Hearing a ringing, buzzing, hissing, humming, or high-pitched tone when nobody else can hear it can be unsettling at any age. In your 20s, it can be particularly confusing. You may think, “I’m young. How can I already have a problem with my hearing?” That question is understandable. Tinnitus is more commonly associated with older … Read more
If you develop tinnitus after a loud concert, a stressful period, an ear problem, or for no obvious reason, one of the hardest questions is often: “Why did it happen to me, and why won’t I know whether it will go away?” Some people notice ringing or buzzing for a few hours or days and … Read more
If you have tinnitus and also experience jaw pain, clicking, teeth grinding, facial tension, or pain around your ear, you may eventually wonder whether the two problems are connected. That is a reasonable question. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sits immediately in front of the ear, and the jaw, neck, facial muscles, and auditory system have … Read more
If you suddenly start hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, or another unexplained sound, it is natural to wonder whether you have damaged your ears. One reason this question is so confusing is that tinnitus and hearing loss are closely connected, but they are not the same condition. You can have tinnitus without noticing an obvious hearing … Read more
If your tinnitus changes when you turn your head, stretch your neck, clench your jaw, or sit at a desk for hours, it is understandable to wonder whether your neck is causing the sound. You may notice things such as ringing becoming louder after working at a computer, a change in pitch when you rotate … Read more
Hearing a sound that nobody else can hear can be unsettling enough. But when that sound seems to beat, throb, or whoosh in time with your heartbeat, it can feel especially worrying. A common question is: “Why can I hear my heartbeat in my ear?” The answer depends partly on what the sound is actually … Read more
Tinnitus can be unsettling enough on its own. But when the ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking changes when you move your neck, clench your jaw, open your mouth, or touch certain areas around your head and neck, it can become especially confusing. You may notice something like this: If this happens to you, you are … Read more