Why do I hear ringing in my ears?
Tinnitus is the term used to describe ringing, roaring and other ear noises. Approximately forty million people in this country suffer from tinnitus. More than seven million people are affected so severely that they cannot lead normal lives. Tinnitus usually results from damage to the microscopic hair cells in the inner ear. Two of the causes of hair cell damage include aging, and noise exposure. A dull sense of hearing and tinnitus often occur following noise exposure. That is called a temporary threshold shift. If someone exposes himself or herself to the same noise day after day, the temporary shift can become permanent.
Other causes of tinnitus include red wine, grain based spirits, cheese and chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, aspirin, tumors and even poor jaw alignment. If you suffer from tinnitus, you should consider seeing an audiologist for a complete hearing test. If the patient suffers from hearing loss and tinnitus, hearing aids will allow them to hear better, and can often mask or cover up the annoying sound of the tinnitus.