Ringing in the ears is a type of tinnitus, an ear disorder in which the afflicted individual hears a constant sound in the ear that usually resembles a ringing or buzzing sound. According to the American Tinnitus Association, more than 50 million Americans experience tinnitus at least occasionally, and for some it can become constant and permanent, interfering with daily life.
Types
The most common form of ringing in the ears is subjective tinnitus, says American Academy of Family Physicians' website Family Doctor.org, in which no real sound exists, but part of the ear or the nerves leading to and from the ear, called the auditory nerves, have become damaged. Objective tinnitus proves rare and involves a real sound coming from the ear area, such as from a blood vessel or bone condition in the inner ear.
Description
While commonly referred to as ringing in the ears, the constant sound people hear from this disorder may resemble buzzing, chirping, hissing or roaring. The ringing sound may become intermittent or it may continue nonstop for long periods of time. For some people, the ringing proves subtle and soft, while for others it drowns out all other sounds in the vicinity.
Causes
Ringing in the ears often develops due to exposure to loud noises in one or both ears. It can occur from chronic exposure, such as in someone who works around jet engines, or can happen after a single exposure, such as hearing a gunfire at close range. Aging can also cause tinnitus and many people over age 60 develop the condition. High blood pressure, diabetes, tumors, wax in the ear, head injuries and the use of certain drugs or medications may also sometimes cause tinnitus. Disorders of the middle or inner ear, such as a eustachian tube dysfunction, the infection labyrinthitis or Meniere's disease are other causes, says FamilyDoctor.org.
Prevention/Solution
Often, ringing in the ears stems from hearing damage, so protecting the ears from loud noises remains the primary way to prevent tinnitus. Earplugs and noise reducing headphones offer two good options for hearing protection. For those already beginning to experience occasional ringing in the ears, avoiding further hearing damage proves essential, as is avoiding potential irritants such as cigarette smoke or alcohol, which dilates the blood vessels of the inner ear. Since tinnitus is often linked to blood vessel problems, maintaining good cardiovascular health may help prevent ringing in the ears.
Treatment
Treatment for ringing in the ears usually involves treating the underlying cause. If no cause can be determined, then the doctor will likely try treating the symptom itself. Some medicines can be prescribed off-label for tinnitus, which means that they are intended for another purpose but may assist some tinnitus sufferers. One example is the drug acamprosate, which physicians normally use to treat alcoholism but it may relieve tinnitus in some people. Hearing aids and maskers, which generate white noise in the ears, may also help to override the ringing sound. Sound therapy using small devices that fit in the ear or larger devices in the home or office to create low-level sound that stimulates the auditory system, including white noise or music, can also help.
