Straightforward Information About Tinnitus
There is no single cause of tinnitus. It can result from a wide range of conditions, injuries, and circumstances. In many cases, more than one factor is involved. Understanding the potential causes can help you work with your doctor to identify what may be contributing to your tinnitus.
Excessive noise is the single most common preventable cause of tinnitus. Prolonged exposure to loud sounds — whether from work, music, power tools, firearms, or headphones — can damage the delicate hair cells of the inner ear. Once damaged, these cells do not regenerate. See our detailed page on noise-induced tinnitus.
Hearing naturally declines with age, especially in the higher frequencies. This gradual loss, called presbycusis, is one of the most common triggers for tinnitus in older adults. As the ear sends less signal to the brain, the brain may compensate by turning up its own internal volume. Read more about the connection between tinnitus and hearing loss.
A buildup of earwax (cerumen) can press against the eardrum or block the ear canal, causing temporary tinnitus. This is one of the most easily treatable causes. A healthcare provider can safely remove impacted earwax, which often resolves the tinnitus entirely.
Certain medications are known to be ototoxic, meaning they can damage the ear or cause tinnitus as a side effect. Common examples include high doses of aspirin, certain antibiotics (aminoglycosides), some chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin), loop diuretics, and quinine. In many cases, tinnitus from medication is reversible when the drug is discontinued, but not always. See Medications and Tinnitus for more detail.
Middle ear infections (otitis media), Eustachian tube dysfunction, and otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the middle ear) can all cause or worsen tinnitus. These conditions change how sound is transmitted to the inner ear and may require medical treatment.
Ménière's disease is an inner ear disorder characterized by episodes of vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, a feeling of fullness in the ear, and tinnitus. The tinnitus associated with Ménière's is often described as a low-pitched roaring. More information is available through the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sits directly in front of each ear. Problems with this joint — including arthritis, jaw misalignment, grinding, or clenching — can produce or worsen tinnitus. This is a form of somatic tinnitus and may respond to dental or physical therapy treatment. See Tinnitus and TMJ.
Trauma to the head or neck can damage the auditory system, the nerves related to hearing, or the brain regions involved in sound processing. Tinnitus that appears after an injury should always be evaluated by a medical professional. It may be accompanied by other neurological symptoms.
An acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma) is a benign tumor on the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain. It typically affects only one ear and can cause one-sided tinnitus, hearing loss, and balance problems. This is rare but important to rule out, especially when tinnitus is unilateral. Your doctor may order an MRI to check for this.
Many other factors can trigger, worsen, or be associated with tinnitus, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disorders, stress, anxiety, depression, and even allergies. The relationship between these conditions and tinnitus is complex and not always fully understood. See Tinnitus and Anxiety / Depression for the mental health angle.