A ringing in the ear is caused by a condition called tinnitus. People with tinnitus may hear other sounds besides ringing in the ear. Some people report hearing a buzzing or crackling sound. Other people describe the sound they hear as a tone. The main characteristic of tinnitus is hearing a sound that is not present in the person’s environment. Tinnitus is sometimes called head noise.

The cause of ringing in the ear or tinnitus is not clearly understood. One explanation for tinnitus is that the ear or auditory nerve is damaged and sending an error message to the brain. The error message takes the form of a repetitive sound.

The theory of tinnitus as an error message is similar to people who experience pain in a limb that has been amputated. The limb is no longer there and therefore is not causing the pain message, but the brain translates nerve impulses that would have come from that limb as pain. This is called phantom limb pain.

Tinnitus or ringing in the ears can be a symptom of hearing loss or deafness. Noise-induced hearing loss or auditory trauma is a possible cause of tinnitus or ringing in the ears. The sounds of tinnitus may be temporary or permanent. Some people experience tinnitus all of the time while others only have periods of tinnitus.

Pulsatile tinnitus is hearing one’s pulse. Pulsatile tinnitus can be a symptom of high blood pressure or a circulatory problem affecting the vessels near the ears. Pulsatile tinnitus can also be caused by a malfunction of the Eustachian tube.

While tinnitus used to be considered a condition that patients just had to get used to living with, there are now treatments for tinnitus. Using hearing aids sometimes helps with both the hearing loss and a reduction of tinnitus. Some alternative treatments such as herbal remedies, acupuncture, and magnets are used as remedies for tinnitus.

Though there are no medications specifically made for the treatment of tinnitus, some people have had successful treatment using certain medications. Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and anti-anxiety medications have been used to treat tinnitus successfully for some people.