Medical Insight

Understanding Tinnitus: The Phantom Sound

Understanding Tinnitus: The Phantom Sound

Understanding Tinnitus: The Phantom Sound

Is that ringing in your ears a permanent condition, or a reversible symptom of earwax blockage?

Yassin El-leissy
Yassin El-leissy 5 min read

Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception of sound when no external noise is present. While often described as a "ringing in the ears," it can manifest in several distinct ways.

Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception of sound when no external noise is present. While often described as a "ringing in the ears," it can manifest in several distinct ways.

Muffled Sound
Own Voice Echoes
Fullness / Pressure
Muffled Sound
Own Voice Echoes
Fullness / Pressure
Muffled Sound
Own Voice Echoes
Fullness / Pressure

The "Earwax Connection"

Many people fear that tinnitus is a sign of permanent hearing loss or neurological issues. However, earwax is one of the most common reversible causes. When wax builds up, it creates two primary issues:

1
Pressure on the DrumIf wax touches the eardrum, it restricts its vibration and can trigger a physical 'noise' signal to the brain.
2
Loss of Ambient MaskingA blockage acts like an earplug, lowering external 'background' noise and making your internal body sounds seem much louder.
1
Pressure on the DrumIf wax touches the eardrum, it restricts its vibration and can trigger a physical 'noise' signal to the brain.
2
Loss of Ambient MaskingA blockage acts like an earplug, lowering external 'background' noise and making your internal body sounds seem much louder.
1
Pressure on the DrumIf wax touches the eardrum, it restricts its vibration and can trigger a physical 'noise' signal to the brain.
2
Loss of Ambient MaskingA blockage acts like an earplug, lowering external 'background' noise and making your internal body sounds seem much louder.

When is it an Emergency?

While most tinnitus is benign, certain "Red Flag" symptoms require immediate medical evaluation by a GP or A&E.

Seek Urgent Care If:
  • The ringing is only in one ear.
  • The sound is pulsatile (beats with your heart).
  • It is accompanied by sudden hearing loss or severe dizziness.
Seek Urgent Care If:
  • The ringing is only in one ear.
  • The sound is pulsatile (beats with your heart).
  • It is accompanied by sudden hearing loss or severe dizziness.
Seek Urgent Care If:
  • The ringing is only in one ear.
  • The sound is pulsatile (beats with your heart).
  • It is accompanied by sudden hearing loss or severe dizziness.

Clinical Management

If your tinnitus has started recently alongside a feeling of "fullness," a professional ear examination is the first step. Removing the obstruction often provides immediate relief or significantly reduces the volume of the ringing.

"Patients often worry the ringing is permanent damage. In many cases, it is simply a blockage—and the relief is instantaneous once we clear the canal"

Is your ringing caused by wax?

Book a mobile clinical assessment. We use high-definition video otoscopy to check for blockages against the eardrum.

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