Ringing ears, or tinnitus, affects about 20 percent of people at some point in their lives. Usually it is not a symptom of any serious illness or condition, but it can be extremely annoying and distracting. In some cases, ringing ears can be a symptom of hearing loss or an ear injury. There are several methods of treatment that you can try at home, as well as some that your doctor can perform.
At-Home Treatments
Step 1
Reduce your exposure to loud noises. People who are around high-decibel levels frequently experience ringing in the ears. This can be a sign of injury to your ear. Sometimes avoiding the loud noises can help your ear ringing to resolve itself.
Step 2
Use white noise to mask your ear ringing. Using a fan, white noise machine or a softly playing radio can drown out the sound that you are hearing in your ears.
Step 3
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol (as well as some medications) can cause or exacerbate ear ringing by increasing the blood flow near your ears. The sound of your blood flow can be heard as ringing.
Medical Treatments
Step 1
Treat any circulatory problems that may be causing the ear ringing. In some cases, ringing ears can be a symptom of a problem with your blood vessels. Your doctor may need to prescribe medication or refer you to a surgeon to fix this problem.
Step 2
Treat any ear problems that may be causing the ear ringing. You may have excess ear wax, which your doctor can flush out or remove with an instrument called a cerumen spoon. Other problems that may cause ear ringing include ear infections or Meniere's disease. Your doctor can give you antibiotics for an infection, or medications for Meniere's disease.
Step 3
Take any prescribed medication if you have severe ear ringing. Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant, anti-anxiety, or other medication to help relieve your tinnitus. In some cases, a medication that you are currently taking may be causing your symptoms. In this instance, your doctor may need to change your prescription or reduce the amount that you take.
Tips and Warnings
- Try to relax and not dwell on the ringing in your ears, as this can make it more pronounced and distracting.
Things You'll Need
- White noise machine or fan
- Family doctor or ENT
- Hearing aid
- Medications
