Why your ears are ringing and what to do next
Send an enquiry about the noise you hear. A local audiologist will review it and suggest whether a test makes sense. There is no fee for asking.
What tinnitus actually is
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when nothing outside the body is producing it. People describe it as ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing or clicking. It can stay in one ear or sit across both, and its volume changes throughout the day.
The noise is generated somewhere along the hearing pathway. Sometimes the cause is in the outer or middle ear, where wax or fluid alters how sound travels. Other times the inner ear or the nerve carrying signals to the brain is involved. Because so many parts of the system can produce the same symptom, the sound alone does not reveal the source.
For some people tinnitus fades within days. For others it persists for months or years. The duration does not automatically indicate severity, but a new sound that does not settle warrants attention.
Conditions that often accompany ringing ears
Ringing rarely arrives in isolation. A build-up of ear wax pressing against the eardrum can trigger both tinnitus and a muffled feeling. Once the wax is removed, the noise often stops.
Age-related hearing loss frequently brings tinnitus with it. As the tiny hair cells in the inner ear lose sensitivity, the brain compensates by turning up its internal gain, which produces phantom sound. Noise exposure from work or music accelerates this process.
Ear infections leave fluid trapped behind the eardrum. That fluid dampens normal hearing and can generate a low hum or pulse. Meniere's disease combines tinnitus with vertigo and fluctuating hearing. Jaw tension and neck problems also refer sensations into the ear, creating a ringing that shifts when the head moves.
Because the list of possible causes is long, guessing at home tends to delay proper assessment.
When ringing ears need prompt medical attention
Most tinnitus is not dangerous, but certain patterns require a doctor rather than a routine audiology appointment. The window for treating this is narrow, so delays matter. A pulsing sound that beats in time with the heart suggests a vascular origin. This type of tinnitus can point to blood pressure changes or abnormalities near the ear that a GP should assess first. Ringing paired with severe dizziness, facial weakness or sudden imbalance also falls outside routine audiology. These combinations may indicate neurological involvement. If the noise followed a head injury or appeared immediately after starting a new medication, mention this to a doctor before booking a hearing test. In all other cases, a standard audiology appointment is the appropriate next step.
What happens at an audiology appointment
An audiologist begins by looking inside the ear canal with an otoscope. They check for wax, infection, perforation or anything blocking the eardrum. If wax is present, removal may be recommended before testing proceeds, because debris distorts the results.
Next comes a pure-tone audiogram. Headphones deliver tones at different pitches and volumes, and the audiologist records the quietest sound heard at each frequency. This maps where hearing has shifted and whether those shifts align with the pitch of the tinnitus.
Speech testing follows. The audiologist plays recorded words at comfortable and soft levels to measure clarity, not just volume thresholds.
Tinnitus-specific measurements come last. Pitch matching identifies the frequency of the phantom sound. Loudness matching determines how intense it feels relative to external noise. Minimum masking level shows how much background sound is needed to cover it.
These measurements do not cure tinnitus. They establish a baseline so the audiologist can recommend management, whether that involves hearing aids, sound therapy or referral back to a GP.
Signs that go along with ringing in your ears
Tinnitus rarely exists on its own. Paying attention to what else has changed around the same time helps an audiologist narrow down the likely cause during an assessment.
- 1
Muffled or blocked hearing
Sounds seem distant or underwater. This often points to wax, fluid or a shift in hearing thresholds that coincides with the ringing.
- 2
Dizziness or unsteadiness
A spinning sensation or general imbalance alongside tinnitus can involve the inner ear and should be mentioned to a GP promptly.
- 3
Pain or pressure in the ear
Aching or fullness suggests inflammation, infection or fluid trapped behind the eardrum rather than a nerve issue alone.
- 4
Noise sensitivity
Everyday sounds feel uncomfortably loud. This sometimes accompanies tinnitus when the auditory system becomes over-responsive.
Common questions about ringing ears
Answers to the things people most often ask before booking an appointment for tinnitus.
- Will it go away on its own?
- Sometimes. Tinnitus caused by temporary congestion or brief noise exposure often fades within days. Persistent ringing usually benefits from assessment.
- Can hearing aids help?
- Yes. When hearing loss accompanies tinnitus, amplification restores external sound, which often reduces the prominence of the internal noise.
- Is ear wax the cause?
- It can be. Impacted wax presses on the eardrum and alters hearing enough to trigger ringing. Removal frequently resolves it.
- Do I need a scan?
- Not routinely. An audiologist decides whether imaging is necessary based on the test results and the pattern of symptoms.
Ask about the ringing in your ears
Describe what you hear and when it started. An audiologist in Mitcham will read your details and advise whether a test is the right next step. Enquiring costs nothing and carries no obligation.
- No cost to enquire
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