Tinnitus and Ringing in the Ear: 9 Causes You Didn’t Know About

Tinnitus – most commonly identified by a constant ringing and buzzing in the ear is experienced by an estimated 50 million Americans. These internally perceived sounds can be very disruptive to your everyday life and may even bring health issues in the future, depending on the cause. 

Although mostly associated with hearing loss, tinnitus can result from various reasons. Below we have outlined 9 lesser known causes:

1. Earwax Blockage

Most of us have experienced an irritating amount of ear wax that gets accumulated in our ears, and it is not easy to get rid of it. Hence, the accumulated wax in our ears can cause us to lose our hearing abilities, which in turn can lead to tinnitus.

2. Exposure to Loud Noises

If you work or live near areas where heavy machinery is used or if you listen to loud music in your headphones for a long time, you increase your chances of tinnitus. Similarly, short-term exposure, such as attending a concert, can lead to tinnitus and ringing in the ear. To prevent this, protect your ears with ear plugs whenever you are exposed to loud noises, even if it’s for a short period of time.

3. Changes in Ear Bones

Sometimes abnormal bone growth can take place in your ears. This mainly happens in the middle area of your ear, causing the middle bone to be stiff. This is a genetically transmitted growth that can affect your hearing and may cause you to experience ringing in your ears.

4. Age Related Hearing Loss

The loss of hearing that gradually occurs to most of us as we grow older can also cause tinnitus. It typically appears in both ears as a high frequency hearing loss that gradually oversteps onto the lower frequencies. Although there are not many cures, one way to manage it is by wearing hearing aids that have tinnitus masking capabilities – we recommend HearGift’s V7 ITC for an affordable digital hearing aid that masks the ringing as well.

5. Muscle Spasms

Sometimes the muscle in our inner ear can tend to spasm, which can cause tinnitus. These spasms usually start to appear if you’re experiencing any neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

6. Head and Neck Injuries

Any injury caused in your head or neck can affect the inner ear causing tinnitus as all your brain and hearing nerve functions are linked to your hearing. However, in this case, you may experience tinnitus in only one ear.

7. High Blood Pressure

Symptoms such as stress, consumption of alcohol, and drinking too much caffeine tend to increase are blood pressure, which in turn can cause us to experience tinnitus. Similarly, irregular blood flow can be another cause. Any narrowing in the artery of your neck or in the vein of your neck can cause you to have irregular blood flow, leading to tinnitus.

8. Medication

The medication you take can also impact your hearing, causing you to experience tinnitus. High dosage of medication such as aspirin, cancer medicines, antibiotics, antidepressants, water pills, herbal supplements, and quinine medication may cause you tinnitus.

9. Tumors

Although less common, tumors in your neck or brain can also cause tinnitus. When a tumor presses onto the blood vessels of your neck or head, there is no blood flow, which in turn can cause tinnitus and ringing.

It is important to know what causes tinnitus and ringing in the ears so that you take measures to prevent yourself from experiencing experiencing it. Please note, the information listed in our blog, posts and forums is not and should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your doctor for diagnostics, treatment and medical information and advice.