What is that ringing in my ear?

By Dr. Leanne Bunnell

Licensed Audiologist

Did you know that ringing in your ears is a common occurrence? Approximately 50 million adults in the United States have experienced ringing in their ears known as Tinnitus. Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound without an external sound source. Tinnitus is most commonly known as a ringing in your ears, though it can appear as any kind of sound from buzzing to music. Tinnitus is often a symptom designed by your brain. While tinnitus is most commonly a symptom of hearing loss or auditory trauma. Tinnitus can also be due to genetics, clenching of your jaw, medications, autoimmune disease or other disorders.

As tinnitus can have many contributing factors there are many tools to manage it. A few examples of treatment methods include lifestyle changes, using hearing protection when in loud environments, using sound machines in quiet environments and prescription amplification. If you notice ringing or buzzing in your ears without an external source you should schedule a hearing test with an audiologist to find out what treatment methods are right for you.