Whistling in the Ear: Causes, Treatment & Help

Whistling in the ear is a complaint that everyone knows. However, in rare cases, the whistling settles and goes away only after a long period of time.

What is whistling in the ear?

These ear noises are high-pitched whistling and beeping sounds that continue uninterrupted or occur at recurring intervals. In medicine, whistling in the ear forms a subcategory of tinnitus. The whistling comes from within, which is why it cannot be perceived by others. Likewise, there is no external sound source that would cause the whistling itself. The ear noises are high-pitched whistling and beeping sounds that continue uninterrupted or occur at recurring intervals. If this is the case for only a few minutes, it is a harmless disturbance. If the whistling occurs several times a day over several days, a doctor should be consulted. This may be a general practitioner or an ENT specialist. The same applies if the whistling manifests itself as a permanent complaint. In medicine, ear whistling is divided into two categories. In the case of a subjective complaint, it is an imagination. On the other hand, in an objective complaint, there is a disorder of the auditory canal.

Causes

If whistling in the ear occurs as an acute persistent complaint, the direct ear is considered the trigger. Here, sound transmission can be obstructed by harmless or serious disorders of the ear canal. An obstacle can already be an earwax plug. In rare cases, so-called exostoses are found. These are bone growths that stand in the way of sound. A foreign body can also act as an obstacle. Furthermore, it is possible that inflammations have occurred in the auditory canal. Sinusitis is a typical trigger, as it can spread to the middle and inner ear. A possible cause can also be noise damage and, in particularly severe cases, a hearing loss. Then the whistling in the ear occurs as a result of high volume and strong pressure waves.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Sinusitis
  • Bang trauma
  • Tympanic membrane injuries
  • Hearing loss
  • Auditory canal exostosis
  • Otosclerosis
  • Tinnitus
  • Ear canal inflammation
  • Otitis media

Diagnosis and course

The diagnosis usually begins with a medical history. During this process, the physician obtains information about the frequency and intensity of the whistling. Life circumstances and medical history are also considered. The doctor then examines the ear canal, the throat and the eardrum. It may be possible to detect existing diseases at an early stage. The hearing ability is then documented with an audiogram. This allows the doctor to determine whether there is any hearing damage. If a cause could not be found, a tumor or inflammatory hearing disease can be searched for. To do this, the doctor measures the sensitivity of the nerves involved in the hearing process. This can be done with brainstem audiometry. If the physician cannot find a trigger after an extensive examination, the search for a psychological trigger is continued. This is especially the case if there is a chronic stress. The examination is carried out by a specialist in psychosomatic medicine. In a comprehensive discussion, the focus is on the patient’s psychological stress.

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Complications

Whistling in the ear, also known as tinnitus, can develop into a chronic form. This danger is already present if the noise does not subside after a few hours. As it progresses, it can lead to dizziness and hearing loss, among other symptoms. Chronic tinnitus is diagnosed when the whistling in the ear does not subside even after several weeks. At this stage at the latest, a symptom develops into an illness that is perceived as very burdensome in everyday life. Those affected often report resignation, difficulty falling asleep, but also depression and concentration problems. These complications occur temporarily or permanently. How intensively the whistling can be perceived or compensated for varies greatly from person to person and depends not least on the degree of the disease. In addition, problems with loud noises (hypersensitivity) lead to a stress syndrome in many sufferers.From this, other physical or mental illnesses can develop in the further course. In general, whistling in the ear causes a constant stress factor. In addition, headaches and anxiety as well as pain are experienced by many patients as very stressful in their personal and professional everyday life. These complications can also be temporary but also permanent. Less common is unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (hearing loss).

When should you go to the doctor?

