TedEd: What’s that ringing in your ears?

A TedEd by Marc Fagelson

Have you ever heard that constant ringing noise when there is nothing making noise? Tinnitus is the presence of a buzzing or ringing sound when there is nothing making it, and approximately 1 out of every 7 people have it. It has plagued everyone from Da Vinci to Darwin. Normally, sounds cause vibrations in your ear that cause the cochlea to send signals to your brain, allowing you to hear the sound. However, most tinnitus induced sounds don't go through your ear. Instead, they are created internally inside your central nervous system. Why? Silence creates a baseline for your brain so that it can detect when it changes and identify that sound is being generated. But loud noises, diseases, and age can damage your ear, affecting the baseline noise. As cochlear cells are lost, they become less sensitive and create less vibration, making it harder to hear things. To compensate, the brain pays extra attention to sound, like you might do when adjusting the radio. This is supposed to help you hear weak noises, but it can also raise the baseline noise, making silence seem not-silent. This type is called subjective tinnitus. This usually doesn't have bad effects, but in people with traumatic memories, they can seem worse, leading to bothersome tinnitus. This second type can have more significant impacts, increasing PTSD, insomnia, and depression. There is no cure, but doctors can help patients come to terms with their illness. This involves sound therapy, where patients listen to soothing tones, or ones that are similar to the ringing.