Ringing in Your Ears? What Tinnitus Is and How It's Treated
· Alexander Audiology
Tinnitus is the experience of hearing sound when there’s no outside source. People describe it as ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming, whooshing, or clicking. It can be constant or come and go, and it can be in one ear, both ears, or feel like it’s “in your head.”
It’s extremely common. For many people it’s a minor annoyance. For others it gets in the way of sleep, concentration, and mood. Either way, there’s a lot that can be done.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease in itself. The most common contributors include:
- Hearing loss, whether age-related or caused by noise. This is the most common link.
- Loud noise exposure from concerts, power tools, firearms, or headphones turned up high
- Earwax blockage, which can be resolved with safe earwax removal
- Ear infections or other middle ear problems
- Some medications. Never stop a prescribed medication on your own; talk to your doctor first.
- Jaw (TMJ) and neck problems
Stress, fatigue, and poor sleep don’t usually cause tinnitus, but they can make it louder and harder to ignore. In some cases no single cause is found, and treatment still helps.
When to get checked quickly
Most tinnitus isn’t dangerous, but some patterns should be looked at promptly:
- Tinnitus with sudden hearing loss. Contact a doctor or audiologist the same day if you can.
- Pulsing tinnitus that beats in time with your heart
- Tinnitus in one ear only, especially if it’s new
- Tinnitus with dizziness or vertigo
If tinnitus comes with facial weakness, a severe headache, or other sudden neurological symptoms, seek emergency care.
How tinnitus is treated
There’s no single pill that cures chronic tinnitus. But most people can make it far less intrusive, often to the point where they rarely notice it. Treatment usually combines a few of these:
A thorough hearing evaluation
Everything starts with understanding your hearing. Because tinnitus and hearing loss are so closely linked, a hearing evaluation often points straight to the most effective treatment.
Hearing aids
When hearing loss is part of the picture, hearing aids bring back the outside sounds your brain has been missing, which often makes tinnitus much less noticeable. Many modern hearing aids also include built-in sound therapy programs.
Sound therapy
Gentle, steady background sound, from a dedicated device, a hearing aid program, or even a fan at night, helps the brain stop prioritizing the tinnitus signal over time.
Behavioral therapy
Approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy change how your nervous system reacts to tinnitus. It’s one of the best-researched treatments for reducing how much tinnitus bothers you, and it pairs well with sound therapy.
Everyday habits that help
- Avoid total silence. Quiet rooms make tinnitus stand out. Soft background sound helps, especially at bedtime.
- Protect your hearing. Noise exposure can make tinnitus worse. Custom hearing protection keeps music and conversation natural while lowering the volume.
- Look after sleep and stress. Both affect how loud tinnitus seems.
Tinnitus care at Alexander Audiology
Tinnitus management is Dr. Melissa Alexander’s clinical focus, and she’s a member of the American Tinnitus Association. Every tinnitus treatment plan we build is matched to your symptoms, lifestyle, and goals, and adjusted as you progress.
If ringing or buzzing is wearing you down, you don’t have to just live with it. Book a tinnitus consultation at our Santa Monica or Solvang clinic.