Ringing of the Ears

The ringing in someone’s ears is not a sound that everyone can hear and it often is not serious. It is known as tinnitus and it is not only heard as a ringing in the ear but it can also be heard as a buzzing, roaring, whistling or hissing sound depending on the person. Other tinnitus sufferers might hear a chirping, beating, humming, whooshing, or clanging sound in their ears. Tinnitus can also differ from person to person in regards to the severity of the noise being heard. The pitch might be very different in each person. An individual might hear noises ranging from a low roar to a high pitched squeal. Some patients hear a noise so load that it can interfere with their concentration or sleep. It can be bothersome in places like school or at work. These constant sounds within the ear can even disrupt the most focused individual. Tinnitus sufferers can also hear symptoms in one ear, both ears or the noise might alternate ears from time to time. And it can also interfere with the individual’s hearing causing them from hearing well.

There are two types of tinnitus but the most common type of tinnitus is less understood. The most common cause of tinnitus is due to damage in the inner ear cannel. This damage can be sustained from load noises. The hair cells within the inner ear become bent due to hearing noises too load and can sometimes break off entirely. Some individuals notice that their tinnitus is not permanent and goes away after a few days from hearing a load noise. When the hair cells break off, the damage to the inner ear is permanent and the individual might hear these constant sounds for the rest of their lives. Typically tinnitus is caused from damage to the inner ear but, since this type is less understood, the problem can occur anywhere in the auditory system involving anything from the ear canal to the brain.

The other type of tinnitus is objective tinnitus. It can also be known as pulsatile tinnitus which patients describe as a rhythmic or pulsing sound. This type of tinnitus is not a common. It is individuals who suffer from hypertension or who have a heart murmur, a glomus tumor, abnormal veins or arteries, Eustachian tube disorder and other cardiovascular conditions that experience pulsatile tinnitus. They typically hear a pulsing sound. Another name of this type of tinnitus is known as atherosclerosis. While most people have tinnitus that only they can hear, atherosclerosis is a type of tinnitus that your doctor can hear as well by placing a stethoscope near the ear or neck. It is due to a structural problem within the individual. Typically it is their own pulse they can hear pulsing or rushing through the ear.

Unfortunately, tinnitus is a common problem. It is estimated that one out of every five people suffers from some degree of tinnitus. In most cases the individual has to learn how to live with it rather then find a cure for it.