A persistent ringing, buzzing, hissing, or high-pitched tone in the ears can be difficult to explain to someone who has never experienced it. For military veterans, tinnitus may bring back memories of weapons fire, explosions, aircraft, heavy machinery, or other intense noise exposures during service. It can also interfere with sleep, concentration, conversations, and the … Read more
Hearing ringing, buzzing, humming, or whooshing in your ears during pregnancy can be unsettling, especially if you have never experienced it before. You might notice it at bedtime, while resting, or when your surroundings become quiet. If the sound seems to follow your heartbeat, you may worry that something is wrong with your circulation or … Read more
Tinnitus during menopause may be influenced by changes in estrogen signaling, auditory processing, sleep, and the nervous system’s response to stress. However, scientists have not established that declining estrogen directly causes tinnitus in every woman who experiences ringing during this life stage. If you have recently started hearing buzzing, ringing, humming, or a high-pitched tone … Read more
Children can experience tinnitus even when they have no obvious hearing loss, and many never describe the sensation as “ringing in the ears.” Instead, they may complain about strange noises, struggle to fall asleep, become unusually distracted, or ask why a buzzing sound follows them into quiet rooms. For parents, this can be confusing. A … Read more
Hearing a ringing, buzzing, humming, or high-pitched tone in your ears while also feeling dizzy or unsteady can be unsettling. You may wonder whether something is wrong with your inner ear, whether the symptoms are connected, or whether the combination signals a serious condition. Sometimes, tinnitus and balance problems do share a cause. Both hearing … Read more
Hearing ringing, buzzing, humming, or high-pitched tones when no external sound is present can be unsettling, especially when you cannot identify what caused it. If you have also been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder—or have noticed symptoms such as unusual fatigue, a racing heartbeat, unexplained weight changes, or temperature sensitivity—it is natural to wonder whether … Read more
If you have tinnitus along with unusual sensitivity to sound, dizziness triggered by coughing or loud noises, or the strange sensation that your own voice or bodily sounds are excessively loud, you may eventually encounter the term superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS). The name can sound alarming. It is also easy to become confused by … Read more
Sudden tinnitus can be frightening, particularly when it appears in one ear and is accompanied by a feeling that the ear is blocked, muffled, or “underwater.” Many people understandably assume they have earwax, congestion, allergies, or a sinus problem and decide to wait a few days. Sometimes that is the explanation. But there is one … Read more
Can age-related hearing loss cause tinnitus? Yes. Age-related hearing loss, called presbycusis, can occur alongside tinnitus. In fact, hearing loss and tinnitus frequently overlap, although having one does not automatically mean you will develop the other. Presbycusis usually develops gradually as the structures responsible for hearing become less effective over time. The changes often affect … Read more
Can a perilymph fistula cause tinnitus? Yes. A perilymph fistula (PLF) can cause tinnitus, along with hearing changes, dizziness, imbalance, or unusual sensitivity to sound or pressure. The condition involves an abnormal connection or leak between the inner ear and the surrounding spaces of the middle ear or skull base. The inner ear contains fluid-filled … Read more