What Is Ringing in the Ear?

Have you ever experienced an annoying, persistent sound in your ear that no one else can hear? This phenomenon is called tinnitus, often described as ringing, buzzing, humming, or hissing. Tinnitus is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying issue in the ear, auditory pathways, or brain. This article explains what tinnitus is, why it occurs, and what can be done about it.

What Causes Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is usually linked to abnormal activity in the auditory system—the ear or the brain’s sound-processing centers¹. Common causes include:

• Hearing damage from prolonged loud noise exposure

• Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)

• Ear infections or earwax blockage disrupting sound transmission

• Hair cell damage in the inner ear, sending faulty signals to the brain

• Vascular changes or muscle spasms in the ear (less common)

When the ear is damaged or signal transmission is disrupted, the brain may “fill in the gaps,” creating the perception of sound without an external source².

How Does Tinnitus Present?

Tinnitus can differ widely from person to person:

• Constant or intermittent ringing, buzzing, humming, or roaring

• Occurring in one ear or both

• Perceived as a faint background sound or loud enough to disrupt sleep and concentration

• Pulsatile tinnitus—where the sound matches the heartbeat—often linked to vascular changes³

For some, tinnitus is only mildly irritating. For others, it can severely impact quality of life, particularly when it causes sleep problems, poor concentration, or emotional distress.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Tinnitus can affect anyone, but it is more common among:

• People over 60

• Individuals exposed to loud noise (musicians, factory workers)

• People with ear injuries, infections, or hearing loss

• Individuals with conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or autoimmune disease⁴

Stress, anxiety, and depression may worsen tinnitus, even if they do not directly cause it.

Can Tinnitus Be Treated?

There is no universal cure, but several approaches can help reduce the impact:

• Addressing the underlying cause, such as removing earwax or treating infections

• Hearing aids to mask tinnitus when hearing loss is present

• Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) to train the brain to ignore the sound

• Sound therapy using background noise to reduce awareness of tinnitus

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to manage emotional responses to tinnitus⁵

If tinnitus is persistent or distressing, medical evaluation by a doctor or ENT specialist is strongly recommended.

Summary – Tinnitus Is Common but Manageable

Ringing in the ear—tinnitus—is a widespread condition caused by multiple factors. While there is rarely a quick fix, many strategies can significantly reduce its impact. Early intervention and individualized treatment can improve quality of life even if tinnitus does not disappear completely.

Sources

1. Eggermont JJ, Roberts LE. The neuroscience of tinnitus. Trends in Neurosciences, 2004.

2. Lockwood AH, Salvi RJ, Burkard RF. Tinnitus. New England Journal of Medicine, 2002.

3. Langguth B, Kreuzer PM, Kleinjung T, De Ridder D. Tinnitus: causes and clinical management. The Lancet Neurology, 2013.

4. Bhatt JM, et al. Prevalence, severity, exposures, and treatment patterns of tinnitus in the United States. JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, 2016.

5. Cima RF, et al. Specialised treatment based on cognitive behaviour therapy versus usual care for tinnitus: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 2012.012.