Top 10 Ways to Stop Ringing in Ears? (2024)

Some people experience ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Others may experience a roaring, buzzing, hissing, or clicking sound inside their heads. The sounds could be intermittent or constant. They could be a minor annoyance or a major source of distraction. However, if you are one of the nearly 10% of adults who suffer from some form of tinnitus, there may be some relief. So, before we explore 10 effective ways to stop ringing in the ears let’s understand what is tinnitus exactly :

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the human ear when no external sound is present. It can be felt in one or both ears as well as in the head.

There are numerous ways to describe tinnitus. Patients describe hearing high-pitched ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling, ticking, roaring, clicking, crickets, tunes, songs, whooshing, or the sound of wind or waves.

According to the American Tinnitus Association, more than 50 million Americans suffer from some form of tinnitus. Around 12 million of these people have tinnitus severe enough to require medical attention. In addition, approximately two million patients are severely disabled, impairing their daily lives.

What causes ringing in the ears?

According to UH otolaryngologist Sarah Mowry, MD, the exact physiological cause of tinnitus is unknown. “However, several sources are known to trigger or worsen tinnitus,” she says, citing:

1. Hearing loss caused by noise

Everyone produces a different amount of earwax. When a significant amount of earwax becomes built up in the ear canal, hearing can be compromised and tinnitus may seem louder. Earwax should not be removed with a cotton swab. You should speak to your physician or ear, nose, and throat doctor.

2. Wax buildup

This is the most common cause of tinnitus. Hearing can be damaged by a single loud event or by long-term noise exposure, such as factory or construction work. When exposed to loud noise, hair cells in the inner ear are damaged or destroyed. Once damaged, these hair cells cannot be renewed or replaced. Hearing loss affects up to 90% of all tinnitus patients.

3. Coronary artery disease

Pulsatile tinnitus affects about 3% of tinnitus patients, and it often coincides with their heartbeat. This may indicate the presence of a vascular condition in which blood flow through the veins and arteries is impaired – such as a heart murmur, hypertension, or artery hardening.

4. Certain types of tumors

A benign, slow-growing tumor on an individual’s auditory, vestibular, or facial nerves occurs very rarely. Tinnitus, deafness, facial paralysis, and loss of balance are all possible symptoms of these tumors.

5. Medication use

Medication can also cause tinnitus and hearing loss in some people, a condition known as ototoxicity. Tinnitus can be caused by the following medications:

• Aspirin in extremely high doses, such as more than 12 doses per day for an extended period of time
• Bumetanide and other loop diuretics are examples of loop diuretics.
• Anti-cancer medications, such as vincristine
• Certain antibiotics, such as erythromycin and gentamicin
• Chloroquine and other antimalarial drugs

Ringing in the ears can also be caused by the following medical conditions:

• Hearing loss caused by aging
• Spasms in your middle ear muscles
• Head and neck injuries
• High levels of cholesterol
• High blood pressure

How ringing in the ears diagnosed? (Tinnitus diagnosis)

Ringing in the ears (Tinnitus) is diagnosed primarily through a careful medical history and physical examination.

A. Previous Medical History

Your healthcare professional will ask you a series of tinnitus-related questions in order to narrow down a diagnosis.

Questions might include the following way:

• Can you describe the details of the sound you’re hearing? for example, pitch, quality, and loudness?
• Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms? (e.g., hearing loss, vertigo, headache, or temporomandibular joint pain)
• Have you recently suffered any head or neck trauma?
• What medications do you take currently?
• Is your tinnitus interfering with your daily functioning—does it interfere with your sleep, work, or personal activities?

B. Examine Your Body

Your healthcare provider will examine your head, neck, eyes, ears, and neurological system during your physical exam.

For example, during an ear exam, your healthcare provider will look for and remove any impacted wax to see if that is the source of your tinnitus. with his stethoscope, he may also listen to the blood vessels in your neck, chest, and around your ears.

C. Special Examinations

One or more specialized tests may be recommended based on your healthcare provider’s findings and the characteristics of your tinnitus (if it is persistent or associated with specific symptoms).

Among these tests are the following:

• An audiologist will conduct a comprehensive hearing test.
• Vestibular testing (in the case of Ménière’s disease)
• The brain and internal auditory canals were imaged using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (for acoustic neuroma)

How to Stop Ringing in Ears? What are the best tinnitus treatment options?

Any underlying medical conditions that are causing your tinnitus will be treated by your doctor.

Your doctor will examine your blood vessels and remove any excess earwax. If your medications are causing your tinnitus, your doctor may change your medication to restore normal hearing.

1. Correction of Hearing Loss

Tinnitus may be relieved or corrected by correcting hearing loss with hearing aids. Cochlear implants, which electrically stimulate the inner ear, can help if you have both severe hearing loss and tinnitus.

2. Lifestyle changes

You can also manage your tinnitus by reducing your stress. Tinnitus is not caused by stress, but it can exacerbate it.

Reduce stress in your life by engaging in a hobby or talking with a trusted friend or family member. To lessen the severity of your tinnitus, you should also avoid loud noises.

3. Cochlear implants

Cochlear implants Trusted Source may also be effective in restoring lost hearing.

A cochlear implant is a device that allows your brain to bypass the damaged part of your ear in order to improve your hearing. An electrode set inserted into your inner ear works with a microphone implanted just above your ear.

The implant sends the signals required for sound processing to your auditory nerve. Cochlear implants use electrical stimulation to assist your brain in properly interpreting sounds.

4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), whether done in person with a trained therapist or online, can help you develop distraction and relaxation skills, as well as strategies to help you think and react differently to tinnitus.

5. Earwax removal

The symptoms should subside and disappear once the blockage is removed. Ear wax removal at home is a delicate process, and you should avoid using cotton buds or inserting foreign objects into the ear. Once or twice a week, one or two drops of olive oil should help prevent wax build-up and allow it to naturally exit the ear.