Tinnitus is a condition that causes ringing in your ears and there have been many sufferers of this condition throughout time. It can happen in one ear or both- it depends on the individual. Pitch can also range from person to person as can the volume level. Just about everyone has heard of ear ringing or has had some sort of brush with it. It is generally not considered a problem unless the symptoms persist for an extended amount of time.

Sudden ear ringing can happen at any moment. No one is sure why this actually happens or what the problem is that is making it happen. Tinnitus basically is not a long term problem. The range of this condition can be as little as minutes or it may last days, but it usually doesn't have any lasting long term affects. Wax deposits and dirt can also be problematic when the ear canal becomes plugged up. Don't try to take care of this problem by yourself since you can cause some major damage. Talk to your doctor to see what he recommends. They do have over the counter remedies that can help you to remove the obstacles. Ear infections can happen if you don't properly keep the ear canal cleaned.

Medications that your doctor prescribes for you may be the reason that you are experiencing sudden ear ringing. This can have a permanent lasting effect on your hearing and tinnitus. You need to discuss options with your doctor that are going to make a difference. Changing the dosage or discontinuing the medication all together may be the only choice that you have. Most of the drugs that can cause ear ringing as a side effect are things like salicylate analgesics (which is a high dose of aspirin), as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such asnaproxen sodium (aleve), ibuprofen and many others, aminoglycoside antibiotics, anti-depressants, loop-inhibiting diuretics, quinine/anti-malarials, oral contraceptives, and chemotherapy.

There are many reasons that one can develop sudden ear ringing, outside of natural factors such as dirty ears or ear infections. Car accident victims who have received a serious head injury can also experience ringing in their ears. Tinnitus has also been known to be associated with dental procedures or cleaning using ultrasonic tools. This is due to the activity that is done in very close proximity to the bone and the sounds that travel to the ear. This is a perfect example of when ear plugs won't work. While other machines such as MRI's and CAT machines can be muffled with ear plugs, you may have to ask the technician for them before they start, since they normally do not offer them, but they do have them.

Most of the time, you will be able to figure out why you are experiencing the sudden ear ringing. Cases of this are only temporary and you will be able to overcome it within a few days. If symptoms persist make sure that you don't wait to contact your doctor.