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Ringing in Ears

Tinnitus is hearing a sound in one or both ears when there is no real sound present.
This problem is a very common. About 1 in 10 people have it.
For some people, this is a ringing sound in the ear(s). For others, it can be a buzzing, whistling, humming, or hissing sound. Some people hear it just when it is quiet, like at bedtime. Other people can hear it all the time.
Usually it is not serious.

Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. Some common causes of tinnitus are:

Other causes include:

Acoustic neuroma
Alcohol
Aspirin toxicity
Ear foreign object or insect in ear
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Medicine causing injury to hearing: This can be drugs such as gentamycin, tobramycin, furosemide, ethacrynic acid, cisplatin, and quinidine.
Medicine side effect: This can be drugs such as indomethacin, quinidine, propranolol, levodopa, carbamazepine, aminophylline, and caffeine.
Meniere's disease
Otosclerosis

Treatment is available for people with this problem.

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS): Tinnitus.
American Tinnitus Association (ATA) can be reached at 1-800-634-8978 (toll-free). or https://www.ata.org/.

When to Call for Ringing in Ears
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Hearing loss started suddenly in one or both ears and present now You feel weak or very sick You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Earache Hearing loss after a very loud noise (such as explosion) Taking medicine that can damage hearing (such as gentamycin, tobramycin, furosemide, ethacrynic acid, cisplatin, quinidine) Using aspirin daily or long-term You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours Tinnitus is bothersome or keeps you from working or going to school Tinnitus lasts more than 7 days Tinnitus mainly in one ear Hearing is slowly getting worse Taking medicine that can cause tinnitus (such as indomethacin, propranolol, levodopa, carbamazepine, aminophylline) Symptoms of hearing loss, dizziness, and ringing in the ears that come and go Hearing loss long-term exposure to loud noise (such as music or at work) You have other questions or concerns	Self Care at Home Mild tinnitus in both ears and only heard in quiet room Brief spell of tinnitus after an exposure to loud noise (such as a music or at work)

Earache
Hearing loss after a very loud noise (such as explosion)
Taking medicine that can damage hearing (such as gentamycin, tobramycin, furosemide, ethacrynic acid, cisplatin, quinidine)
Using aspirin daily or long-term
You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Tinnitus is bothersome or keeps you from working or going to school
Tinnitus lasts more than 7 days
Tinnitus mainly in one ear
Hearing is slowly getting worse
Taking medicine that can cause tinnitus (such as indomethacin, propranolol, levodopa, carbamazepine, aminophylline)
Symptoms of hearing loss, dizziness, and ringing in the ears that come and go
Hearing loss long-term exposure to loud noise (such as music or at work)
You have other questions or concerns

Mild tinnitus in both ears and only heard in quiet room
Brief spell of tinnitus after an exposure to loud noise (such as a music or at work)

What You Should Know:
- Tinnitus is hearing a sound in one or both ears when there is no real sound present.
- This problem is a very common. About 1 in 10 people have it.
- For some people, this is a ringing sound in the ear(s). For others, it can be a buzzing, whistling, humming, or hissing sound. Some people hear it just when it is quiet, like at bedtime. Other people can hear it all the time.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Avoid Loud Noise:
- Listening to loud noises such as loud concert music or sounds of gunfire can cause short-term tinnitus. Usually this goes away in a few hours.
- Long-term exposure to these and other loud sounds over time can cause permanent (long-lasting) hearing loss.
Avoid caffeine, aspirin, and alcohol. These can make tinnitus worse.
Use Background Noise:
- A pleasant, low-level noise in the background can help reduce tinnitus.
- You may want to try using a fan, play quiet music, or buy a white-noise machine.
What to Expect:
- Usually tinnitus is not serious.
- You should see a doctor if it is bothersome or an ongoing problem.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Tinnitus is bothersome or makes it hard to work, or go to school
- Decreased hearing
- Earache or dizziness
- You think you need to be seen
- You get worse

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.