Ringing in the Ear: Causes, Treatment & Help

Ringing in the ear without an external sound source can indicate tinnitus. There are many causes, which is why treatment options can vary widely.

What is ringing in the ear?

For an acute ringing in the ear, there are quite a few triggers, which are first to be sought in the ear. Usually these ear noises disappear within a short time, but in some people they linger for many hours or even days. In the case of ringing in the ear, the disturbing auditory impressions come from within. No one else but the affected person can hear them, and sometimes they disappear for short intervals, but then come back. These ear noises do not have to indicate a disease or disorder, as long as they go away right away. However, in some people they linger for many hours or even days. This is very distressing and causes a great deal of discomfort for many sufferers. If this is the case, it is advisable to see a doctor. Only he can clarify whether it is really tinnitus. However, it should be noted that despite this diagnosis, sometimes it is not possible to clearly identify a trigger for the ringing in the ear.

Causes

For an acute ringing in the ear, there are quite a few triggers that must first be sought in the ear. Thus, it may be that serious or harmless disturbances affect the sound transmission. Obstructions in the ear canal or an earwax plug can be the reason. Inflammations and injuries in the inner and middle ear can also lead to ringing in the ear. Even a severe cold can lead to ringing in the ears. Head injuries affecting the inner and middle ear can also be accompanied by this symptom. People who suffer from noise-induced hearing loss or age-related hearing loss sometimes develop chronic tinnitus. Furthermore, noise or very loud music should not be underestimated. Other causes of ringing in the ears are stress, a hearing loss, and diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Meniere’s disease. Occasionally, ringing in the ear occurs due to certain medications or changed pressure conditions when flying or diving.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Common cold
  • Hearing loss
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Drug allergy
  • Head injuries
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Otosclerosis
  • Noise-induced hearing loss
  • Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)
  • Acoustic trauma (bang trauma)
  • Tumor

Diagnosis and course

Anyone who goes to the doctor with ringing in the ear, first gets asked numerous questions by the medical professional. He wants to have the sounds described in more detail and how often they occur. This is followed by a physical examination to get to the bottom of the possible reasons for the noise and to define the severity. This usually includes a standardized ear, nose and throat examination and a hearing test. With the help of an audiometer, the affected person can show the doctor how loud the noise is in the ear. The tympanogram is used to check the conduction of contractions of the muscles in the middle ear, the tympanic pressure in the ear and the function of the auditory ossicles. Inner ear damage can be ruled out or diagnosed with the help of a high-powered microphone. In addition, there are many other diagnostic procedures that include an auditory nerve exam, balance testing, blood work, and a computed tomography scan of the skull. Often, the ringing in the ears goes away during the treatment period. However, in some cases, sufferers must live with ringing in their ears.

Complications

Ringing in the ear may persist after one day after a disco visit, but this usually subsides during the day without complications. However, some ringing in the ear also occurs in the context of tinnitus. This can heal itself after some weeks and months again, however, it can also exist chronically. This causes a strong psychological stress of the affected person due to the annoying noise. The affected person often gets severe headaches. In addition, the noise also disturbs sleep, resulting in sleep deprivation. Patients appear highly irritable and tense. Hearing and thus the quality of life are also severely impaired by the tinnitus.In the worst cases, the noise leads to depression or other mental illnesses, which can even lead to suicidal thoughts. A special form of tinnitus is Meniere’s disease, which occurs due to an increased accumulation of water in the inner ear. Due to the anatomical proximity of the auditory organ with the organ of equilibrium, the sense of balance is also affected in addition to the sense of hearing. Affected individuals complain of attacks of vertigo, which can even lead to falls and accidents. In addition, unsteadiness occurs when walking. Hearing is also damaged, and the auditory system becomes more hypersensitive to sounds (hyperacusis), so that the disease can even lead to complete deafness if left untreated.

When should you see a doctor?

