Nearly everyone at one time or another has experienced ringing in the ears. For an estimated 36 million Americans, this ringing, called tinnitus, is a constant companion. Fleeting, intermittent tinnitus is extremely common and is usually not indicative of any other problem.
Some medications can also induce tinnitus, most notably aspirin.
But by far, the greatest risk factor for tinnitus is exposure to loud noise, which damages the tiny endings of the hearing nerve in the inner ear. Only a thorough exam can pinpoint the exact cause of persistent tinnitus. There are also a variety of commercially available devices that people can use to mask tinnitus. These devices, which emit a static-like sound, are particularly helpful at night, when lack of distracting background noise accentuates ringing, making sleep difficult. A hearing aid can provide a similar distraction by minimizing the hearing loss that often accompanies tinnitus.