Ringing in Your Ears? That Could Be Tinnitus

You may not know it, but you’ve experienced tinnitus.

Even if you don’t know the word, you’ve definitely experienced tinnitus at least once. Pretty much everyone has experienced it, and pretty much no one knows the name of this very common problem. Tinnitus is buzzing or ringing in your ears. You don’t have to know the name of this extremely common condition to experience it, which you probably have lots of times. Now, do you know why you’ve experienced tinnitus and what it means when it happens to you frequently?

What Causes Tinnitus?

There are many different reasons why you may experience tinnitus, which most commonly appears as a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. There are many reasons why this can happen. You may notice it after you’ve been to a loud concert or a sporting event. A ringing noise may come to your ears hours or even days after you’ve been exposed to a lot of loud noise for any period of time. Even a single gunshot or firecracker explosion can create tinnitus in your ears, even if the noise only lasts for a split second.

Tinnitus can also be caused by head and neck injuries, such as whiplash. It may even be created by an excessive amount of wax in the ears. Some medications can even cause tinnitus as a side effect. If you experience frequent tinnitus, consult with your doctor or pharmacist about the medications you take regularly to see if this may be the cause.

However, there’s another, more serious reason why tinnitus may be occurring to your ears. If you’re experiencing ringing or buzzing in your ears on a regular or frequent basis, you need to consult with a physician.

Why Tinnitus Can’t Be Ignored

The most common reason that people experience tinnitus is hearing loss. If you notice that you’re having this problem regularly, you should get a hearing screening from a qualified professional to see if you’re suffering from hearing loss. Start paying attention to when tinnitus is occurring, and think back. Were your ears exposed to any extremely loud noises within the last week before tinnitus occurred? Make notes about your experience of tinnitus and your thoughts on what causes ringing in your ears. If you notice that you have tinnitus multiple times a month, you should get a hearing evaluation.

Don’t hesitate to have your hearing checked. You’ve heard the saying that it’s better to be safe than sorry. That applies strongly to tinnitus. You shouldn’t play around with your hearing or hope that the problem will go away on its own. If you’re experiencing hearing loss, then the problem is not going to get better. In fact, it’s most likely going to get worse.

However, there are many treatments available for those who are suffering from hearing loss or hearing impairments. There are many different types of hearing aids that can be worn in a number of ways. Hearing aid styles are extremely varied and there are many different makes and models to choose from.

Many people actually experience hearing loss, particularly as they age. In fact, one out of three people has some degree of hearing loss by the age of 65. It’s nothing to be ashamed of and it’s not something that’s likely to go away on its own. Don’t hesitate to get a test and seek out help. If there’s nothing wrong, great. But if you are going through hearing loss, it’s best to get treatment at one before the problem gets a lot worse.

Don’t wait for tinnitus to get worse. Go get your ears checked and get treatment for your hearing loss if there is any present. And either way, now you know the name of one of mankind’s most common ailments: tinnitus!