Why Are My Ears Ringing? A Freehold Audiologist Explains Tinnitus

If you've ever noticed a ringing, buzzing, hissing, or whooshing sound that no one else seems to hear, you're not imagining things — and you're not alone. That sound has a name: tinnitus. It affects an estimated 15% of American adults, and for many people in Monmouth County, it's the first sign that something has changed in their hearing health.

As an audiologist in Freehold, NJ, Dr. Alexandra Haynie, Au.D., CCC-A, ABA hears about tinnitus from patients regularly. Here's what you actually need to know about it.

What Is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus (pronounced TIN-ih-tus or tin-EYE-tus — both are correct) is the perception of sound without an external source. It's not a disease in itself, but a symptom — your auditory system's way of signaling that something is off.

The sounds people describe vary widely:

• Ringing (the most common)

• Buzzing or humming

• Hissing or static

• Clicking or pulsing

• High-pitched tones

For some people, it's a mild background nuisance. For others, it's loud, persistent, and genuinely disruptive to sleep, concentration, and quality of life.

What Causes Tinnitus?

Tinnitus has many possible causes. The most common include:

Noise-induced hearing loss — Exposure to loud sound damages the tiny hair cells in your cochlea, which can trigger phantom noise signals to the brain. A single loud blast or years of cumulative noise exposure (concerts, power tools, machinery) can both be responsible.

Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) — As hearing naturally declines with age, tinnitus often accompanies it. Many patients who first come in for a hearing test discover their tinnitus and hearing loss are connected.

Earwax buildup — A simple blockage can change pressure in the ear canal and cause temporary tinnitus. This is one of the most straightforward causes to address, often resolved with professional earwax removal.

Medications — Certain drugs are ototoxic, meaning they can damage the inner ear as a side effect. Common culprits include high-dose aspirin, some antibiotics, diuretics, and certain chemotherapy drugs. If a new medication coincided with the start of your tinnitus, that's worth noting.

Cardiovascular or circulatory issues — Pulsatile tinnitus — a rhythmic whooshing or throbbing that syncs with your heartbeat — can sometimes indicate a vascular condition. This type warrants prompt medical evaluation.

TMJ and jaw problems — The jaw joint sits close to the ear, and dysfunction there can refer sensation into the auditory system.

When Is Tinnitus a Warning Sign?

Most tinnitus is chronic but not dangerous. However, there are specific patterns that warrant prompt evaluation:

• Sudden onset tinnitus in one ear, especially accompanied by hearing loss — this is a medical emergency requiring same-day or next-day care. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is treatable, but only within a narrow window.

• One-sided tinnitus that doesn't resolve — asymmetric tinnitus can occasionally indicate a growth on the auditory nerve (acoustic neuroma) and should be evaluated.

• Pulsatile tinnitus — the rhythmic, heartbeat-synced type described above.

• Tinnitus with dizziness or vertigo — this combination suggests possible inner ear involvement beyond typical tinnitus.

If any of these describe your experience, don't wait to schedule a hearing evaluation.

Can Tinnitus Be Cured?

There is no universal cure for tinnitus, and anyone telling you otherwise deserves skepticism. But "no cure" doesn't mean "no help." For most patients, tinnitus can be effectively managed — often to the point where it fades significantly into the background.

The most evidence-supported approaches include:

Sound therapy — Using external noise (white noise machines, nature sounds, music) to partially mask or reduce the contrast of tinnitus, especially at night. Many modern hearing aids include built-in tinnitus masking features.

Hearing aids — Because tinnitus and hearing loss so frequently co-occur, treating the hearing loss often reduces tinnitus as well. When the brain receives more real-world sound input, it has less "silence" in which the phantom noise stands out. This is one of the most underappreciated aspects of hearing aid treatment. Every fitting at Haynie Audiology includes real ear measurement verification — ensuring your devices are programmed to your specific ear canal anatomy and hearing loss, not manufacturer defaults.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) — A structured counseling and sound therapy protocol that helps the brain habituate to tinnitus signals, essentially learning to filter them out.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — Addresses the emotional and psychological distress that severe tinnitus causes. CBT doesn't reduce the sound, but it significantly reduces how much the sound bothers patients.

Addressing underlying causes — If tinnitus is caused by earwax, medication, or a medical condition, treating the underlying issue may resolve it.

Tinnitus and Hearing Loss: The Connection You Shouldn't Ignore

Most people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss — often without realizing it. Hearing loss typically develops gradually, and the brain is remarkably good at compensating in the early stages. By the time tinnitus appears, underlying changes in the cochlea may already be well underway.

This is exactly why a comprehensive tinnitus evaluation is the right first step. A diagnostic hearing test can identify whether hearing loss is present, how significant it is, which frequencies are affected, and whether a treatment plan — including hearing aids — is appropriate.

The connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline (covered in our post on hearing loss and dementia) makes early identification and treatment even more important.

Tinnitus Care in Freehold, NJ and Monmouth County

Dr. Alexandra Haynie, Au.D., CCC-A, ABA is a doctoral-level audiologist with the clinical training to evaluate tinnitus in its full context — not just the sound, but the hearing health picture underneath it. Haynie Audiology serves patients throughout Monmouth County, including Freehold, Manalapan, Marlboro, Howell, Middletown, and surrounding communities. For patients who have difficulty traveling to the office, in-home audiology services are also available throughout Monmouth County.

If you've been living with unexplained ringing, buzzing, or ear noise, a tinnitus evaluation is the place to start. We'll identify what's contributing to your tinnitus and discuss realistic, evidence-based options for managing it.

Schedule a tinnitus evaluation at Haynie Audiology →