Why are my ears ringing?

Dr. Bradley Kesser of the University of Virginia explains why your ears are ringing – it could be tinnitus – and the possible ways to deal with it.

[tinnitustreatment]

If you're experiencing ringing in your ears, don't fret! It's common and there are a variety of reasons it can occur. Things like loud noises, ear infections, stress, and more can cause ringing in your ears.
It's always a good idea to chat with a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and figure out the best plan of action for you personally. In the meantime, taking care of your hearing and reducing stress can also help alleviate the ringing.

[kristymh]

I didn’t even realize there was music until reading the comments, the ringing in my ears blocks those types of noises. For instance, I can’t hear the beep on my microwave.

[dianaellievin]

My tinnitus, as well as ear infections, are directly connected to my diet. Wheat/gluten/processed sugars cause immediate ear issues for me… firs tinnitus and if I continue to eat these things it will turn into painful ear infections with blood and drainage, and even hearing loss. Same thing with my dad! I wish there was more research on this.

[williamwaters]

I developed tinnitus on a flight back from California to Virginia, that was about eight years ago. My sound is a loud hissing. I saw an ENT when it started who told me to cut back on salt. However, follow-up research has found that salt intake is irrelevant. It is something I live with and have learned to ignore, as I type this, the hissing is loud.

[ulilstinker]

ASMR really helped. Also amplisound brand white noise generating hearing aids saved my life.

[josephgarcia]

I have had ringing in the ears for about 18 years, and it first started with my left ear, and it gradually affected my right ear as well, though my left ear ringing is the loudest. Not sure what caused it, perhaps years of using medication for sinus infections or possibly the removal of my wisdom teeth, but I have learned to live with it. Loud noises tend to be very bothersome, which is why I don't go to the movie theater anymore, and gatherings with a lot of people talking simultaneously also disrupts my ability to focus on a converstation with someone. It's not that I can't hear, it's more like I can't filter sounds in the background which disrupt my ability to speak to focus on listening to someone while hearing all kinds of other noises in the background. Interestingly enough, I have also developed an ability to pick up sounds which are not only traveling through the air, but sounds or vibrations traveling through the ground as well. My wife is quite surprised when I alert her to cars passing by or pulling up to our house. Lol, disruptive like the music playing in the background while trying to listen to the doctor.

[LaurieAnnCurry]

Please don’t ever use this background music ever again.

[RonnieBradshaw-ioxt]

My ears sound like a heart monitor when it's on the person who is flat line

[CheekyRabbits]

I wonder if ear bud use can make this worse.

[tonyccc]

I don't want to know why i want to know how to fix it

[suereed]

I think I have it all the time and have always had it. I ignore it, and thought it was electricity lines I was hearing. I thought everyone heard it, but my husband says no.

[meyersonfire]

my chronic ear ringing went away when I traded my white table salt for ancient or more natural salts--brought down my BP, too, which had normally been low, but started creeping up

[MISSIONCAT]

I have had tinnitus since childhood. I had a high fever as a child and I remember that that fever may have been the genesis of my right ear ringing.
I am now 81 and both ears are now ringing. I can concentrate on a task or watching a video and I dont pay attention the to ringing.
I am now 91 and have some ringing in both ears, though different in type of ringing.
I have had mild nose cancer for 2 years. A month ago I started Green Tea Extract for curing the nose cancer. 2 weeks ago, the cancer resoloved and now I have only a tiny scar where the cancer was residing. I woke one morning durng this time and reasolved that my right ear was no longer making noise. I proved this over and over by blocking my right ear canal.
Within the last few days, the right ear has resumed ringing, however not as
bad as before.
I am repeating my Green Tea Extract treatment to see if the right ear will repeat the brief cure. My layman impression of Green Tea Extract is that it may be for me a general cure for many things, as Vitamin C was once touted.

[maria_mub]

my friend's son hears ringing in his ears and it bothers him so much he cant sleep and been crying all day to the point that he wants to commit suicide. thank you, ill share this video to my friend.

[Madd]

Mine started 5 years ago. Went to the doctor, he gave me a presciption. 20 after taking it my ears started ringing. Saw the side affects and it said my cause ringing in ear. And it has never gone away since.

[Cubertfilm]

I LOVE your work that I've seen here on @youtube - your conversations with Neil Katyal - your moments of casualness and natural vibrance - the realness of your approach to presenting self thru Couric media - of course, your intellect - and then today - this clip in particular - I am appreciative. THANK YOU for your endeavors and I look forward to more!

[kunalrelan]

If you have tinnitus, a high pitch, loud mouth spouse is your early ticket to the grave !

[marionbaker]

I have ringing in the ears, but it also has other simptoms, like feeling of extremely bad nerves, a feeling that things are not getting done, even when I don't have anything to do. I started taking niacin and it actually reliefs the ringing , although not completely. Along with the quieting effects, it also calms my nerves.

[yvette]

After an evaluation, I was told that my tinnitus was probably due to my TMJ. I think that may be true. I have found some relief when I wear my mouthguard consistently to sleep.

[peace_oceans]

Good article but as a 18 yr tinnitus sufferer your background music was like an added taunt.