Tinnuitis

Questions and Answers about Ringing in the Ears

Q: Recently I have noticed a ringing sound in my ears.  What is causing my ear to ring and what can be done about it?

A: “Ringing” or tinnitus is a very common.  It affects approximately 20% of the population.  Generally tinnitus is benign but it can be an early indicator of a more serious problem.  Therefore if the tinnitus is significant or persistent have it evaluated by an audiologist or ear, nose, and throat specialist.  Tinnitus is the brain’s perception of internal noise created by the nervous system.      

      This internal noise is present in all of us, but generally it is covered up by ambient sounds in our environment.  It can be uncovered by hearing loss or injury to our inner ear.  Once uncovered our brain perceives it as a sound.  Tinnitus affects everyone differently.  I notice it only at night when it’s quiet; others notice it more often but are not affected by it; for some it disrupts their lives negatively impacting work, family and social life.

      Management of tinnitus is as varied as the impact it has on people’s lives.  Enriching your environment with sound, play music or running a fan, can often provide relief from the tinnitus.  People with significant hearing impairment have reported relief from their tinnitus after being fit with hearing aids.  Those who are severely affected with tinnitus require more aggressive treatment protocols.

      You can learn more about tinnitus and treatment protocols by visiting the American Tinnitus Associations website www.ata.org.  I welcome any other questions you might have about tinnitus or hearing loss.

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