Ringing in my ears...

[radhak]

... the bad sort .

I was watching TV with LOML late last night when suddenly my left ear developed a ringing noise that has not gone away yet. It's loud at times, less so other times; when something else is noisy (bathroom fan), then it goes to the background. Pretty new to me, so am wondering if this will go away on its own.

I can't see any immediate cause for this. I did use the router and the tablesaw during the day, but very briefly and the garage door was open (ie, the sound was not too loud or for very long); more importantly, never felt anything for hours later till it began at night.

Yes, check the net briefly but am unable to get an opinion on what to expect : do I need to go to a doctor immediately or can this wait (to see if it subsides)? Is this an ENT thing? (LOML says a neurologist would do too...?)

[cabinetman]

... the bad sort .

I was watching TV with LOML late last night when suddenly my left ear developed a ringing noise that has not gone away yet. It's loud at times, less so other times; when something else is noisy (bathroom fan), then it goes to the background. Pretty new to me, so am wondering if this will go away on its own.

I can't see any immediate cause for this. I did use the router and the tablesaw during the day, but very briefly and the garage door was open (ie, the sound was not too loud or for very long); more importantly, never felt anything for hours later till it began at night.

Yes, check the net briefly but am unable to get an opinion on what to expect : do I need to go to a doctor immediately or can this wait (to see if it subsides)? Is this an ENT thing? (LOML says a neurologist would do too...?)

If it sounds like a phone...answer it!! No, seriously, you might have a case of tinnitus. I have that all the time. It can be so bad at night, it will keep me from going to sleep. I get this high pitch buzzing. I also get your same symptoms when I have a slight virus or cold coming on. Symptoms similar to having to clear hearing when flying in a jet, by swallowing, yawning, or chewing gum.

I can't advise you with any medical advice, but I will recommend you use good hearing protection when using power tools.
.

[LCHIEN]

sounds like tinnitus:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus

I guess an ENT would be the guy to see.

[sweensdv]

Not 100% sure about this but I seem to recall reading somewhere that ringing in the ears can be an indicator of high blood pressure.

[Uncle Cracker]

Ringing in the ears can be a sign of high blood pressure (although most often that will be a sound of a pulsing sort, rather than a continuous ring). It could also be caused by an inner ear disorder (like an infection), or it could indeed be tinnitus (which I have had since my childhood). One other thing that I can remember could contribute is an excessive amount of aspirin, such as one might have to take as a result of a heart or circulatory condition, but also just might happen from self-medicating using aspirin for pain or headaches.

[phi1l]

ya. I get this from time to time. IT goes awary after a while.. I just sort of goes awa without me noticing. Check your blood pressure, if that is within normal parameters, wait a few days. then bring it to the attention of your GP. If it's not high blood pressure, there isn't much they can do for it.

[MilDoc]

Tinnitus. Can be simple (ear wax), possibly permanent (loud noise exposure, age, hearing loss), possibly serious (acoustic neuroma - a cancer).

Many other causes.

If it persists or worsens, get it checked out.