A visit to the doctor is not necessary in every case of a whistling in the ear. In most cases, this symptom is only a short-term phenomenon, which disappears on its own after a few days or hours. If the whistling in the ear occurs after a visit to a discotheque, listening to loud music or after any other strong strain on the ears, the affected person can first wait for a short time, as the symptom often disappears on its own. A doctor can then be consulted if the whistling in the ear still occurs after a few days. Medical treatment is also necessary if the whistling in the ear causes pain or otherwise negatively affects the patient. For example, the pain from the ears can also spread to the head and teeth. If the whistling in the ear causes sleep disturbances, a visit to the doctor is also advisable. In this case, the ENT doctor can be consulted directly. Since the eardrum can only be treated to a limited extent, there is no treatment method available for irreversible damage.

Treatment and therapy

Treatment distinguishes between acute and long-term therapy. If the whistling in the ear occurs for the first time, the Art prescribes a blood circulation-enhancing agent. In special cases, the cortisone preparation prednisolone can be administered, which promotes the electrical conductivity of the auditory pathways. The drug is taken in the form of tablets or infusions or, in severe cases, is injected directly into the middle ear. On the other hand, in the case of inflammation, a causal approach is taken. This means that the underlying disease is treated first so that the whistling subsides secondarily. In the case of an inflammation of the middle ear, for example, the doctor prescribes an appropriate antibiotic. A special form is represented by blast or explosion trauma. They are considered emergencies and are treated immediately in a clinic. If necessary, surgical intervention must be performed. In the case of a chronic course, the focus is on treating the underlying disease, which is rounded off by various relaxation techniques. The same applies in the case of a psychological cause. Above all, it is important to avoid stressful situations. The treatment is based on muscle relaxation and can be accompanied by homeopathic remedies. In severe cases, psychological therapy is initiated. In addition, it is the doctor’s task to advise his patient about the symptom “whistling in the ear”.

Outlook and prognosis

Whistling in the ear does not necessarily lead to medical complications. It occurs only temporarily in many people and usually disappears after a few hours or a few days. In most cases, therefore, a whistling in the ear does not require medical attention. However, if the whistling in the ear lasts longer and leads to pain in the ear or in the head, a doctor must be asked for advice in any case. Treatment of the ear is relatively complicated, in many cases direct treatment by the doctor is not possible. However, rest for the ear will help if the whistling occurs after a loud work or after loud music. If the noise in the ear occurs after an accident, a doctor should also be consulted. This may be a trauma, which must be treated medically in any case. The whistling in the ear restricts the everyday life relatively strongly and can lead to headache and sleeplessness. As a rule, the concentration of the affected person also decreases, which leads to problems at work or at school. Most of the time, the whistling in the ear disappears by itself.

Prevention

Various methods succeed in preventing whistling in the ear. In the most important place is a gentle handling of the hearing. Thus, persistent and excessive volumes should be avoided. In addition, it has been proven that a healthy lifestyle has a positive effect on hearing. In particular, it is important to avoid stressful situations in everyday life and at work.Under certain circumstances, relaxation techniques can be used. Furthermore, it is recommended to visit an otolaryngologist for cleaning of the auditory canals in perennial intervals.

What you can do yourself

In the case of a whistling in the ear, no direct treatment is possible, because the eardrum cannot be treated specifically. If the whistling in the ear occurs after an explosion or after loud noises, the ear must rest in any case. Loud noises must be avoided to rule out subsequent damage. Ideally, the ear should be kept warm. In most cases, the whistling in the ear disappears after several hours and does not lead to further problems. If the whistling in the ear occurs in the course of a cold or flu, it is also a common symptom. In this case, bed rest is also necessary. Loud and unnecessary noises and drafts on the ear should be avoided. In winter, the ears should always be covered. In case of inflammation of the middle ear, a doctor should be consulted. This is usually treated with antibiotics. However, the affected person should also spare the ears in this case and make sure that no further inflammation develops at this point. Stressful situations should also be avoided. If whistling in the ear is a permanent symptom, the patient must learn to integrate this symptom into everyday life. This is mainly possible with special hearing aids that reduce these noises. The care of an ENT physician is inevitable in these cases.