WHEN SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT... Show Jan. 18, 2022 "Why do I hear ringing in my ears?" It's a concerning question to ask yourself. If you hear ringing in your ears more often than not, you know just how bothersome or distracting this noise can be. And that it's distinctly different from those random, phantom sounds you might have heard on rare occasions after standing up too fast or while dealing with a headache. "Hearing continuous sound in one or both of your ears is called tinnitus," says Dr. Jeffrey Vrabec, an ENT doctor specializing in neurotology at Houston Methodist. "It's most often described as a ringing, but people can hear tinnitus differently." The common descriptions of what tinnitus sounds like include:
"Tinnitus can vary over time, sometimes becoming fairly disruptive and even debilitating," says Dr. Vrabec. "If it's the most important thing you think about and it's keeping you from carrying out or enjoying daily activities, it's certainly time to do something about it." What causes ringing in your ears?"Hearing a continuous ringing in your ears is almost always a side effect of hearing loss, typically an early indication of it," says Dr. Vrabec. "Hearing loss happens in your ears, but the resulting ringing you may hear as a result does not. It's happening in your brain." Your brain plays an integral role in hearing — making sense of the sounds around you by processing the information received from your ears. It helps you focus on the most relevant sounds you're hearing, distinguishing these from background sounds and filtering out unwanted noise. As you can imagine, this is a busy job for your brain. Hearing loss reduces the amount of sound your brain has to interpret, giving it less to do. Tinnitus is one unwanted consequence. "When your auditory cortex — the part of your brain responsible for hearing — is bored, it starts looking for something to do, some sound to interpret," explains Dr. Vrabec. "Tinnitus occurs as a consequence of that, and it's essentially the result of your brain reacting to hearing loss. Since the input to your brain has changed, your brain begins to misinterpret what's actually there, resulting in the perception of other sounds, namely ringing." This is why people often hear the ringing in both ears and sometimes can't pinpoint where exactly the sound is coming from. How do you stop the ringing in your ears?The first step to treating tinnitus is to get your hearing checked by an audiologist. "If you are hearing continuous sound in your ears, it is very likely some measurable hearing loss is present," says Dr. Vrabec. "A hearing test will uncover how severe the hearing loss is or whether your tinnitus may be the result of something else." If you have hearing loss and worsening tinnitus, the good news is that you don't have to live with a never-ending soundtrack of unwanted noise. "When treating tinnitus, the goal is to activate and condition your auditory cortex — reinforcing it to listen to real sounds and training it to not think about the unwanted noise it's perceiving," says Dr. Vrabec. "So we're not actually removing the tinnitus, we're just eliminating your brain's attention to it. This is accomplished by listening to masking sounds, some comforting sounds you can play in the background, such as rain, a stream or waterfall, the beach." "These types of sounds are quite valuable at inhibiting the perception of tinnitus," says Dr. Vrabec. "They keep your brain busy, making it less likely to fixate on the ringing." Most people find success in using masking sounds to reduce their tinnitus, but this isn't always the case. "If your symptoms continue to progress or worsen, let your doctor know," says Dr. Vrabec. "There are medications that can be considered." It's also important to consult a doctor about your symptoms since, in rare cases, tinnitus can be a side effect of something other than hearing loss, which can change how your doctor approaches your care. Next Steps:
Stay up-to-date By signing up, you will receive our newsletter with articles, videos, health tips and more. Please Enter Email Please Enter Valid Email Overview Tinnitus is the medical term for a ringing or buzzing noise in the ears. Most people refer to tinnitus as “ringing in the ears.” However, you may hear more than just ringing. If you have tinnitus, you may also hear:
