Will Anything Stop Ringing In The Ears?

What Causes Ringing In The Ears?

Ringing in the ears is a commonly used term for a condition doctors call tinnitus.

Even though most people refer to the sound they hear as "ringing," it might also be a buzzing, whining, humming sound or even something like a "whoosh." The sound may be present in both ears or just in one. It may be intermittent or constant.

It's believed about 35 million people in the United States alone hear "ringing in the ear" or some similar sound, and as many as 6-7 million hear the sound loud enough that it can be extremely distracting and keeps them from living normal lives.

Will anything stop ringing in the ears? The answer to that quesion depends on the cause of the problem.

What causes ringing in the ears? Tinnitus isn't really a disease itself. It's usually a sign that there's some other condition like an ear infection, excess ear wax or even a foreign object that has gotten inside the ear and is causing irritation. Sometimes, certain medications like aspirin may trigger tinnitus.

Usually, tinnitus occurs when there's been damage to the microscopic nerve endings in the inner ear. Such damage may be caused by an injury from prolonged exposure to loud sounds, illness, allergy, abnormal blood pressure (either too high or too low), diabetes, thyroid problems, or a tumor near the ear.

Ringing in the ears is also frequently a symptom of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMD. Adults often experience ringing in the ears as they age.