Do you hear music and there is no one there? If so, you may be experiencing a sign of TINNITUS, a condition in which you "hear" ringing or other sounds that are not really there. Indeed, the word Tinnitus comes from the latin meaning "to tinkle or to ring like a bell." Some tinnitus sufferers hear pulsating sounds, whoosing, roaring, and even crickets chirping. Some hear these sounds in one ear, others in both. Theses sounds can range from mildly annoying to maddening. They can interfere with everything you do, from working and watching TV to sleeping, driving, and even having sex.
Depending on its underlying cause, tinnitus may be temporary, but for most people it is a lifelong problem. Many of us will experience tinnitus at some point in our lives. For some, it may be another one of those irritating signs of aging. In fact, in elderly people tinnitus and hearing loss often occur together.
If your taste in music runs toward heavy metal rather than easy listening, ringing in your ears can be a sign of ear nerve damamge from excessively loud music.
Like the feeling of fullness in your ears, a ringing sound can be a sign of excessive earwax or an indication that a foreign object, such as cotton swab or even an insect, has taken up residence in your ear. Occasionally, a ringing sound in your ears can be a reaction to something you have eaten or drunk, such as alcohol and caffeine, or a medicine, especially aspirin and other non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and some antibiotics.
Tinnitus can also signal an ear or sinus infection, temporomandibular joint disorder, otosclerosis, or meniere's disease. This sign can also sound a warning bell for a myriad of non-ear-related maladies, including allergies, anemia, hypothyroidism, hypertension, hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), and even a head injury. Rarely, tinnitus is a danger sign of a brain tunor or a brain Aneurysm, a weakening in a blood vessel wall that can lead to a stroke.
Tricking your brain to get its mind off the ringing sound sometimes helps mask tinnitus. If, for example, you are trying to sleep and your tinnitus is coming in loud and clear, play low music or keep a softly ticking clock by your bedside. Concentration and relaxation exercises sometimes help, too.
If you have recurrent bouts of the signs below, you may have meniere's disease.
Hearing Loss
Dizziness or Vertigo
Ringing in the Ears
Feeling Pressure or Fullness in the Ear
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