World Hearing Day: When you should be worried about ringing in your ears?

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “While people often describe the sound as ‘ringing in the ears’, tinnitus can also present itself through other sounds including humming, buzzing, hissing, or whistling.” The sound can come and go and be present in one or both ears, and some people may also experience symptoms such as dizziness or vertigo, but it’s not necessarily the sign of a more serious problem. “Tinnitus is more frequently experienced by those who have hearing loss or other ear problems, but it can also affect people with normal hearing,” says Gordon Harrison, chief audiologist at Specsavers. “There are ways you can help improve your symptoms including finding ways to improve your sleep and avoiding triggers that make your tinnitus worse such as stress or loud noises,” says O’Flynn. “If you are doing something that involves exposure to loud noise, even if it’s only for a few minutes, it’s best to wear hearing protection.” Harrison advises caution when wearing headphones as well: “To stay safe, you should never listen to your music above 60% volume and you should also give your ears a break every hour too.” People who work in loud environments should be particularly careful, O’Flynn says: “At all times proper ear defenders should be worn at work when advised and if exposed to recreational noise including shooting.”