Why Is My Left Ear Ringing?
Tinnitus- and Non-Tinnitus Causes
Medically reviewed by Amelia MacIntyre, DO
Left ear ringing can occur alone or as a symptom of other health problems. While it is often described as ringing, it can also be a roaring, buzzing, hissing, whistling, or other sounds.
Left ear ringing can occur for the same reasons that right ear ringing or ringing in both ears occurs. Factors can involve structural changes, hearing loss, and blockages. Certain health problems and drugs can also cause changes that trigger left ear ringing, or a cause cannot be determined.
This article explains left ear ringing, its causes, and symptoms. It also discusses treatments and when to contact a healthcare provider.
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Causes of Left Ear (Unilateral) Ringing
While the exact cause of left ear ringing is not fully understood, it is linked to the following conditions:
Tinnitus
Tinnitus occurs when abnormal pressure develops in your inner ear or middle ear as a result of physical changes, other medical conditions, or external factors like certain drugs. Tinnitus causes the perception of sounds in one or both ears without an external source. The exact sound and quality of sound can vary by individual. It can be an acute or chronic problem.
Allergies
Left ear ringing can occur due to congestion caused by allergies or other conditions like a sinus infection or middle ear infection. When your nasal cavity fills with mucus, it can block or swell your Eustachian tubes, change the air pressure, and interfere with the normal function of the ear canal. Ear ringing can occur when your ears can't drain and achieve equilibrium due to congestion.
Medications
Left ear ringing can be a side effect of taking certain drugs categorized as ototoxic medicines. They are more likely to cause problems when taken at high doses. The following medications are linked with ear ringing:
Loop diuretics that treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart failure
Certain antibiotics
Anticancer drugs
Hearing Loss
Ear ringing can occur as an early sign of age-related hearing loss (presbycusis). This type of hearing loss develops from a combination of factors that include changes in the structure of your ear, medical conditions, exposure to loud noises, and genetics.
Noise Exposure
Ringing in your ears is an early sign of noise-induced hearing loss. Loud noise can cause irreversible damage to the cells and membranes inside your inner ear that help you hear. This can occur after you've had a single experience or prolonged exposure to noises at 85 decibels or more. These sounds can include loud machinery, concerts, or firecrackers.
Earwax
Excess or impacted earwax can change the natural traits of your ear canal and interfere with the parts of your brain that process sound. In addition, impacted earwax can create pressure in your ear canal to stimulate your nerves so that your brain interprets the sensation as internal sounds.
Certain Health Conditions
Ringing in your ear can be a symptom of a wide range of health conditions that can damage your ear's auditory system and/or inner structure. These conditions include:
Head or neck injuries can damage structures
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Vestibular schwannoma (tumor on the acoustic nerve) and other tumors
Learn More: What Are Metabolic Disorders?
How to Describe Left Ear Ringing
Left ear ringing can be categorized as one of the following:
Subjective: Subjective ear ringing occurs when you hear a sound that does not exist. This can occur when certain nerves aren't functioning properly or because there is a problem with part of your ear. It can also occur without a known cause.
Objective: Objective ear ringing is a rare form of ringing that occurs from a sound inside or near your ear, such as from nearby blood vessels. Your healthcare provider can hear the sound during an examination. Objective ringing is most likely to have an identifiable and treatable cause.
Sounds of left ear ringing can be described as:
Constant high- or low-pitched ringing in ears
Other persistent sounds like buzzing, roaring, whistling, humming, clicking, hissing, or squealing
Pulsation or beating noises in ears
Intermittent or constant roaring in ears
Ear ringing with or without hearing loss
Spiritual Significance of Left Ear Ringing
Many cultures assign a spiritual significance to ringing in your left ear. Some interpretations of this symptom include:
An indication that you may be losing control and have to reevaluate your path
A sign that negative energy is disrupting your spiritual equilibrium
A sign that someone is gossiping about you behind your back
A sign of spiritual awakening when the ringing occurs during a meditation
Development of clairaudient ability (spiritual awakening and intuitive messages)
How to Treat Ringing in Left Ear
Treatment for ringing in your left ear depends on the cause of the problem. The following treatments can be effective for ringing in your left ear:
Cochlear implants and other types of hearing aids: Treating hearing loss with hearing aids can make ringing in your ear less noticeable. A cochlear implant is typically advised if you have ear ringing linked to severe hearing loss. Cochlear implants are surgically implanted inside your ear. They use electrical signals to send external sounds directly to your auditory nerve.
