Tinnitus is characterized as a ringing in the ear or ears of an individual who has it. Tinnitus affects about 15% to 20% of people, typically older adults. Tinnitus doesn’t come from an external sound and is instead caused by a variety of other issues. Here are the common causes of tinnitus:

1. Exposure to loud noises

Exposure to loud noises from firearms, heavy machinery, music or any other source is one of the most well known causes of tinnitus. Loud noises such as these cause noise-related hearing loss and can bring on tinnitus if someone is exposed to these noises for an extended period of time. People who are particularly at risk are soldiers, factory workers, construction workers, and musicians.

2. Head injuries

Head injuries can affect the hearing nerves or brain functioning associated with hearing but can also affect the inner ear, causing tinnitus. Typically a head injury that results in tinnitus will only affect one ear. A head injury causes pressure in the ear which can cause the ear fluid to move too much which not only can result in tinnitus but also balance and hearing issues as well.

3. Hearing loss

As people age they are more at risk for hearing loss and therefore tinnitus. This is because of the tiny, delicate hairs in your inner ear called stereocilia that help your brain interpret sounds. As you age, it is more and more likely that these hairs will bend or break and they can end up sending false signals to your brain causing you to hear a ringing noise when there isn’t an external trigger.

4. Medications

There are quite a few known medications that can cause or even worsen tinnitus symptoms. The most well known ones are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain antibiotics, antimalarial drugs, diuretics, and antidepressants. Typically, the higher the dose of these meds the worse the tinnitus will get. However, once the use of these medications is discontinued tinnitus tends to lessen in severity or even disappear completely.

5. Ear blockage

When you have a blockage or buildup of earwax, dirt, foreign materials, or in the case of an ear infection, fluids in your ear canal, this can cause tinnitus. This is because ears are very delicate and blockages and buildups of any kind can lead to a change in pressure in the ear, which is known to cause tinnitus and cause a ringing sound in the ear.