Ringing in the ear does not always require a visit to the doctor. Often ringing in the ear does not occur permanently, but only temporarily, and in this case does not require special medical treatment. It is not necessary to see a doctor if the ringing in the ear occurs mainly after loud stress. This can occur, for example, after visiting a discotheque, listening to loud music or working with noisy machines. Usually, the symptom disappears on its own after a few hours or days, when the ear has recovered. A doctor should be consulted for ringing in the ear if the symptom does not go away on its own. The medical advice is also necessary if there is ear pain in addition to ringing. This pain can also spread to other regions, so that a headache or toothache can occur. In this case, inflammation may occur, which must be treated by a doctor.

Treatment and therapy

What treatment the doctor suggests for ringing in the ears depends on the cause and duration of the ear noise. In principle, it can be stated that the chances of recovery are higher the earlier the affected person seeks treatment. If the tinnitus is acute and has not been present for more than three months, it is often treated with infusions of sugar solutions or a mixture of saline and anti-inflammatory substances. For this, however, the cause must be in the inner ear or unknown. With this therapy, the inner ear sensory cells are activated. If the ringing in the ear is due to an earwax plug, which is very common, the physician can remove it painlessly. In some individuals, chronic tinnitus has developed. For them, physicians employ extensive treatment strategies to suppress the distressing hearing sensation. These include, for example, special hearing aids designed to steer perception in a different direction. Learning coping strategies to better deal with the disturbing noise can also alleviate the symptoms. Support can also be provided by self-help groups and tinnitus clinics. Especially if the ringing in the ear is due to psychological problems, cognitive behavioral therapy can be successful.

Outlook and prognosis

Ringing in the ear does not need to be treated directly by a doctor. It may occur for a short time and therefore disappear quickly. As a rule, ringing in the ear passes again after a few hours or a few days at most, so that the affected person does not have to do anything about it. It is advisable to take it easy on the ears and not expose them to drafts and loud noises. Since noises in the ear are often caused by stressful situations, stress should also be avoided during this time. It is also advisable to look for the source of stress and find ways to minimize the stress permanently. If the ringing continues for a long time and leads to pain in the ear, a medical professional must be consulted. Often the ringing in the ear affects the life of the affected person. He or she can no longer concentrate and restful sleep is no longer possible. This in turn leads to further stressful situations. Unfortunately, direct treatment is rarely possible because the eardrum cannot be treated directly. In most cases, however, the ear recovers so that the affected person can subsequently lead an ordinary everyday life.

Prevention

Ringing in the ear cannot be prevented per se, because there are too many causes and some of them, cannot be influenced. However, there are causes such as too much noise or stress, which can be influenced. To be on the safe side, too much stress should be avoided and a sensible way of dealing with stress should be learned.In addition, the avoidance of large noise helps to protect the ears from a possible hearing loss. The risks to ringing in the ears can be reduced but not eliminated.

What you can do yourself

In many cases, unfortunately, no self-help is possible for a ringing in the ear. Often, even the doctor can not treat the symptom directly, because there is no specific treatment of the eardrum. Not infrequently, ringing in the ear occurs after an explosion, a noisy job or after listening to loud music. In these cases, the ear must be protected in any case. Loud noises should be avoided, as well as the ear should be protected against drafts to avoid infections and inflammations. If the ringing in the ear does not subside even after a few days, it is imperative to consult an ENT physician. In this case, the eardrum may be damaged. In some cases, a psychological cause is to blame for the ringing in the ears. Affected individuals should consider counseling with a psychologist in this case. Relaxation exercises discussed with a therapist can then help minimize the ringing in the ear. Often, ringing in the ear can also lead to headaches and insomnia, lowering the quality of life. However, ringing in the ear often disappears on its own and does not lead to further complications. To prevent the symptom, ears should always be protected during loud noises and should not be exposed to the noises unnecessarily. Damage to the ears is not reversible and will follow patients throughout their lives.