Top Story: Tinnitus: Ringing in Your Ear Really Comes From Your Brain

Tinnitus, the uncontrolled ringing, buzzing or whooshing in your ears can seriously interfere with your quality of life. It can vary in volume and pitch, be constant or happen every once in a while, and may also occur when you move certain parts of your body. Several factors can trigger and contribute to tinnitus, including loud noise, medicine and stress, which can be hard to avoid. According to the American Tinnitus Association, more than 25 million Americans have some form of the disorder. For about 5 million people, it’s chronic.

“Nobody knows exactly where tinnitus originates in the brain,” said Tina Huang, MD, neurotologist and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School. “We do know, however, that tinnitus is triggered by hearing loss.” When you hear a sound, it travels to your inner ear, where hair cells convert it into signals for your brain. If these hair cells get damaged, your brain doesn't get the signals—which can lead to tinnitus.

“A doctor can sometimes treat tinnitus with a course of steroids,” said Dr. Huang. “Counseling can be very helpful to help patients feel less bothered by it as well.” Counseling and cognitive therapy can help patients change their perspective and how they respond to tinnitus. Exercise and sleep are also important to keep anxiety and stress from triggering it. Hearing aids, maskers, and cochlear implants are also an option for some patients.

You can read more from Dr. Huang’s interview with WebMD here.