Many people assume hearing loss happens gradually and is simply part of getting older. But it can announce itself in an unexpected way: a persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound that no one else can hear.
Susan Bianco, 87, of Lancaster, noticed her hearing was changing when conversations became more difficult.
She often found herself asking her husband to repeat what he said. Phone calls became challenging, and noisy social settings were especially frustrating.
"It's very hard to hear in a crowd," she said. "I can't understand what one person is saying if other people are talking."
She also noticed a buzzing noise in her ears, which would appear and become more noticeable whenever she felt tired.
Tinnitus, a condition commonly associated with hearing loss, is often described as a ringing or buzzing in the ears.
"You can't stop aging, but you can take steps to conserve your hearing and reduce your risk of developing hearing loss and tinnitus," said Dr. Jackie Price, an audiologist.
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound source is present. People often describe it as ringing, buzzing, hissing, or whooshing in one or both ears.
Some individuals compare the noise to cicadas or even a passing freight train, Price said.
"For some people, the noise is constant and bothersome, interfering with their productivity and quality of life," Price said.
The sounds are not coming from the surrounding environment, Price said. Instead, they are believed to result from a communication problem between the ears and the brain.
How Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Develop
According to Price, tinnitus and similar sound disorders are frequently among the earliest signs of hearing loss.
The process often begins inside the cochlea, a spiral-shaped structure in the inner ear. Tiny sensory hair cells located there convert sound vibrations into signals that travel to the brain.
When those delicate cells become damaged, Price said, they can no longer transmit information properly. As hearing ability declines, communication between the ears and brain may also become distorted, contributing to the phantom sounds associated with tinnitus.
How To Protect Your Hearing
Price says limiting exposure to loud noise is one of the main ways to reduce the risk of hearing damage.
Price recommends using hearing protection whenever sound levels exceed 85 decibels. Situations such as concerts, sporting events, fireworks displays, and power tool use can all expose people to potentially harmful noise levels.
"I counsel people to wear hearing protection when they're mowing grass instead of listening to music through earbuds," Price said. "It's like a double whammy because people have the noise from the mower, and then they crank up the music so they can hear it, and then they listen to excess noise for 45 minutes or more, sometimes twice a week."
Choosing effective hearing protection is also important. Price suggests that earplugs and earmuffs carry a Noise Reduction Rating of at least 22 decibels. This rating, displayed on product packaging, indicates how much noise the product can reduce.
Proper insertion matters as well.
"Take a foam earplug between your two fingers and smoosh it down and roll it," Price explained. "Then, when you go to put it in your ear, pull on your ear lobe with the opposite hand to open up the ear canal, insert the earplug and let it fully expand."
Most foam earplugs are designed for one-time use to ensure they maintain a tight seal against noise.
When To Get a Hearing Test
Anyone experiencing ringing or other unusual sounds in their ears should consider a hearing evaluation, Price said.
"Sometimes people think they hear fine, but there are signs of change inside the ear, such as hair cell damage or hearing loss at the highest frequencies," Price said. "Testing can help you become better educated about what's going on so you can manage those changes."
Even when hearing problems are not obvious, Price said, testing may reveal early signs of damage and open the door to steps that help preserve hearing over the long term.