Causes of tinnitus

There are many possible causes of tinnitus. The most common is exposure to excessive noise, which damages the tiny hair cells in the inner ear. If you are working in noisy environments without ear protection, you are at risk of developing tinnitus and hearing loss. The louder the noise and the longer you are exposed to it, the greater the risk of damaging your hearing.

If you use headphones for anything from communicating at work to listening to music while you work out, be careful that the sound is not too loud, as this may cause tinnitus. In-ear headphones are more likely to contribute to tinnitus and hearing loss than other types of headphones.

Other common reasons that hair cells can become damaged are the natural process of ageing, sudden impact noises, or middle-ear infections. However, tinnitus can also be caused by stress, negative reactions to medicines, neck or head injuries, and other untreated medical conditions.