What is That Ringing in My Ear?

 

What is more annoying that a constant ringing sound in your ear? It will drive you nuts! Humming, swishing, clicking, or echoing sounds in your ears usually, points to one thing – tinnitus. The most common reason of tinnitus is prolonged exposure to loud sounds, which causes permanent harm to the cells of the cochlea, a small organ in the inner ear. Among those whose jobs put them at risk for tinnitus are pilots, rock musicians, carpenters, street repair workers, and/orlandscapers.

While tinnitus itself isn’t an illness, it is a symptom of other conditions, including:

• Ear infections
• Hearing loss
• Wax accumulation in the ear caused by an ear infection, or in rare cases, a benign tumor of the auditory nerve
• Aging, where the cochlea depreciates over time
• Exposure to loud noise
• Damage to the ear
• Certain medications like aspirin, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, anti-depressants, and sedatives
• Medication conditions such as anemia, high blood pressure, heart disease, allergies, underactive thyroid gland and diabetes
• Head or neck injury
• Meniere’s disease, which targets the inner part of the ear
• Pregnancy
• Brain tumor or other tumors near the ear

Tinnitus symptoms may come and go, but if you experience this condition, it’s likely to be a chronic condition. Most people are not bothered by it, but if tinnitus is interfering with,your ability to perform routine daily activities like working, driving, or caring for a family member, schedule an evaluation with your doctor. This is especially important if the tinnitus occurs only on one side, comes on suddenly or is accompanied by hearing loss. Your hearing is vital and so is your sanity!