Although you hear sounds in your ears, there’s no external sound source. This means there’s nothing close to your head that makes the sounds you hear. For this reason, the sounds of tinnitus are sometimes known as phantom sounds. Tinnitus can be frustrating. Sometimes, the sounds you hear can interfere with hearing real sounds around you. Tinnitus can occur with depression, anxiety, and stress. You may experience tinnitus in one or both ears. People of all ages can develop tinnitus, but it’s more common in older adults. Tinnitus can be either objective or subjective. Objective tinnitus means that both you and other people can hear certain noises in your ears. This is commonly due to abnormal blood vessels in and around your ears. When your heart beats, you and others can hear a distinct pulsing sound. Objective tinnitus is rare. Subjective tinnitus is much more common. Only you can hear the roaring, ringing, and other sounds of subjective tinnitus. Damage to the middle or inner ear is a common cause of tinnitus. Your middle ear picks up sound waves, and their conduction prompts your inner ear to transmit electrical impulses to your brain. Only after your brain accepts these signals and translates them into sounds are you able to hear them. Sometimes, your inner ear sustains damage, altering the way your brain processes sound. Damage to your eardrums or the tiny bones in your middle ear can also interfere with the proper conduction of sound. Tumors in the ear or on the auditory nerve may also cause ringing in the ears. Exposure to very loud sounds on a regular basis can cause tinnitus in some people. Those who use jackhammers, chainsaws, or other heavy equipment are more likely to have tinnitus. Listening to loud music through headphones or at a concert may also produce temporary symptoms of tinnitus. Medication use can also cause tinnitus and hearing damage, called ototoxicity, in some people. Drugs that may cause tinnitus include:
Other medical conditions that can create ringing in your ears include:
Your doctor will examine your ears and conduct a hearing test to diagnose tinnitus. An audiologist will transmit sounds through a set of headphones to one ear at a time. You’ll respond visibly by raising your hand or making a similar gesture when you hear each sound. Your doctor may be able to diagnose the cause of your tinnitus by comparing what you can hear to what people of your age and sex should be able to hear. Your doctor may also use imaging tests, such as CT or MRI scans, to see if you have deformities or damage to your ears. Standard plain film X-rays don’t always show tumors, blood vessel disorders, or other abnormalities that can affect your hearing. Your doctor will treat any underlying medical conditions causing your tinnitus. Your doctor will address any blood vessel abnormalities and remove any excess earwax. If medications are contributing to your tinnitus, your doctor may switch your prescriptions to restore normal hearing. Drug therapyDrug therapy can also help reduce the sounds you hear in your ears. Tricyclic antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, including Xanax, amitriptyline, and nortriptyline, can lessen the ear sounds in some cases. However, not everyone responds to drug therapy and the side effects can be bothersome. Side effects of medications used to treat tinnitus may include:
In rare cases, these medications can also cause heart problems. At-home treatmentNoise-suppression machines can help dull the ringing, buzzing, or roaring by providing relaxing noises to mask your ear sounds. You might also try a masking device that’s similar to a hearing aid and inserts into your ear. Lifestyle changesYou can also take steps to manage your tinnitus by reducing stress. Stress doesn’t cause tinnitus but can make it worse. Engage in a hobby or talk with a trusted friend or family member to reduce stress in your life. You should also avoid exposure to loud noises to lessen the severity of your tinnitus. Hearing aidsHearing aids can be beneficial for some people with tinnitus. Sound amplification can help those who have trouble hearing normal noises due to their tinnitus. Cochlear implantsCochlear implants to restore lost hearing may also be effective. A cochlear implant is a device that allows your brain to bypass the damaged part of your ear to help you hear more effectively. A microphone implanted just above your ear works with an electrode set inserted into your inner ear. The implant sends your auditory nerve the signals you need to process sound. Cochlear implants use electrical stimulation to help your brain interpret sounds properly. Protect your ears from loud noises to help prevent tinnitus. Keep a close eye on the volume levels of your television, radio, and personal music player. Wear ear protection around noises louder than 85 decibels, which is the level associated with average heavy traffic noise. Also, cover your ears if you’re surrounded by loud music or construction noise and proper ear protection, such as earplugs, isn’t available. You should also avoid medications that may cause your tinnitus symptoms to recur and schedule regular hearing tests with your doctor to promptly detect any problems with the structure of your inner and middle ear. |
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