Tinnitus is the medical term for what is commonly referred to as ringing in the ears. Though many people experience a ringing sound, other sounds like buzzing and whistling may be hear as well. Tinnitus symptoms vary in intensity and can become so severe that some people have a hard time going about their everyday activities. Ringing of the ears may be experienced in one or both ears. Treatment for this medical condition depends on the cause, of which there are many possibilities. A physical examination of your ears as well as hearing tests can help determine the cause for ringing in the ears and the appropriate treatment.
Natural and Genetic Causes
One of the simple answers to the question of what can cause a ringing in the ears is that the way your body is made, makes you more predisposed to the condition. The natural course of aging is a common cause of tinnitus if you are also experiencing a hearing loss. Suffering from a genetic condition called otosclerosis, in which the bones in your ears become stiffer, can also result in ringing and other noises in your ears. Having excess wax in one or both ears may produce tinnitus as well. Usually in the case of wax-related tinnitus, a patient will be unable to remove the wax at home, but the procedure can be done by a doctor.
High Decibel Exposure
Environmental factors such as exposure to high-decibel sounds can contribute to a ringing of the ears. This includes listening to loud music or subjecting yourself to other loud noises, such as the sounds you'll hear at a construction site or while using loud power equipment. The tinnitus brought on by these noises can be temporary, such as after going to a concert or using a chainsaw. Long-term exposure over many years can both damage your hearing and lead to hearing loss. Using volume controls on portable music players and wearing protection while doing yard work can help protect your ears from problems in the future.
Illness and Injury
Underlying medical conditions can both cause tinnitus and make existing ringing in the ears worse. Conditions that may result in tinnitus include trauma to the head and neck, neurological disorders and abnormal growths in the ear canal. Meniere's disease is another cause of tinnitus. All of these conditions tend to affect one ear, rather than both ears at the same time. Mental conditions such as depression and unusually high levels of stress may also make people hear ringing in their ears.
Blood Vessel Disorders
Abnormalities in the blood vessels may cause tinnitus, though the onset of ringing from blood vessel impairment is rare. These conditions include high blood pressure and high cholesterol, in which you essentially hear your heart beating in your ears due to a loss of elasticity in the blood vessels. A type of tumor called vascular neoplasm may press on the blood vessels in your head and can cause you to hear ringing. Other vessel-related causes include when a blood vessel kinks up and causes blood to flow in a "turbulent," more forceful way. The turbulence of the blood-flow can produce tinnitus.
Medications
Tinnitus may be a side effect of a medication you are taking, and can be resolved shortly after the substance is no longer in your body. The severity of the ringing may vary in each person, and usually increases as the drug dosage is increased. The range of medications that carry possible side effects of tinnitus is wide, and includes many different classes of drugs. Commonly-prescribed antibiotics such as tetracycline and erythromycin are included in this group, as well as several treatments for cancer. Diuretics should be used with caution, as this type of medication can cause a ringing in the ears. High doses of aspirin and quinine medicines (used to treat malaria) can also lead to tinnitus in some people.
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