At times, I hear this funny, high pitched ringing sound in my ear. What is it? What is causing it? It does NOT happen when i hear a loud sound.

That sound is tinnitus. There could be a number of reasons for it.

 

(1) just getting is. Ok this is a hand off answer, but some people just do get it inexplicably.

(2) damage to the inner ear as a result of sound. This can persist for some good time after the loud sound

(3) blood flow problems in the inner ear. This basically damages the inner ear

(4) examples I don't know about.

 

I suggest that if it becomes persistant or annoying at all, then you go and get your ears checked out. I have this problem as well, due to illness and a genetic problem with my ears. I am not saying you have this, but it might just be worth getting checked if it becomes a problem.

nope. I actually get it like, once in a while. A looooooooong while! Wierd!

Could just be increased/high blood pressure, but think about what you got up to before the ringing started.

 

If it isn't permanent, you’re probably ok. Just to offset hypochondria.

 

Radical Edward said in post # :

I have this problem as well, due to illness

 

Me too. Spooky.

I gots the same prob as aommaster it gets really annoying sometimes

yeah! especially when u can't get rid of it!

i feel you pain brother.......

im beginning to think its caused by electrical appliances (wild hunch) cause i never get it when im out tramping,camping or diving etc, how long do these last for you? and do you find some more intense than others?

here`s an idea/possibility, now I`m no expert and dont know all the correct terms, Glider will though.

inside the ear there`s a bit that looks like a curled up snail, and inside that are tiny hairs, each respond to a particular frequency by sympathetic resonance, that in turn sends a signal along a nerve into the brain. could it be that one of these hairs is irritated by something (like an itch) and sends a false signal?

we`ve all had the odd involuntary twitch or itch for no apparant reason, maybe it`s just the same thing, but since there`s no "Itch" sensor as it would drive you nuts! could an irritation manifest itself as a single tone instead?

 

this is ONLY an idea!

YT2095 said in post # :

inside the ear there`s a bit that looks like a curled up snail

 

It is actually called a cochlear

 

 

 

Crash said in post # :

how long do these last for you? and do you find some more intense than others?

 

Well, they last about 5 seconds or something. As for the intesity, it is soooo long between two of them, that i can't ever remember!

I get the same think myself on occasion, sometimes a few times a day then others not for months, and though the pitch is often of the same frequency or there abouts, it`s not exclusive as I`ve had deep low pitched ones on occasion too. I can be just sitting there watching TV or lying in bed and it can happen. that`s why I think alot of the time it`s just a random nerve signal thing just like an itch or a muscle twitch

hmmmm...... fishy! :scratch:

well it was either that idea or whatever it is that makes your ears ring after an explosion. the mechanism that causes that ringing maybe just the same but instead of an explosion, a strong local air pressure change caused by some ear wax being moved.

these are just what I`ve always put it down to, and would explain why I get it more when I have a bad head cold

I know that is is sometimes caused by damaged hearing. But it doesn't come to me when i hear a loud sound. Just when walking along it happens!!!

you`ve not heard a loud enough sound up close then

Muhahahahahaaaaa >;-}

You horrid man!

One endevours to do ones best )

i think its the heavy metal concerts

I have a constant ringing in my ear. It's not annoying, hell, it's almost silent, but it's there if I have nothing better to pay attention to. Never thought it was much of a problem, I hear fine with it, and it doesn't annoy me. It's just... there. Like that weird off-color dot I see. I try to focus on it, but then I chase it away (it's off-center). Usually though, it's not really there because I don't pay attention to it.

 

Dunno, maybe I'm strange, but thought y'all would like to hear... yeah, right.

It means your head is going to explode at any minute.

 

Rasori said in post #18 :

It's just... there. Like that weird off-color dot I see. I try to focus on it, but then I chase it away (it's off-center). Usually though, it's not really there because I don't pay attention to it.

 

Dunno, maybe I'm strange, but thought y'all would like to hear... yeah, right.

 

I asked my doctor about that once and he said it’s from being in the womb and part of your eye doesn’t get enough oxygen or something like that. My brother thought he had a worm in his eye. It was hilarious.

Could be a trigger to try to annoy yourself when you're bored. I hear it when everything is silent or when i force myself to hear it

Or when you stare at a bright light an it leaves an after image on your eye or the small amount of dust(microscopic ) that you can see when looking at the clear sky for a long time

Sometimes I hear this weird low deep tone sound like for a split second. I can feel my ears twitch the instant I hear this sound. It reminds me of several things. Sometimes when I hear it I associate it with my sister flicking a finger right next to my ear. When I turn around to yell at her, no one's there. IT"S A GHOST!

psi20 said in post # :

IT"S A GHOST!

 

Nice scientific reasoning!

Aspirin can cause tinnitus. Any injury to the inner ear can cause it, or loud noises.