Looking for how to stop whooshing sound in ear? Tinnitus (pronounced tih-NITE-us or TIN-ih-tus) is sound in the head with no external source. For many, it’s a whooshing sound. The sound may seem to come from one ear or both, from inside the head, or from a distance. It may be constant or intermittent, steady or pulsating. The whooshing sound can be very soft or very loud, and high-pitched or low-pitched. Some people hear it in one ear and others hear it in both. People with severe tinnitus may have problems hearing, working, or sleeping.
Tinnitus is not a disease — it’s a symptom. It’s a sign that something is wrong with your auditory system, which includes your ear, the auditory nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain, and the parts of the brain that process sound. There are a variety of different conditions that can cause a whooshing sound in ear. One of the most common is noise-induced hearing loss.
Almost everyone has experienced a whooshing sound in ear for a short time after being exposed to extremely loud noise. For example, attending a loud concert can trigger short-lived a whooshing sound in ear. Even some medications (especially aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs taken in high doses) can cause a whooshing sound in ear that goes away when the drug is discontinued.
Some drugs that can cause or worsen whooshing sound:
Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen (Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
Certain antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin (Cipro), doxycycline (Vibramycin, others), gentamicin (Garamycin), erythromycin (Ery-Tab, others), tetracycline (Sumycin), tobramycin (Nebcin), and vancomycin (Vancocin)
Antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine and quinine
Certain anticonvulsants, including carbamazepine (Tegretol, others) and valproic acid (Depakote, others)
Certain cancer drugs, including cisplatin (Platinol) and vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar)
Loop diuretics (when given intravenously in high doses), including bumetanide (Bumex), furosemide (Lasix), and torsemide (Demadex)
Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, others), clomipramine (Anafranil), and imipramine (Tofranil)
There is no cure for a whooshing sound in ear. However, it can be temporary or persistent, mild or severe, gradual or instant. The goal of treatment is to help you stop whooshing sound in ear. There are many treatments available that can help reduce the perceived intensity of the choosing sound, as well as its omnipresence.
1. Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that involves focusing your mind on your experiences (like your own emotions, thoughts, and sensations) in the present moment. … Mindfulness meditation can involve breathing practice, mental imagery, awareness of body and mind, and muscle and body relaxation. With this method you can use meditation and breathing techniques that can help draw your focus away from the whooshing sound in ear.
2. Exercise
Regular exercise helps prevent or manage a wide range of health problems. Exercise contributes significantly to your overall well-being. The whooping sound in ear can be aggravated by stress, depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, and illness. Exercise helps you focus and be productive. Regular exercise will help you manage stress, sleep better, and stay healthier.
3. Treat Underlying Issues and Dysfunctions
Occasionally the whooping sound in ear is caused by an irritation to the auditory system. The whooping sound can sometimes be a symptom of a problem with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). If your sound is caused by TMJ, then a dental procedure or realignment of your bite may alleviate the problem. Also, removal of an earwax blockage may be enough to make mild cases of whooping sounds disappear. Foreign objects lodged against the eardrum can also cause a whopping sound too. An ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist can perform an exam to check for obstructions in the ear canal.
4. Antidepressants
Stopping whooshing sound in ear often involves a combination of approaches. Stress, anxiety, and depression can cause physical health problems that manifest in the form of whooshing sounds. Your doctor may recommend medication as part of your treatment. These medications may help make your choosing sound feel less annoying, thereby improving your quality of life.
5. Sound-masking devices
Sound-masking devices provide a pleasant or benign external noise that partially drowns out the internal sound of whooshing. The traditional sound-masking device is a tabletop sound machine, but there are also small electronic devices that fit in the ear. These devices can play white noise, pink noise, nature noises, music, or other ambient sounds. Most people prefer a level of external sound that is just slightly louder than their whooshing sounds, but others prefer a masking sound that completely drowns out the whooshing.
6. Lifestyle Remedies
Often, the whooshing sound can’t be treated. Some people, however, get used to it and notice it less than they did at first. For many people, certain adjustments make the symptoms less bothersome. These tips may help:
Avoid possible irritants. Reduce your exposure to things that may make your whooshing sound worse. Common examples include loud noises, caffeine and nicotine.
Cover up the noise. In a quiet setting, a fan, soft music or low-volume radio static may help mask the noise from whooshing sound.
Manage stress. Stress can make tinnitus worse. Stress management, whether through relaxation therapy, biofeedback or exercise, may provide some relief.
Reduce your alcohol consumption. Alcohol increases the force of your blood by dilating your blood vessels, causing greater blood flow, especially in the inner ear area.
7. Alternative medicine
There’s little evidence that alternative medicine treatments work for whooshing sound. However, some alternative therapies that have been tried for tinnitus include:
Acupuncture
Hypnosis
Ginkgo biloba
Melatonin
Zinc supplements
B vitamins
Whooshing sound in ear is a frustrating condition. There’s no simple explanation for it and there’s no simple cure. But there are ways to improve your quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness meditation are promising treatment options.