What Causes Ringing in the Ears?

An article by Adrian Featherstone.

What causes the ringing in the ears that we universally call tinnitus? Well, it could be that the sufferer has very recently been in a particularly noisy environment. Exposure to very loud or even constant mid-range noise can leave the ears ringing for anyone until the ears have settled down and recovered to their normal state. This of course is quite normal.
However hissing, whistling or ringing in the ear can be symptomatic of a number of conditions. These can range from an ear infection right through to a neurological disorder.
Tinnitus is defined as being a condition in which a sound is perceived to be heard in the ear although that sound is not related to any outside source. These noises can be of a low pitch or a high pitch. They can take the form of a hissing, a ringing or a buzzing. They can be constant or they might come and go. In fact the sounds of tinnitus are so variable that they go beyond generalisation. Suffice it to say that the tinnitus sufferer knows he has a noise in his head that just shouldn’t be there.
Outside of the diagnosis of noise induced tinnitus common causes of tinnitus are things such as a build up of earwax or just an ear infection. Any head or neck injury and especially whiplash can initiate tinnitus. In such cases the ringing in the ears is likely to dissipate as the injury heals leaving no lasting problem.
The onset of tinnitus is often associated with the general degradation of the hearing system which naturally occurs in the ageing process. As the ability to hear outside noise diminishes it seems that the sounds of tinnitus, which may have been there already, become apparent when other sound isn’t heard to mask it.
Ringing in the ears is a frequent companion to high levels of stress, as it is with high blood pressure. Unfortunately the onset of tinnitus can in itself raise stress levels. As stress is often linked with high blood pressure, a vicious circle can develop here.
Sometimes tinnitus is a sign that there is a more serious health problem developing. Conditions such as Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Meningitis and Thyroid disorders all have a link with symptoms of tinnitus. For that reason it is always advisable to take medical advice at the first opportunity when these symptoms appear.