What Causes Ringing in The Ears or Tinnitus?

Before we can understand what causes tinnitus, you need to understand what tinnitus actually is. Tinnitus is a known condition that describes the noise heard in the ear when there is no external sound. It’s usually known as ringing in the ear, but it’s not just ringing that some patients experience. Some people hear buzzing, clicking, whistling, whooshing or gushing in their ears, and there are others who even hear music! In these extreme cases they are having auditory hallucinations as a symptom of tinnitus. They can hear all of this as if they come from the world around them, but these noises are not from an external factor. 

Causes of tinnitus

Tinnitus affects different people in different ways, and each person experiences different sounds. The noise may be constant, or it could be intermittent. Some people experience the noise permanently where for others, it’s temporary. When you are worrying whether you have tinnitus, the best thing to do is to seek advice from your audiologist. They will be able to help you to pinpoint why you are experiencing tinnitus in the first place, though it is not always easy to figure out why it’s happening.

Most of the time, an audiologist will agree that you are experiencing tinnitus as a direct result of a change in your life. It’s not always related to the ear. It’s not a disease or illness: tinnitus is a symptom of a condition which is already present in your ears. Let’s take a look at some of the potential causes of the ringing in your ears.

• Loss of hearing: The inner ear is peppered with small hair cells that are very delicate. Due to wear and tear, these hair cells can reduce over time. This is a change that can cause hearing loss, and this is what makes ringing in the ear far more noticeable, as there is no longer an external sound to cover the noise in the first place.
• Loud noises: When you are experiencing prolonged exposure to loud noise, you may find that tinnitus is the result of the damaged hair cells. This can be a gradual change which you do not expect, and if you are exposed to loud noises in your private or your professional life, then you should consider using ear protection at all times could be better for your hearing health. Your audiologist can explain to you how loud too loud is so that you are more aware of your options.
• Stress, anxiety and emotional links: Audiologists cannot often pinpoint whether stress is a factor in the onset of tinnitus. However, most people tend to notice their tinnitus more when they are feeling stressed. There is plenty to say that this could link to the rise in blood pressure when you’re feeling stressed out, but that doesn't always link with tinnitus.
• Illness: If you are susceptible to ear infections, then you may notice your hearing is affected long-term. The symptoms of tinnitus could well be temporary while the illness plays out, but it’s so important to see an audiologist to get any prolonged hearing loss looked into. They’ll be able to tell you whether you have an infection that needs sorting out, too.

Does tinnitus have a cure?

As it stands, there is no medical cure for tinnitus, as the cause is too varied and it’s not easy to prevent sound that other people cannot hear. So, the treatment focuses on managing the symptoms of tinnitus, and may include:

• Hearing aids: This is the most commonly recommended treatment for tinnitus. If a hearing loss is present, restoring your ability to hear can sometimes resolve or lessen tinnitus symptoms. However, even if you do not have an issue with your hearing, these devices can be equipped with a masking feature to help override the noises you hear.
• Sound machines: These function similar to your hearing aids to help you block out the tinnitus noises, but they’re ideal for situations where you may not be wearing your devices, such as in the shower or at bedtime.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT): TRT is a therapy-based treatment that helps to train your brain to ignore the tinnitus sound. When used in tandem with hearing aids or a sound machine, TRT is successful at managing the unwanted sounds.  

Contact us today

At Hinderliter Hearing Services, we are proud to be able to offer our support and services for those who are affected by tinnitus. Please do give our friendly team a call at: 248-430-8425.