You are sitting quietly when one ear suddenly fills with a high-pitched ring. Sometimes the ear feels muffled too. A few seconds later, it fades away. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. It is one of the most common ear experiences people describe.

What is that brief ringing?

Short bursts of ringing that fade within seconds to a minute are sometimes called transient ear noise or brief tinnitus. Tinnitus means hearing a sound, such as ringing, buzzing, or hissing, that has no outside source. Brief episodes like this happen to many people with normal hearing and are usually harmless.

Common causes

• Normal activity in the hearing system: the inner ear and hearing nerve sometimes produce brief signals on their own.
• Recent loud noise: a concert, power tools, or gunfire can leave the ears more sensitive for a while.
• Pressure changes: mountain driving, flying, or congestion can affect the middle ear.
• Earwax: buildup can change how you hear and make internal sounds more noticeable.
• Stress, fatigue, and caffeine: these can make you more aware of ear sounds.
• Some medications: high doses of certain drugs, including aspirin, can affect the ears.

When is ear ringing a concern?

Brief, occasional ringing is rarely a problem. Make an appointment for a hearing evaluation if you notice:

• Ringing that lasts for days or keeps coming back more often
• Ringing in only one ear that does not go away
• A pulsing or whooshing sound that keeps time with your heartbeat
• Muffled hearing, ear fullness, or trouble understanding speech
• Dizziness or balance problems along with ringing

Seek care right away if you have a sudden drop in hearing in one ear, especially with ringing or dizziness. Sudden hearing loss is treated as urgent, and early treatment gives the best chance of recovery.

Ringing and hearing loss

Ongoing tinnitus often comes with some hearing loss, even if you have not noticed it. A hearing test can find hearing changes early. For many people, treating hearing loss with hearing aids also makes tinnitus less noticeable.

Protect your ears

Noise is one of the most preventable causes of tinnitus and hearing loss. If you hunt, shoot, use power tools, or play music, wear hearing protection every time. Custom earplugs from an audiologist are more comfortable and fit better than foam plugs. Keep your hearing aids clean if you already wear them, since wax buildup can make sounds seem off.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Your audiologist can tell you what fits your hearing and health.

Have questions about your hearing? Call Smokey Mountain Audiology at (865) 428-6222 to book a visit with Dr. Julie Corrado at our office at 1027 Ernest McMahan Rd in Sevierville. We see patients Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.