Ringing in the ear, also referred to as tinnitus, may also sound like pulsations, buzzing, clicking or roaring noises. About 25 million people in the United States have experienced tinnitus, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Tinnitus is commonly associated with hearing loss, but other conditions may cause this symptom to occur. There is no cure for a ringing in the ear, but some treatment options, such as hearing aids and medications, may help relieve the noise.
Hearing Loss
Individuals suffering from any form of hearing loss may also experience tinnitus. As people age, hearing begins to diminish. This hearing loss usually begins around the age of 60 and continues to worsen over time, according to MayoClinic.com. The tinnitus may become loud enough that it causes a person to experience more difficulty hearing.
Loud Noise
A common source for a ringing in the ears is damage to the tiny hairs in the inner ear. These hairs move due to sound waves and send a signal to the brain for sound interpretation. Damaged hairs do not grow back or repair and can send random impulses to the brain, which is the cause of tinnitus. The most common cause of damage to the delicate hairs in the ear are loud noises, such as music or machinery. Wearing ear protection will help prevent damage to the hairs in the ear.
Medications
About 200 different medications may cause tinnitus, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Common medications that may cause tinnitus to start or get worse include antibiotics, diuretics, aspirin and malaria medications. Higher doses of medications increase the risk of tinnitus.
Earwax
The ears naturally secrete earwax into the outer ear canal to coat the skin and protect bacteria from entering the ear. Some people produce excessive amounts of earwax, and when attempting to remove the earwax they may push it farther into the ear. The compacted earwax can harden and block the ear canal. This earwax buildup and blockage can cause a person to hear ringing in the ears.
Medical Conditions
Other medical conditions, besides hearing loss, can cause noise in the ear. Individuals with disorders involving blood vessels, such as high blood pressure, a tumor in the head or neck that presses on blood vessels and a hardening of the arteries, called atherosclerosis, can also experience tinnitus that sounds like a pulsation.
