Random ringing in the ear is usually brief and harmless. If it is constant or in one ear, see a doctor.
Cause
Brief ear ringing is common and usually harmless. It may be a short tinnitus episode, a normal “transient ear noise” that lasts seconds to minutes.
Triggers
- Loud noise exposure.
- Earwax.
- Caffeine, salt or stress.
- Medicines (aspirin in high doses, some antibiotics).
- Ear infection, TMJ or blood pressure changes.
When to see a doctor
Ringing that is constant, lasts more than a week, occurs in one ear or comes with hearing loss, dizziness or pulsing.
Sudden hearing loss
Needs urgent care within 72 hours.
Prevention
Use ear protection, and keep volume down.
Facts
Tinnitus affects about 10 to 15 percent of adults.
Why the ear rings
Tinnitus is the perception of ringing, buzzing, hissing or roaring with no outside source. About 10% to 15% of adults, or more than 25 million Americans, have some form of tinnitus lasting more than 5 minutes, according to the American Tinnitus Association. Brief, random ringing lasting seconds to a few minutes is common and usually harmless. It happens when hair cells or nerves in the inner ear fire spontaneously, or the brain’s auditory system fills in for lost input.
Common triggers
- Loud noise exposure from concerts, headphones, power tools and firearms. Noise is the leading cause.
- Earwax buildup or a blocked ear canal.
- Ear and sinus infections, and changes in air pressure.
- Age-related hearing loss, which usually starts after 60.
- Medications that can cause tinnitus, such as high doses of aspirin, some antibiotics, diuretics and chemotherapy drugs.
- Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol for some people.
- Stress and lack of sleep.
- Jaw problems (TMJ), neck injuries and head injury.
- High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, which can cause pulsatile tinnitus that beats with the heart.
- Meniere’s disease, acoustic neuroma and other conditions.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if ringing lasts for more than a week, is constant, affects only one ear, is pulsing, comes with dizziness, or interferes with sleep and concentration.
Sudden hearing loss
Sudden hearing loss with ringing, loss of hearing in one ear over hours to 3 days, is a medical emergency. Prompt treatment with steroids within 1 to 2 weeks improves the chance of recovery. Seek care at once if you also have facial weakness, severe vertigo or neurological symptoms.
Management and prevention
- Protect your ears from loud noise with earplugs or earmuffs, and follow the 60/60 rule for headphones: no more than 60% volume for 60 minutes.
- Keep a white noise machine or background sound at night.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people cope with chronic tinnitus.
- Hearing aids help when tinnitus comes with hearing loss.
- Limit stimulants and manage stress.
Facts
Noise above 85 decibels can damage hearing with prolonged exposure. A rock concert is 100 to 120 dB. There is no FDA approved drug that cures tinnitus.
Tinnitus statistics and causes
About 10 to 15 percent of adults experience tinnitus, and roughly 20 million Americans have chronic tinnitus, according to the American Tinnitus Association. For about 2 million, it is severe enough to disrupt daily life. Short bursts that fade within seconds or minutes are very common and usually harmless. Noise exposure is the leading preventable cause: sounds above 85 decibels, such as a lawn mower or loud concerts, can damage hair cells over time. Other causes include earwax blockage, ear infections, jaw joint (TMJ) problems, and drugs such as high doses of aspirin, certain antibiotics, loop diuretics and some chemotherapy medicines. Pulsatile tinnitus, a whooshing sound in time with the heartbeat, should be examined because it can relate to blood vessel conditions.
Based on data from the American Tinnitus Association and the NIDCD
