The medical name for ear ringing is tinnitus, and it is a common condition that affects 10 percent of American adults, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Many people experience the condition as ringing in the ears, but some may experience buzzing, clicking, roaring, whistling or hissing in the ears. It can be caused by many things, including ear infections, ear trauma or injuries, or hearing loss. Several treatments are available, depending on the underlying cause.
Noise Machines
Some people who suffer from tinnitus can use a white noise machine to help drown out the bothersome ringing and other noises. In particular, these machines can be effective when trying to sleep or rest, when the ear noise can be most bothersome.
Earwax Removal
When earwax builds up in the ear canal, it can cause tinnitus in some people. In these cases, treatment is simple: removing the earwax from the canal. However, when earwax is impacted it is best removed by a medical professional.
Hearing Aids
Hearing loss is a common cause of tinnitus, and people who suffer ear ringing because of it may benefit from a hearing aid. Using the hearing aid properly can help amplify sounds, in turn drowning out the ringing noise.
Masking Devices
A masking device is a device similar to a hearing aid that can help treat tinnitus. These devices are worn in the ear and emit white noise similar to a noise machine to help eliminate the ringing noises.
Prescription Drugs
Some doctors prescribe antidepressants and antianxiety medications to treat tinnitus. While these drugs will not cure tinnitus, it may make it easier to sleep and relax and can help improve your mood.
Acoustic Neural Stimulation
Acoustic neural stimulation is a tinnitus treatment typically reserved for people who experience very loud ringing or other ear sounds. The treatment involves wearing headphones that play music that is embedded with a broadband acoustic signal. This treatment allows the brain to become desensitized to the sound.
