Why Are My Ears Ringing? An Audiologist Explains Tinnitus

You are sitting in a quiet room when suddenly you notice it: a faint ringing that seems to be coming from your ear. You look around, but there is no obvious source of the sound.

Why are my ears ringing?

This is a question I hear from patients quite often. The sound may not always be a ringing either. Some people describe it as buzzing, humming, hissing, clicking or even a whooshing sound. When a person hears a sound that does not come from an external source, it is commonly referred to as tinnitus.

One of the first things I explain to patients is that tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease by itself. There can be several reasons behind it, which is why I would not recommend assuming that every case of ringing in the ears has the same cause.

Hearing loss is one of the common conditions associated with tinnitus. Age-related changes in hearing and repeated exposure to loud sounds can affect the auditory system and may be accompanied by tinnitus. In some cases, a person may not even realise that their hearing has changed until they start noticing sounds such as ringing.

Another possibility is something much simpler, such as excess earwax. A blockage in the ear canal can affect hearing and may contribute to tinnitus symptoms. This is one reason I encourage patients not to diagnose the cause themselves. A proper examination can help determine whether there is an easily identifiable issue that needs attention.

Noise exposure is another factor I ask about. Someone who regularly works around loud machinery, attends loud concerts or spends a lot of time around high-volume sound may be exposing their ears to levels that can affect hearing and contribute to tinnitus.

When someone comes to me with persistent ringing in the ears, I want to know more than simply how loud the sound feels. I ask when it started, whether it is present in one ear or both, whether it comes and goes, and whether the person has noticed any change in hearing. These details can help determine what should be evaluated next.

A hearing assessment is often an important part of that process. An audiologist can evaluate hearing sensitivity and look for hearing changes that may not be obvious during everyday conversations. If the symptoms suggest that a medical examination is needed, an ENT or other appropriate healthcare professional may also be involved.

I also tell patients not to ignore tinnitus simply because it is not painful. If the ringing continues, becomes bothersome, affects concentration or sleep, or is accompanied by other changes in hearing, it is worth discussing with a healthcare professional. There are also situations that deserve more prompt medical attention. New tinnitus in one ear, tinnitus associated with sudden hearing loss, or a sound that pulses in time with your heartbeat should be medically evaluated. These patterns can have different underlying causes and should not simply be assumed to be ordinary tinnitus.

So, why are your ears ringing? There is no single answer. It may be associated with hearing loss, noise exposure, earwax or another underlying condition. The useful first step is understanding the symptom rather than trying to guess its cause.

From my perspective as an audiologist, persistent ringing is worth paying attention to. A hearing assessment can provide useful information about your hearing and help determine whether further evaluation is needed.

If you have been noticing ringing, buzzing or another unexplained sound in your ears, book a hearing assessment with Insono Hearing Solutions and discuss what you have been experiencing with an audiologist. — Mr. Manoj Kumar, Audiologist & MD, Insono Hearing Solutions