If you’re hearing a ringing, buzzing, hissing, or other noise in one or both ears that is not caused by an external sound, you may be among the 15 to 20 percent of people experiencing tinnitus. In severe cases, it can significantly impact your quality of life. Tinnitus is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying condition. Understanding its causes, diagnosis, and treatments can help manage and alleviate the symptoms.
What causes ringing in the ears?
If you’ve ever noticed ringing in your ears hours after listening to loud music at a concert, you’ve experienced short-term tinnitus. Exposure to loud noises, such as those from heavy machinery and listening to music at an elevated volume, damages the inner ear, causing tinnitus.
Other causes of tinnitus include:
Age-related hearing loss: As people age, the delicate inner ear structures deteriorate, leading to hearing loss and tinnitus. This type of hearing loss, known as presbycusis, is a common cause of tinnitus in older adults.
Earwax blockage: Earwax protects the ear canal, but excessive buildup can cause hearing loss or irritation of the eardrum, leading to tinnitus. Removing the blockage will often improve the tinnitus symptoms.
Ear infections and diseases: Middle-ear infections (otitis media) and inner-ear disorders, such as Meniere’s disease, can cause tinnitus. Infections typically result in temporary tinnitus, while chronic conditions might lead to more persistent symptoms.
Acoustic neuroma/vestibular schwannoma: Benign tumors of the nerve supplying the hearing and balance nerve are called acoustic neuromas/vestibular schwannomas. They are not cancerous but can cause hearing loss, imbalance/vertigo, and tinnitus in one ear. Other tumors around the inner ear can cause similar symptoms. For that reason, tinnitus in one ear is a symptom that should be evaluated.
Other causes of tinnitus include trauma to the ear, head and neck injuries, and certain medications.
An ENT doctor spends 4 years at college, 4 years at medical school, and then 5 to 7 years after that in a residency program specializing in otolaryngology — head and neck surgery. Our board-certified ENTs pass written and oral exams and participate in continuous education to maintain their certification. When you visit one of our Arizona locations, you can trust you're seeing one of the most qualified specialists in the region and that your care will be second to none.
How To Diagnose Tinnitus
If your tinnitus persists for several weeks, you should schedule an appointment with one of our ENT specialists. They will take your medical history, perform a physical examination, and complete a series of tests to try to find the source of the problem.
Those tests may include:
Audiometric tests: Hearing tests measure hearing sensitivity across various frequencies and intensities. They help determine the presence and extent of hearing loss, which often accompanies tinnitus.
Imaging: Imaging tests such as MRI or CT scans are necessary to rule out structural issues, such as tumors or vascular abnormalities, that might be causing tinnitus.
How do you treat tinnitus?
Tinnitus treatment depends on the cause. Once one of our hearing specialists diagnoses the cause, we’ll develop a treatment plan. This may include:
Medications: Even though no specific medication can cure tinnitus, certain drugs can help manage its symptoms in select individuals. Antidepressants, antianxiety medications, and even some dietary supplements have been used to alleviate tinnitus-related distress.
Lifestyle modifications: Making lifestyle changes can help manage tinnitus. For example, reducing exposure to loud noises, managing stress, and avoiding stimulants like caffeine and nicotine can mitigate tinnitus symptoms.
Sound therapy: Masking the internal ear noises with external sounds, such as white noise machines, hearing aids with masking features, or specialized tinnitus maskers, can provide relief by reducing the perception of tinnitus.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Managing the psychological impact of tinnitus can be as important as dealing with the sounds. Through counseling and coping strategies, patients learn to reduce the distress and anxiety associated with tinnitus, improving their quality of life.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT): Combining sound therapy with counseling helps patients become used to the internal sound. Over time, the brain learns to ignore the tinnitus, reducing its impact on daily activities and overall well-being. Find more resources to help manage your condition.
Being prepared will help you get the most out of your appointment. Please bring a list of medications you're currently taking and any pertinent test results—such as labs or imaging—to your appointment. Additionally, let your provider know of any drug allergies or medical conditions you have or for which you are being treated and if you've had any prior surgical procedures.
Visit Our ENT Specialists
Our team of ear, nose, and throat specialists is committed to providing thorough, personalized care to treat the cause of your tinnitus and improve your quality of life. If you experience persistent tinnitus, we encourage you to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan at one of our Arizona locations.