It’s loudest when the house goes quiet. A thin, high whine, or maybe a hiss like a radio between stations, or a low hum you first blamed on the refrigerator. You check whether anyone else hears it. Nobody does.
Ringing in the ears, called tinnitus, is hearing a sound that has no outside source, and the most common cause is hearing loss, often from years of loud noise or from aging. Earwax, ear infections, certain medicines, jaw problems, and head or neck injuries can also cause it. Tinnitus is very common, and while there’s no single cure, there’s a lot you can do to find the cause and make it less bothersome. Below you’ll find the main causes and the signs that need prompt care. If you suspect your hearing has slipped too, our guide to the early signs of hearing loss has a quick self-check.
You’re far from alone
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) estimates that roughly 10 percent of U.S. adults have had tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year. For most, it’s mild. For some, it affects sleep, focus, and mood. Either way, it’s a symptom worth understanding, not something you’re imagining.
What tinnitus can sound like
- Ringing, the classic high-pitched tone
- Buzzing, humming, or roaring
- Hissing or static
- Clicking
- A whooshing sound that keeps time with your heartbeat, called pulsatile tinnitus
It can be in one ear or both, constant or on and off, soft or loud.
What sets off the ringing, and how to tell
| Possible cause | Clues | What may help find it |
|---|---|---|
| Noise exposure | Years of loud work, concerts, power tools, or headphones; ringing after loud events | Hearing test |
| Age-related hearing loss | Gradual trouble following conversation, turning up the TV | Hearing test |
| Earwax blockage | Muffled hearing, fullness, often one ear | Ear exam (don’t dig with cotton swabs) |
| Ear infection or fluid | Ear pain, pressure, recent cold | Ear exam |
| Medicines | Started after a new drug. Some antibiotics, some cancer drugs, water pills, and high doses of aspirin can affect the ear | Review of your medicines |
| Ménière’s disease | Spells of vertigo, hearing loss, and ear fullness along with ringing | Doctor or ear specialist |
| Jaw joint (TMJ) problems | Jaw pain, clicking, clenching or grinding | Dental or medical exam |
| Head or neck injury | Started after an injury | Doctor’s exam |
| Blood vessel problems | Whooshing in time with your pulse | Doctor’s exam |
NIDCD notes that tinnitus is often a sign of hearing loss and that noise exposure is one of the most common reasons it starts. NIDCD also warns that long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss.
Can stress cause ringing in your ears?
This is one of the most searched questions about tinnitus. Stress doesn’t usually start tinnitus on its own, but it can make it louder and much harder to ignore. Tinnitus and stress can feed each other: the ringing makes you tense, and tension makes you notice the ringing more. Poor sleep adds to the cycle. Breaking that loop is a big part of the strategies in our guide on making tinnitus less noticeable.
Keep a one-week tinnitus log
A short log helps your doctor or audiologist and helps you spot your own triggers:
| Date | Loudness (0–10) | One ear or both | What you heard (ring, hiss, hum, whoosh) | Possible triggers (noise, caffeine, stress, poor sleep) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 | 6 | Both | High ring | Concert last night, 5 hours of sleep |
Different starting points
If it started after a loud event
Ringing after a concert or loud work often fades within a day or two. Treat it as a warning: protect your ears next time with earplugs or by stepping away from speakers.
If it’s slowly appeared over years
Gradual hearing loss is the likely culprit. A hearing test is the best first step, and hearing aids often make tinnitus less noticeable.
If it started after a new medicine
Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it could be a side effect. Don’t stop the medicine on your own.
If you also get dizzy spells
Ringing with vertigo and ear fullness can point to Ménière’s disease. Our guide on sudden dizziness explains the types of dizziness to describe to your doctor.
Ringing that needs prompt care
See a doctor if tinnitus:
- Lasts more than a week, or keeps getting worse
- Is only in one ear
- Pulses in time with your heartbeat
- Comes with hearing loss, dizziness, or ear pain or drainage
- Affects your sleep, focus, or mood
Get care right away for sudden hearing loss in one ear, with or without ringing. NIDCD advises treating sudden hearing loss as a medical emergency, because treatment works best when started quickly. Also get urgent care for tinnitus after a head injury, or with weakness, numbness, or a drooping face.
A first step for this week
Start the tinnitus log tonight and book a hearing test with an audiologist or your doctor. Meanwhile, give your ears a break from loud sound: lower your headphone volume and take earplugs to any loud event. If the ringing is mild and both-sided, that’s a solid start.
Knowing the cause is half the job. The other half is making the ringing fade into the background, and our next guide on how to make tinnitus less noticeable shows you how.
