Inflammation from an ear infection is just one of the causes of tinnitus. At-home and clinical treatment can typically resolve the symptoms.
Tinnitus happens when you experience a sound like ringing, hissing, or roaring in your ears.
Tinnitus has a number of causes — including inner ear infections. Fluid buildup or inflammation in the inner ear canal, as well as damage to the eardrum by infectious bacteria or viruses, can result in tinnitus.
Read on to learn more about how ear infections can cause tinnitus, what symptoms to watch out for, and how to treat tinnitus related to ear infections.
Ear infections can cause swelling in the tube that leads from your outer ear to your eardrum (tympanic membrane) — known as your ear canal.
Swelling can cause an earwax blockage or keep fluids from being able to naturally drain from your ear. As fluids and earwax build up, they can put pressure on your eardrum.
Your eardrum normally helps bring sound waves from the ear into the inner ear anatomy that transmits sound signals to your brain to process and interpret. However, too much pressure on your eardrum
Ear infections that aren’t treated quickly can also cause damage to your eardrum and other inner ear structures. Eardrum damage can result in
Ear infections happen when your ear canal gets infected by bacteria or a virus.
- allergies
- colds
- sinus infections
- excess mucus
- smoking
- air pressure changes
The most common symptom of tinnitus is constant ringing in your ears — this sound can also resemble a:
- hiss
- buzz
- roar
- click
- whistle
The sound might change when you move your head or release pressure in your head by blowing your nose.
With ear infection-related tinnitus, you might notice other symptoms along with ringing in your ears, such as:
- dull, consistent pain or discomfort deep in your ear
- pressure in your ear
- drainage from your ear that resembles pus
- temporary hearing loss
More
- fever
- losing your balance
- headaches
- losing your appetite
Treating an ear infection that’s causing tinnitus can help reduce or stop your tinnitus symptoms. Mild ear infections are usually easy to treat and heal quickly.
Some common methods for treating an ear infection include:
- applying a warm cloth over your outer ear
- taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- using OTC ear drops to reduce pain and swelling or fight off bacterial infections
- taking OTC decongestants to relieve ear pressure, including pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
- reducing pressure on your ear by not sleeping on it or wearing anything that can push on your ear, such as earphones or helmets
More severe ear infections might require medical treatment, including prescription ear drops or antibiotics. In rare cases, a healthcare professional might recommend:
- ear tubes to drain infected fluid and relieve pressure
myringotomy (also called a tympanostomy) to allow infected fluid to drain naturally- removal of enlarged adenoids that might be contributing to ear infections and tinnitus
Long-term tinnitus that doesn’t go away on its own may need additional treatment to reduce symptoms, including:
- lifestyle changes, such as reducing stress or avoiding exposure to loud noises
- medications to help reduce your perception of tinnitus noises, such as anti-anxiety medications or tricyclic antidepressants
- hearing aids to help you restore some hearing that may be affected by tinnitus
Tinnitus from a mild ear infection usually goes away after a few weeks.
Tinnitus from a severe infection, especially if the eardrum was damaged, may last for months before it goes away.
In some cases, you might have permanent tinnitus and hearing loss from severe or untreated ear infections.
You may want to contact an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT) or an audiologist for
Tinnitus can be caused by ear infections — this can happen because of fluid buildup in your ear putting pressure on your eardrum as well as from damage to your eardrum from infectious bacteria or viruses.
Tinnitus caused by mild ear infections usually goes away after your infection is treated. However, severe or untreated ear infections may cause long-term or permanent tinnitus.
Contact a doctor right away if you notice tinnitus along with the symptoms of an ear infection.