows us to hear? How is the ear?

The body perceives sound through a complex acoustic system. The tympanic membrane, a thin membrane stretched deep in the auditory canal, picks up sounds. Further, the sound is transmitted to the auditory ossicles of the middle ear – the hammer, anvil and stirrup.

The size of each bone does not exceed 4-5 mm, which makes them the smallest bones in the body. They amplify and transmit vibrations to the cochlea of the inner ear – a bone structure in the form of a twisted spiral. From the inside, it is lined with hair cells, which convert the waves into electrical signals and transmit them along the nerve fibers to the brain.

Why is my ears ringing? Why does this happen more often in silence?

Sound perception is regulated by hair cells. Their sensitivity decreases when we hear a loud sound and increases in silence to pick up the quietest sounds. When there is no sound around, we can hear ringing due to perceptual distortion. In complete silence, the sensitivity of the cells is maximum, due to which a kind of “noise” arises, which the brain can perceive as ringing.

If something interferes with the passage of sound or the hair cells are damaged, the body has to constantly “twist” the sensitivity to the maximum, which is why the ringing appears in everyday life.

In medicine, this condition – ringing and tinnitus that occurs on its own, and not in response to sound in the external environment – is called tinnitus.

What diseases cause tinnitus? What can cause tinnitus?

Exposure to loud noises

Anyone who listens to loud music at a concert or with headphones has experienced ringing in the ears. Loud sounds damage the hair cells and disrupt their work – there is a ringing in the ears. After some time, the cells are restored and hearing returns to normal. Frequent or excessive exposure to loud sound can permanently damage the cells in the inner ear and lead to permanent hearing loss.

Age-related changes

The sensitivity of hair cells decreases with age. As their work deteriorates, the susceptibility to sounds decreases. The body tries to keep hearing to the last, so it “squeezes” everything possible out of the hair cells, which causes ringing in the ears.

Wax plug or foreign body in the ear

When wax plug forms, the passage of sound through the auditory canal is disturbed. The sensitivity of the hair cells increases and ringing occurs.

Ear infections

Inflammatory diseases of the ear are called otitis media. Usually they occur due to bacteria, less often – viruses or fungi. Against the background of infection, the ear canal swells and narrows. The passage of sound is disturbed, and the same mechanism of increasing the sensitivity of hair cells is triggered – we hear a ringing. Other symptoms of otitis media include:

pain in the ear, worse when chewing or swallowing,
throbbing in the ear,
redness of the ear canal and auricle,
discharge of pus from the ear,
fever above 37°C,

If you experience any of the symptoms of otitis media, please see your doctor.

Injuries to the ear, head, or neck

Injury from a blow or fall can damage any part of the hearing aid: the ossicles, the nerve, or areas of the brain responsible for hearing sound. In addition, the traumatic cause of tinnitus is often exposure to a loud sound (such as a gunshot) or blast wave.

Ringing in the ears may be one of the signs of injury.

Damage to the auditory nerve or brain

The sound perceived by the ear is sent along the auditory nerves to the brain. In some diseases, one of the stages of signal transmission is disrupted, which causes ringing.

This mechanism is characteristic of acoustic neuroma, a benign brain tumor affecting the auditory and vestibular nerves. With this disease, hearing loss, dizziness, impaired coordination of movements, and numbness of the skin of the face also occur.

Meniere’s disease

This is a rare disease of the inner ear that affects the cochlea and the vestibular apparatus. A distinctive feature of this disease is severe dizziness and loss of coordination. A person suddenly completely loses the ability to maintain balance, falls, tries to grab onto something in order to stand. Ringing in the ears, hearing loss, a feeling of congestion in the ear are other symptoms that accompany this disease.

Side effects of drugs

Some drugs have an ototoxic effect (lat. “oto” – ear, “toxicus” – poisoned, impregnated with poison). These drugs damage the hair cells or the auditory nerve, causing ringing and hearing loss. Ototoxicity has many drugs , including those sold without a prescription:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen;
Antibiotics – amioglycosides, chloramphenicol, vancomycin;
Diuretics – furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, acetazolamide;
Medicines for heart disease – metoprolol, procainamide, lidocaine;
Tricyclic antidepressants – citalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline;
Glucocorticosteroids;
Antimalarials;
Certain cancer chemotherapy drugs.

Chronic diseases

In rare cases, ringing in the ears occurs with certain chronic diseases, such as:

diseases of the heart and blood vessels – atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension,
diabetes mellitus,
diseases of the thyroid gland,
migraine,
anemia,
rheumatoid arthritis, 9 0010
systemic lupus erythematosus.

When should I see a doctor for ringing in my ears? Which specialist will prescribe treatment for tinnitus?

Ringing in the ears after a noisy party or concert is normal, hearing will return to normal after a few minutes or hours. If the tinnitus does not go away for more than a day, this is an occasion to consult an ENT doctor.

Ringing in complete silence is no reason to worry either. It is worth understanding its causes if the noise disturbs sleep or brings discomfort.

Be sure to see a specialist if:

Tinnitus is persistent and does not go away for more than three days;
Ringing occurs regularly against the background of hearing loss and constant dizziness;
Murmur after head or neck injury;
Hearing loss is accompanied by numbness of the skin of the face or weakness of the facial muscles.

Why ear ringing: Tinnitus – Symptoms and causes

6 Causes of Ringing in the Ear & Preventing Tinnitus

3 most common causes

Ear ringing quiz

Most common questions

Why are your ears ringing?

Causes

1. Hearing loss

Symptoms

2. Exposure to loud noise

Symptoms

3. Meniere’s disease

Symptoms

4. Earwax blockage

Symptoms

5. Middle ear infection

Symptoms

6. Side effect of medication

Symptoms

Other possible causes

When to call the doctor

Should I go to the ER for ringing in the ear?

Treatments

At-home care

Other treatment options

Preventative tips

Ringing in ear has no easy solutions

Tinnitus Treatment in Kiev

Causes of ringing in the ears

Symptoms

Treatment of tinnitus

Prevention

causes, symptoms of what it could be, how to get rid of ringing in the ears

What allows us to hear? How is the ear?

Why is my ears ringing? Why does this happen more often in silence?

What diseases cause tinnitus? What can cause tinnitus?

Exposure to loud noises

Age-related changes

Wax plug or foreign body in the ear

Ear infections

Injuries to the ear, head, or neck

Damage to the auditory nerve or brain

Meniere’s disease

Side effects of drugs

Chronic diseases

When should I see a doctor for ringing in my ears? Which specialist will prescribe treatment for tinnitus?

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