What Could Cause Humming in Ears?

Humming in the ears, known as tinnitus, is extremely common. The American Tinnitus Association estimates that tinnitus affects as many as 50 million people in the United States and that 12 million have had it severely enough to seek medical help. A number of factors can cause tinnitus.

Primary Causes

• Tinnitus can be temporary or long term. Long-term tinnitus tends be caused by prolonged exposure to excessively loud noise, such as in the workplace, or even by a single event, such as an explosion. Tinnitus is often linked with hearing loss, and so it is more common among elderly people than young people.

Other Causes

• Temporary tinnitus can be caused by factors including impacted ear wax, taking too many antibiotics or aspirin, high or low blood pressure, allergies, diabetes, thyroid abnormalities, head injury and ear infections.

  If you have tinnitus, you may feel depressed and irritable, and you may have problems concentrating and sleeping.

Treatment

• Treatment for tinnitus begins with tests by a physician to determine the condition's cause. Suitable treatment depends on the cause.

  Some people find that alternative treatments such as aromatherapy, homeopathy, relaxation and sound therapies help, although no conclusive research shows that those treatments are effective.