At some point in your life, you’ve experienced ringing in your ears. One of the most common causes of this is being exposed to prolonged loud noises, such as being at a concert. This ringing is often temporary in nature and will go away on its own. But if you experience ringing in the ears on the regular and it doesn’t seem to improve no matter what you do, then it could take a negative toll on your quality of life.
Chronic ringing in the ears could be a result of tinnitus, where a person hears sound regardless of an external sound source. Having tinnitus can affect a person’s daily activities and sleep.
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Although there is no cure for tinnitus, it can be managed.
About one in five people will experience the perception of noise, which can sound like ringing, buzzing, whistling, or cracking. Around 90 percent of tinnitus patients also have some level of hearing loss. This makes doctors suspect that hearing loss may play a role in tinnitus.
When we are exposed to loud noises, it can damage the tiny hairs in the ears which help us hear. It is theorized that damage to these small hairs plays a role in tinnitus.
Some management remedies for tinnitus include using a hearing aid, using a sound generator, or tinnitus retraining therapy.
If ringing in the ears is causing challenges in your daily life, your first step is to undergo a hearing test. From there, you can work with your doctor to find treatment options that best suit your daily life.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
