If you’ve noticed a ringing in your ears lately, then you’re in good company. That sound is technically known as tinnitus, and according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, about 50 million adults suffer from it. It can range from mild to severe, and can manifest in a variety of sounds. Some of the most common include ringing, whistling, buzzing, humming, and whooshing. In very rare cases, some suffers have complained of hearing music or even voices. Tinnitus is not considered a medical condition itself, but a symptom of some other underlying cause, such as hearing loss, circulatory issues, or inner ear damage. This means that some groups are more likely to get it — including those who work around loud noises, older people, and those who smoke.
Most cases are mild, showing as a slightly annoying background noise, but some can be severe, impacting work, sleep, and concentration. In the next few sections, we’ll go over some of the most common symptoms and causes of tinnitus.
1. Inner Ear Ringing
Inner ear ringing is by far the most reported symptom. There are actually two types of this — subjective ringing and objective ringing. In subjective tinnitus, only the patient can hear the ringing noises. This is the most frequently occurring version of inner ear ringing. Objective tinnitus is the version of the condition wherein the ringing is audible to a doctor performing an examination. While subjective tinnitus may have many causes, some of which are not known at this time, objective tinnitus is always the result of damage to the blood vessels, bones, or nerve endings of the ear.
Both subjective and objective tinnitus are highly treatable. For subjective tinnitus, lifestyle changes are often suggested, as the condition seems to be worse for those who are overweight, smoke, or consume large amounts of alcohol or caffeine. If the ringing gets worse at night or during quiet times, doctors may suggest playing soft music as a way of decreasing the annoyance. Relaxation has also been found to be very useful in treating ringing, so doctors may recommend a few minutes of meditation or guided relaxation each day.
Objective tinnitus is often addressed using medical methods. Doctors will treat the underlying cause, which then generally removes the issues causing the tinnitus in the first place.
2. Inner Ear Buzzing
Closely related to inner ear ringing is a symptom often described as a buzzing. Sufferers’ descriptions range from the sound of a bee to that of a malfunctioning electrical switch. The underlying causes of inner ear buzzing are the same as those of ringing, the only difference being the way in which the sounds are perceived. As with ringing, treatment is based on removing the cause where possible, and managing the buzzing where no underlying cause is known. Inner ear buzzing is closely linked to hearing loss, and doctors may recommend wearing protective gear around loud noises as a means of preventing the tinnitus — and hearing loss — from getting worse.
3. Inner Ear Whistling
Whistling is the less common cousin of ringing and buzzing. It can often be accompanied by the sound of whooshing. Some describe it as being like the wind rushing through a tunnel or canyon. Both mild and severe cases of inner ear whistling are possible. As cases get more severe, complications may arise. These may include fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety, or difficulty concentrating. As with both ringing and buzzing, inner ear whistling is caused by another, underlying issue. Treatment focuses on fixing any known issues and using lifestyle changes and relaxation techniques to ease the severity of the tinnitus.
4. High Blood Pressure
Now that we’ve discussed some of the more common symptoms, we’ll look at some of the medical issues that can cause tinnitus. High blood pressure is at the top of that list. There are a number of different blood vessels that flow near the ear, carrying blood to and from the brain. An increase in blood pressure can cause increased pressure on the inner ear, which can then lead to ringing, buzzing, and whistling.
High blood pressure is usually treated through medication and lifestyle changes. Both doctors and hearing professionals can be helpful in treating inner ear noise caused by blood pressure issues.
5. Under-Active Thyroid
Having an under-active thyroid can lead to a number of different medical problems, including ringing in the ears. Hypothyroidism, the technical term for an under-active thyroid, frequently results in weight gain and depression, both contributing factors to tinnitus. An under-active thyroid is treated with pills that allow the body to replenish its levels of the hormone levothyroxine. These treatments help not only with the thyroid issues, but also with inner ear noise. Doctors may also change or replace other medicines the patient might be taking that affect the thyroid. Typically, patients will see an improvement when they combine the hormone treatments with lifestyle changes designed to decrease weight and reduce stress.
6. Ear Infection
Ear infections are a relatively easy-to-treat cause of inner ear noise. Infections are caused when nasal passages become swollen or blocked, which keeps air from reaching the inner ear. This creates a vacuum, which then sucks fluid and germs into the ear. The fluid remains there and becomes infected. This can result in tinnitus as the physical fluid in the ear can trigger whistling, whooshing, and buzzing sounds. Infections do not usually result in permanent damage, and can be treated with simple antibiotics. More severe cases may require minor surgery to drain the ear. Tinnitus caused by ear infections usually resolves itself once the infection has been treated.
7. Dizziness
Dizziness is a symptom that can occur along with ringing in the ears. Taken together, these two signs are a good indicator that you may be suffering from Meniere’s disease. Meniere’s is a condition marked by vertigo, dizziness, inner ear ringing, hearing loss, and the sensation of pressure in the ear. This is a long-term condition, and there are no known cures, but treatment of the symptoms can be very effective. Inner ear noise caused by Meniere’s is generally addressed through lifestyle changes and masking, a technique that uses white noise at a certain frequency to cover, or mask, the buzzing or ringing sounds.
8. Ear Drainage
This is another symptom that, taken with tinnitus, indicates something a little more serious. Ear drainage and ringing can be signs of a simple ear infection, or they may signal the presence of a growth called a cholesteatoma. These skin growths occur in an abnormal location, such as the inner ear. The larger the cholesteatoma gets, the more it presses on the ear, causing infection, feelings of fullness, ear drainage, and, of course, ringing sensations. This is a condition you should get checked immediately, as an untreated cholesteatoma can be dangerous. Treatment for small growths is simple — antibiotics, cleaning, and ear drops. Larger growths may require surgery. A cholesteatoma can result in permanent hearing loss, but if it’s caught early, these growths can be treated effectively.
9. Ear Pain
Ear pain can be a sign of many issues, and does sometimes accompany tinnitus. If you have feelings of ear pain associated with the ringing in your ears, you should contact a doctor. Ear pain may indicate an ear infection, a cholesteatoma, Meniere’s disease, impacted earwax, or abnormal bone growth in the inner ear (otosclerosis). All of these conditions can be treated by a doctor or hearing professional, many through simple procedures. The tinnitus will usually clear up once the underlying issue is found, although some patients have reported continuing to hear inner ear buzzing after their ear pain is treated.
