How can I get rid of the ringing in my ears?
If you’re hearing ringing, buzzing, humming or another sound that nobody else can hear, you may have tinnitus.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus isn’t a condition itself. It’s a symptom that can have many different causes. Some of the most common include:
- Hearing loss, particularly age-related hearing loss
- Exposure to loud noise
- Earwax build-up
- Ear infections
- Certain medications
- Stress, anxiety or fatigue
Is there a cure for tinnitus?
As of 2026, there is no cure for tinnitus. However, there are many management options that may reduce the severity of your symptoms, including wearing hearing aids.
Over 80% of people with tinnitus also have some level of hearing loss. Not only do hearing aids improve your overall hearing, but they also give your brain more sound to focus on, which can make tinnitus less noticeable.
How to effectively manage tinnitus
Managing tinnitus depends on the causes, but many people find these strategies helpful:
- Protect your ears from loud noise by wearing hearing protection when needed.
- Manage stress, as many people notice their tinnitus becomes more noticeable during stressful periods.
- Get enough sleep, as tiredness can make tinnitus seem louder.
- Stay physically active and maintain a healthy lifestyle, which supports your overall wellbeing.
- If you have hearing loss, appropriately fitted hearing aids can often reduce the awareness of tinnitus by making everyday sounds easier to hear.
- Many people also find that having gentle background sound, such as music, nature sounds or a fan, makes tinnitus less noticeable, particularly when trying to fall asleep.
If you find that tinnitus is affecting your quality of life, an Ear360 hearing health assessment can help identify what’s going on with your hearing and what type of tinnitus management may help.
You can also browse the Tinnitus category page or the Hearing Health category page for more on managing tinnitus and protecting your hearing.