Sound generators: Sound generators produce relaxing sounds such as waterfalls, white noise, or soft sounds. These generators can be kept on your night table or worn in devices that fit in your ear. Fans, humidifiers, and air conditioners can serve the same purpose. The sounds can help mask the ringing in your ear.
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TNT): TNT involves a process that trains your brain to become more accustomed to the ringing in your left ear. It requires that you listen to noise similar to your ear ringing for long periods so that your brain learns to ignore the tone and the ringing sound. The process can take between 12 to 24 months.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or other forms of counseling: CBT involves working with a counselor who can help you understand the problem of ringing in your ear. It can guide you in developing coping strategies, distraction skills, and relaxation techniques to manage your psychological responses to the ringing.
Biofeedback and stress reduction: Biofeedback teaches you how to control certain physical functions such as your heart and breathing rate. Biofeedback may help you to manage distress related to ringing in your ear. You may be able to relieve symptoms when you stop thinking of the problem as stressful.
Treatment of the underlying cause: Ringing in the ear might be resolved by working with a healthcare provider to address the underlying cause. This may require changing medication, using protective headphones, or treating an underlying health condition.
Living With Permanent/Irreversible Hearing Damage
It is possible to live with permanent/irreversible hearing damage. The following strategies can help improve your quality of life:
Avoid loud noises and sounds.
Use hearing protection.
Control chronic conditions, including diabetes and blood pressure.
Exercise regularly for good circulation.
Get plenty of sleep.
Avoid fatigue.
Use sound devices to reduce your attention to the ringing.
Limit alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
Tests to Diagnose Left Ear Ringing
Tests to diagnose left ear ringing can help determine the potential causes of the problem and whether there are signs of underlying medical conditions. The following tests are typically used:
Audiological assessment by an audiologist typically includes the following:
Thorough medical history
Pure-tone audiometry, which measures your hearing thresholds at different frequencies to determine whether there is evidence of hearing loss that may contribute to the ringing in your ear
Speech audiometry, which measures your ability to understand speech in different listening conditions to determine whether there are any speech perception problems linked to the ringing in your ear
Diagnostic tests of your head, auditory canal, and surrounding areas to identify structural or physical changes in your ear:
Laboratory blood tests to confirm clinical suspicion of contributing conditions may also be used.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
It is difficult to determine whether ringing in your ear is a sign of a more serious condition without a medical evaluation. Contact your healthcare provider if your ear ringing involves the following circumstances:
Ringing occurs in only one ear.
Ringing continues longer than one week.
Ringing starts after a head injury.
Ringing occurs with other physical symptoms like dizziness, feeling off balance, nausea, vomiting, or bleeding from your ear.
Ringing does not improve after several self-help methods
Ringing is pulsatile (rhythmic noise that follows a steady beat).
Your sleep patterns, concentration, and/or ability to function normally are disrupted by the ringing.
You become depressed or anxious as a result of the constant ringing.
Summary
Ringing in your left ear is not a disease. It can occur alone without a known cause or as a symptom of many types of health problems. Ear ringing can affect each person differently.
For many people, the sound can be a ringing, roaring, clicking, hissing, buzzing, or other sounds that are not present. It can sound like a loud, soft, high-pitched, or low-pitched sound. The sound can be continuous or intermittent. In rare cases, the sound can be heard by your healthcare provider.
The impact of ringing in your ear can range from annoying to severe. While it can affect your quality of life, certain treatments can reduce or mask the ringing so you can function normally.
Contact your healthcare provider if the ringing in your ear persists for longer than one week. They can help you find the cause of the problem and ways to improve your symptoms.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
