Ringing in Ears Without Hearing Loss or Pain

If you experience ringing in the ears and are concerned you may be losing your hearing, take heart. Tinnitus is a condition that causes ringing in the ears with no associated pain and is not an indication of hearing loss. It is, however, an indication of an underlying condition that needs medical treatment.

Identification

• Tinnitus is pressure in the inner ear, usually caused by fluid buildup as a result of an underlying condition, and causes a ringing in the ear. According to the Mayo Clinic, tinnitus affects nearly 20% of the American population during their lifetime. Aside from ringing in the ears, tinnitus causes no physical pain or discomfort.

Medication

• The University of California points out that although there is no cure for tinnitus, antidepressant and antianxiety medications can be used to help reduce its effects.

Significance

• Although tinnitus may seem to get worse with hearing loss, it is not a cause of hearing loss. It worsens with hearing loss because as background noises become less apparent, the tinnitus seems to get louder.

Blood Pressure

• An increase in blood pressure can sometimes cause an increase in the amount of blood flowing through the inner ear; this can result in tinnitus. Treating high blood pressure may relieve some of the ringing in the ears.

Considerations

• According to the American Tinnitus Association, no two people suffer from tinnitus in exactly the same way. The condition can vary in the types of ringing noises people hear, the reasons they hear them and the volume of the noise.