Why Do I Hear White Noise? It May Be Tinnitus

If you regularly experience the sound of white noise in one or both of your ears, it may cause serious disruption to your life. While there are rare cases where it could be phantom ring syndrome or other underlying issues, tinnitus is the far more likely reason. 

Whether the presence of white noise is due to tinnitus or not, you must get the issue treated before the negative impacts on your life worsen. An audiologist is the best form of support by far. Nevertheless, it’s wise to gain some insight into the issue before booking an appointment. Here’s all you need to know.

What is Tinnitus and Why Does it Cause White Noise?

Tinnitus is defined as hearing sounds despite the lack of an external noise source. Its symptoms may be characterized by a range of sounds that would fall under the umbrella of white noise, including but not limited to:

• Buzzing
• Chiming
• Clicking
• Swooshing
• Whirling

When you have tinnitus, your experiences of hearing white noise could be vastly different to another person’s. Yours may occur exclusively in one ear, as an alternating presence between the two ears or in both ears simultaneously.

Tinnitus may also cause you to hear white noise intermittently or continuously. For some individuals, its presence is relatively quiet. For others, it is deafening. In most cases, it occurs due to an underlying form of hearing loss.

Why Does the White Noise Get Worse at Night?

For most people who experience tinnitus, the white noise feels more noticeable at night. An audiologist can investigate the full symptoms of your tinnitus, hearing loss and underlying issues. In the majority of cases, though, the reason for symptoms worsening at night is that there is no other sound to distract you from the buzzing or chiming.

The auditory system and brain are very good at trying to compensate for the noises it misses in daily life. So, you may still experience white noise during the daytime when talking to friends or interacting with your surroundings. Nevertheless, a lack of other sounds at night leaves you alone with your thoughts – and tinnitus – which is why many people who visit an audiologist with this condition will complain about a lack of sleep.

You may also notice that the symptoms are more noticeable during moments when it’s quiet during the day.

What Else Causes Tinnitus?

Tinnitus can fall into several categories but the easiest distinction between objective and subjective. Subjective tinnitus, which is when only you can hear the perceived sounds even during an audiologist assessment, is the most common by far.

While usually a direct link to hearing loss, primarily through age-related hearing loss or exposure to loud noise, it may also be caused by:

• Earwax blockages
• Ear infections
• Meniere’s disease
• Other neurological conditions
• Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear

Regardless of the reason for tinnitus, it is likely that ringing in the ears and other white noise will be the most disruptive issue.

How to Manage Tinnitus

In cases where tinnitus is caused by ear infections or earwax blockages, treating the underlying cause may put a permanent end to the white noise you hear. When attributed to hearing loss, though, tinnitus is permanent. A primary physician probably can’t offer much help as you are the only one that actually hears the perceived sounds.

An audiologist, however, can provide valuable support. Depending on the type of subjective tinnitus you have, treatments could include cognitive behavior therapy, sound therapy or massage therapy. For most people who experience tinnitus due to hearing loss, wearing hearing aids is the best management technique.

As you know from hearing more noticeable symptoms at night, the buzzes are unlikely to surface when your auditory system has other sounds to process. Hearing aids can help you detect speech while also hearing higher pitches and lower volumes. Aside from reducing the regularity and intensity of white noise tinnitus, it actively enhances daily interactions and can prevent you from feeling exhausted due to the struggles of hearing loss and constant white noise.

It may also be possible to mask the white noise, ironically by playing white noise. It can play a stable frequency, which makes your ears less excitable and prone to subjective white noise. Some hearing aids also play white noise or calming music. However, you must always consult an audiologist before starting any treatment. 

Book Your Audiology Appointment Today

If you experience white noise or other signs of hearing loss and tinnitus, a full assessment is the first step to managing the condition. Contact Professional Hearing Aid Associates at (785) 940-4101 to book your appointment now.