Why Are My Ears Ringing? 11 Tinnitus Causes — Plus Treatment Options

If you’ve ever experienced a buzzing or ringing sound in your ear, you may have wondered why. While that ringing might just be a momentary nuisance for some, for others the buzzing sound can come back again and again. The medical term for this is “tinnitus.” And it’s more common than you think. About 1 in 10 people in the U.S. had tinnitus in the past year. 

So why does it happen and how can you get rid of it? Here are some common causes of ringing in the ears, and some treatments that may help.  

What causes tinnitus?

Tinnitus is often caused by an underlying condition, but it can also happen without any clear reason or trigger. It often involves damage to the hair cells in your inner ear. Hair cells send sound waves to the brain so that you can hear. When those hair cells are damaged, they send off the wrong signals. The result is that you might hear things that aren’t really there — like ringing, buzzing, whooshing, or clicking sounds. 

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If you’re experiencing tinnitus, pinpointing the reason is the first step to stopping it. Here are 11 causes of ringing in your ears. 

1. Ear infections

Ear infections are a common reason for tinnitus. There are several types of ear infections. But inner ear infections and middle ear infections (otitis media) are the most likely to cause ear ringing. 

Viruses and bacteria may cause tinnitus by directly damaging the hair cells. Ear infections can also lead to ringing in the ears by causing a buildup of pressure in the middle of the ear. This irritates the hair cells and causes ear ringing. 

2. Upper respiratory tract infections

Upper respiratory infections — like the common cold, pharyngitis, and sinusitis — can all cause ringing in your ears. If bad enough, an upper respiratory tract infection can increase the pressure inside your ears, leading to hair cell damage. It isn’t common, but it’s also possible to develop hearing loss after an upper respiratory tract infection. 

3. COVID-19

The CDC doesn’t list tinnitus as a symptom of COVID-19, but studies show that some people develop tinnitus after COVID-19 infection. It’s not clear exactly how COVID-19 causes ringing in the ears. It’s possible that COVID causes tinnitus the same way other upper respiratory infections do. But it’s also possible that COVID might use a different pathway involving effects on the brain that lead to ear ringing. Either way, tinnitus can be a lasting symptom in people with long COVID.

4. Loud noises

Over time, repeated exposure to loud noises can damage hair cells and lead to permanent hearing loss. When loud noises damage those hair cells, they can also lead to tinnitus. So that ringing in your ears can be a warning sign that the noise around you is too loud. Think of it as your hair cells letting you know they’re in pain. Sound levels over 80 dB put your ears at risk for noise-induced hearing loss.

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5. Earwax

Most people with a buildup of earwax won’t even feel it. But sometimes it can lead to ear pain, hearing loss, itchiness and even tinnitus. Earwax buildup can be caused by using cotton swabs to clean the ear, which can end up pushing the wax further into the ear. And, some people are genetically more prone to getting earwax.  

6. Head and neck injuries

Head injuries can change the way the brain processes sound. So some people experience tinnitus after such injuries. Head and neck injuries can also damage auditory nerves, which connect the hair cells to the brain. A damaged auditory nerve can lead to ear ringing and other hearing changes.

7. Medications

Ear ringing is a common side effect of several medications. Some medications can damage the auditory nerve, which is why they can cause ringing in your ears. High blood pressure medications and certain antibiotics cause tinnitus — especially in high doses. 

If you develop ear ringing, make sure to review your medication list with your healthcare professional to see if any of them could be the cause.  

8. Temporomandibular joint disorders

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull. People with TMJ disorders often experience tinnitus, especially in one ear. This may be because inflammation at the TMJ also affects the eardrum or auditory nerves.  

9. Meniere’s disease

Meniere’s disease is an inner-ear disorder. People with Meniere’s disease have a buildup of fluid inside the inner ear. This fluid buildup leads to sudden attacks of dizziness. It also causes ear ringing and hearing loss.  

10. Air pressure changes

Air pressure in the environment, or barometric pressure, changes at different altitudes. So when you go up in a plane, mountain climb, or scuba dive, there’s a change in the barometric pressure around you. 

Rapid changes in barometric pressure can lead to medical conditions like “the bends.” These changes can also injure the eardrum and cause ringing in the ears.

11. Age-related hearing loss

As you get older, changes to your inner ear can cause hearing loss and increase your chances of developing tinnitus. It’s not known exactly why this happens. Sometimes tinnitus can be the first sign of age-related hearing loss, because they often come together. But there may be other elements of aging — including changes in the nervous system — that make ringing in the ears more likely as you get older. 

What if you have sudden ringing in one ear?

There are many reasons you may notice ringing only in the left or right ear. If you have an ear infection or waxy buildup in just one ear, you’ll experience tinnitus only on that side. 

Another possible cause is an acoustic neuroma, or a vestibular schwannoma. This is a rare, noncancerous and slow-growing tumor that grows on the auditory nerve. An acoustic neuroma can cause one-sided hearing loss, ringing in one ear, and balance issues. 

How do you stop the ringing in your ears?

Tinnitus can disrupt your daily life and make it difficult for you to hear, sleep, and concentrate. Sometimes it can even lead to feelings of depression and anxiety.  

If you have ringing in your ears, there are some things you can try at home:

• Wait. If you currently have an upper respiratory infection, wait for 2 weeks after recovery to see if tinnitus improves on its own. 

• Try over-the-counter (OTC) ear drops for earwax. If you tend to have wax buildup in your ears, try OTC peroxide-based ear drops to safely break down the wax. Don’t use cotton swabs (Q-tips) to remove the wax because you might damage your eardrum and worsen the ringing. 

• Limit things that can worsen tinnitus. Having alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine can trigger bouts of ear ringing.

• Try acupuncture. Some studies suggest that acupuncture can help reduce the severity of tinnitus.  

When should you get medical attention for ear ringing?

Reach out to your primary care provider if:

• Your ear ringing hasn’t gone away within 2 weeks.

• You’re experiencing any dizziness or trouble keeping your balance.

• Ear ringing affects your mood and ability to sleep or do your daily activities.

• You have any hearing loss.

• You have ringing in only one ear.

Your primary care provider will ask you about your medical history and do an exam. They may order some blood work or imaging of the head and neck, like an MRI. They may also refer you to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) or audiology specialist for a more in-depth exam and hearing test. 

If your tinnitus is persistent, they may recommend other interventions for you to try. 

Tinnitus treatment

Treatments for tinnitus include:

• Hearing aid: Many people with tinnitus also have some hearing loss. Using a hearing aid can improve both the hearing loss and the ear ringing. 

• Sound therapy: Sound therapy involves using pleasant or calming sounds to lower the ringing in the ears. Since your brain can only really concentrate on one sound at a time, calming sounds make you feel like the ringing has gone away.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered effective in treating tinnitus. It doesn’t get rid of the ringing sound, but it helps people with tinnitus feel better and function better. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician in a variety of clinical settings. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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