Hi; I am an Audiologist.
Tinnitus is the term used to describe any sound heard within one’s ears or head. As you see from the responses here, there are many different sounds that people can hear. In some cases, tinnitus can be a symptom of more serious conditions, but since you do not complain of vertigo or headaches or hearing loss it sounds like yours is the fairly run-of-the-mill ringing that many people experience. I have had tinnitus my whole life, and it is getting progressively louder as I age.
I have also heard that ginko biloba helps some people… since it is reportedly beneficial in several ways, it couldn’t hurt to try. I have never tried it only because I am so bad at taking supplements on a regular basis, and usually wind up throwing most of them away after the bottle expires.
Exposure to loud sounds is one well-established causes of tinnitus. It doesn’t have to be as loud as a rock concert, either; even regular exposure to sounds that aren’t uncomfortably loud can contribute to hearing loss and tinnitus. Hairdressers, seamstresses, housekeepers, fitness/aerobics instructors and dentists can have noise-induced hearing loss and the tinnitus that is associated with it.
Aspirin is one of the best known ototoxic medications, but other medications could make it worse. In addition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes are known to contribute to hearing loss and tinnitus. Also consider your family history… do others have tinnitus and/or hearing loss? If so, you may have a genetic predisposition to experience these symptoms. If you have medical insurance, it can’t hurt to have it evaluated just to have a baseline of your hearing sensitivity and to ensure that there really is no reason to be concerned.
Feel free to ask me any additional questions :-)
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@asmonet: Hearing pulsations in your ear is different than what most tinnitus sufferers hear. Have you checked to see if it is actually your pulse that you are hearing? (Measure your pulse on your neck and see if the timing is the same as what you are hearing) If so, you may have some loss of sound conduction through the ear which makes the sounds in your ear/head even more noticeable, since the carotid artery runs so close to the middle ear space. Consider having a comprehensive audiological evaluation to check the status of your middle ear function and hearing sensitivity. If the pulsations you hear are NOT in time with your pulse, see an Ear, Nose and Throat physician… pulsatile tinnitus is sometime a symptom of more serious problems.