Why do I hear ringing in my ears?

Question

I don't have a cold or anything, but when it's really quiet my ears ring and it's kind of annoying. I can hear it the most when I'm about to fall asleep. I fall asleep fine and everything though. Anyone know what causes this and how I can stop it?

Answer 1

I'm an Audiologist.

Any sound inside your head is called tinnitus - it's a very broad, generalized term. Many people just have it naturally. I have had it my whole life. The reason it seems louder when you are going to sleep is because there is less external noise to drown it out. I run a fan to mask the noise in my ears, and many people buy noise machines for this purpose.

Sometimes people hear the ringing if there is a blockage of the ear -- from wax, negative pressure restricting eardrum movement, fluid build-up behind the eardrum, or an ear infection. In most cases, once the blockage is removed/treated and the ear has recovered, the ringing goes away.

Does your ear feel plugged? You don't mention a clogged sensation or fullness or hearing loss. The only way to know if there's a blockage is to have a doctor look in there. If there is fluid behind the eardrum, it may not be visible through the otoscope; the best way to measure the eardrum movement is through a quick and easy test called a tympanogram. It simply changes the air pressure in the ear canal and measure if/how the eardrum responds.

Tinnitus is also one of many Migraine Aura and may occur simultaneously with a headache or separately. Caffeine is a known Migraine trigger, so it can trigger/increase tinnitus for some people. In addition, some people who grind their teeth or have problems with their jaw joint (TMJ) can also have tinnitus.

Noise exposure and systemic causes of tinnitus, like smoking or certain medications, typically effect both ears. One might be worse than the other, but almost never is only one ear effected. None of those herbal supplements have been scientifically proven to reduce or cure tinnitus. Ginko Biloba is the ONLY substance to date that has some scientific correlation to tinnitus reduction in SOME patients.

More serious conditions can cause tinnitus, but usually have other associated symptoms like dizziness or significant hearing loss. Some of these can be Meniere's Disease, Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Acoustic Neuroma.

As you can see, tinnitus is like headache or fever as a symptom - it can be congenital and benign, as it is with me, or it can be symptomatic of an ear or neurological disorder. So if you never had tinnitus, but do now, you should go to the doctor, especially if there are other symptoms, like hearing loss or dizziness, associated with it. The key is to find the underlying cause, if possible. Therefore, it is crucial to have an accurate diagnosis made. See your family physician and/or an otolaryngologist.

Answer 2

Tinnitus is often caused by inflammation of the inner ear, the center for hearing and balance. The primary symptom is ringing in the ear--the same kind of high-pitched hum or tone you'd hear after standing near a speaker at a concert. Inflammation increases lymphatic fluid in the inner ear, raising the inner-ear pressure and causing stimulation to the auditory nerve, which the brain interprets as sound. To reduce inflammation, try herbal anti-inflammatories like curcumin, devil's claw, or bromelain in tea, tincture, or capsule form. Decreasing the fluid level with diuretics can also help ease tinnitus symptoms. One of my favorite diuretics is corn silk: Husk an ear of organic corn, roll the silk into a golf ball-sized wad and place it in 2 cups of water, then let it steep for about 10 minutes; mix the water with an equal portion of your favorite herbal tea, and drink. Evan Fleischmann, N.D., West Milford, N.J.-based spokesman for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

Answer 3

Ringing or buzzing in the ears is called tinnitus and it's a symptom of hearing loss caused by a past infection or long-term exposure to noise (including loud music). There's no cure for it. One can learn how to tune it out, or have music playing softly in the background.

Answer 4

It could be an inner ear problem. Sometimes it can be related to a medication you are taking. It could also be due to a hearing problem/loss. If it is annoying and doesn't go away, I would see a doctor and probably an audiologist for some testing.

Answer 5

My teacher has that. He just got it one day and it never went away. and now he cant hear really well because of it he tries to tune it out but when someone talks about it it gets really loud in his ears try going to the doctor about it he can tell u whats wrong

Answer 6

There could be a lot of reasons you have tinnitus and you may have an ear infection here is a link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

Answer 7

i have the same thing and they tell it it nerve damage to my ears. I also have crickets in my ears goes with hard of hearing.

Answer 8

Have you tried Tinnitus Miracle system? Get right here : http://TinnitusGoGo.com . It could completely guide one and all!

Answer 9

it happens to me too. its probably your electrical appliances like a night light/light/ or computer. try turning off the above