Tinnitus: what to do about ringing in your ears

Ringing, buzzing or humming in your ears without an outside source is called tinnitus. You may hear it in one ear, both ears or inside your head. It may go away, come and go, or persist. It is usually not a sign of a serious condition.

Gentle background sound and a calmer bedtime routine may offer relief. Protecting your hearing from loud noise is also important. If the sound bothers you, gets worse or does not stop, book a medical appointment. If your hearing suddenly gets worse, seek help immediately.

When to see a doctor about tinnitus

When to book a routine appointment

Book an appointment if tinnitus keeps returning, persists or affects sleep, work or concentration. Persistent ringing in just one ear also deserves assessment, even if it is painless.

You can start with a GP or an ENT specialist, a doctor who treats ears, nose and throat conditions. When booking, say how long you have had symptoms and whether your hearing has changed.

When you need urgent assessment

• Sudden hearing loss: seek help immediately from an emergency ENT service or a hospital emergency department. Do not wait until the next day or to see whether ear drops help. Sudden hearing loss can also feel like a blocked ear. Prompt treatment can affect how much hearing can be recovered.
• New tinnitus after a head injury or with severe spinning dizziness: seek immediate medical help at an emergency department. Do not drive if you are dizzy.
• Pulsatile tinnitus, meaning a sound in time with your heartbeat: contact a doctor as soon as possible and ask for an urgent appointment. This type of tinnitus can have different causes from steady ringing.

If tinnitus causes severe distress or makes everyday life difficult to manage, seek medical help promptly.

When to call 155

For sudden facial drooping, difficulty speaking or weakness in an arm or leg, call 155 in Czechia. These may be signs of a stroke. Do not wait for a booked appointment. If you are unsure how serious a sudden deterioration is, call 155 and describe what is happening.

What causes ringing or buzzing in the ears?

Tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss, for example after prolonged noise exposure or as hearing changes with age. It can also follow a loud concert. A change in hearing may not be obvious to you.

Other possible causes include an earwax blockage or an ear infection. Jaw or neck problems and medicines can also play a part. Tinnitus can be a side effect of certain antibiotics or higher doses of some painkillers. If it began after a change in medication, tell your doctor; do not stop prescribed medicines yourself.

Stress and anxiety can make tinnitus worse or harder to cope with. However, new symptoms should not be put down to stress without assessment. Sometimes no precise cause is found, but there are still ways to reduce its impact.

What you can try at home

If you do not have symptoms that need urgent help, try these steps:

• Protect your hearing in loud environments. Use suitable hearing protection at concerts or when working with noisy machinery. Turn down the volume in headphones.
• Try gentle background sound. Quiet music or rain sounds may help when resting or going to sleep. Tinnitus can be more noticeable in complete silence. Keep the sound comfortable; it does not need to cover the ringing completely.
• Make bedtime easier. Get up at roughly the same time each day and allow time to wind down before bed. If tinnitus repeatedly wakes you or keeps you from falling asleep, tell your doctor.

Ordinary background sound may offer relief, but it does not treat the cause of tinnitus. For professional sound therapy, a specialist helps you choose sounds and plan how to use them.

Do not put cotton buds or other objects inside your ears. If you suspect an earwax blockage, ask about safe removal.

Tinnitus treatment options

If the doctor finds a treatable cause, they will address it first. Removing an earwax blockage or treating an infection may reduce the sound. Further care depends on your hearing and how tinnitus affects you.

Hearing aids for hearing loss make communication easier and may make tinnitus less noticeable. A hearing test helps establish whether they are suitable. They are not routinely recommended for tinnitus alone when hearing is normal.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps you work with worries, tension and responses to the sound. It can reduce the impact of tinnitus on everyday life. The aim is to make it less disruptive, rather than promise to remove the sound completely.

There is no universal medicine for tinnitus. A doctor may treat an associated problem, such as depression. Supplements containing ginkgo biloba, zinc or vitamins are not recommended for treating persistent, bothersome tinnitus itself. A supplement may be appropriate for another reason, such as a confirmed deficiency.

What happens at an ENT appointment?

The doctor will ask about your symptoms, how they have developed and the medicines you take. They will examine your ear and check your hearing. This often includes audiometry, a hearing test using headphones, where you respond when you hear a tone.

Depending on the results, they may suggest further tests, such as an MRI scan. This is not needed for everyone. Factors include whether the sound follows your pulse, affects only one side or comes with other symptoms.

Before your appointment, make a few notes about:

• when the sound began, which ear it affects and whether it is constant;
• whether it follows your heartbeat and whether your hearing has changed;
• any pain, dizziness, injury or noise exposure;
• your medicines and the effect on sleep and daily life.

Bring any previous hearing-test results. Our appointment preparation checklist covers other practical steps.

Common questions about tinnitus

Can tinnitus go away on its own?

Yes, it sometimes disappears or gradually becomes quieter. For other people it persists. The pitch or duration alone cannot predict the outcome. If it continues or troubles you, it is worth seeking help.

Can tinnitus be related to the neck?

For some people, moving the neck or jaw changes the sound. This is useful information for the doctor, but does not prove that the neck is the cause. Assessment should also include the ear and hearing.

Help arranging an ENT appointment in Prague

Need help arranging a consultation for persistent tinnitus? See our ENT page or contact OpenMedical. OpenMedical helps coordinate your care. We will check appointment options with a partner provider. The doctor decides which tests or treatment are needed.

This article provides general information for adults and does not replace an individual medical assessment.