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Why Am I Hearing Constant Ringing in My Ears?

Back in the 60s and 70s, many medical professionals were already telling us that listening to high-decibel rock music for hours on end would someday lead to hearing ear noises like constant ringing in the ears from tinnitus. It’s turning out that they were right.

We’re now learning that baby boomers who cranked up the volume when they listened to music are more likely to have hearing problems than their parents, grandparents and previous generations. There’s growing reason to believe that years of exposure to loud music causes hearing problems later in life.

Just check out the roster of “veteran” rock musicians who now have constant ringing in the ears and other ear noise caused by tinnitus. Just look at the celebrity rockers who now hear ear noises that won’t go away are.

Start with John Entwhistle and Pete Townshend of The Who. Townshend is completely deaf in one ear, a condition caused by the combination of an onstage explosion, loud stage music, and highly pumped up volume in headsets as he listened to playbacks of studio cuts.

Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood has been quoted in Rolling Stones Magazine as saying, “The world’s worst is when you find yourself going like Mother Hubbard and cupping your hand behind your ear. I was a major glutton for volume: ‘Gotta feel it, gotta hear it.’ Sooner or later you’re going to pay the reaper.”

Others who have suffered at least partial hearing loss or related problems include George Harrison of the Beatles, Neil Young, Jeff Beck, Ted Nugent, Huey Lewis and Bono.

Musicians from the well known groups Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers and My Bloody Valentine have also lost at least a percentage of their hearing through the years.

Tinnitus and other ear noises have become an ongoing daily challenge for other entertainers too – not just musicians.

Star Trek icons William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy now hear ear noises due damage they suffered during a prop explosion when they were filming a Star Trek episode four decades ago.

Tinnitus has been a problem for actor and comedian Steve Martin, who acquired it while filming a pistol-shooting scene in “¡Three Amigos!” in 1986.

Still others have had ear noise since before they were famous.

Barbra Streisand has said her reputation for volatility may be the result of tinnitus or a similar hearing impairment from which she has suffered since she was seven, according to news sources in the United Kingdom.

Actress Morgan Fairchild had scarlet fever when she was very young. She says she had so many kidney infections and ear infections as a child that she believes caused her to become partially deaf.

Constant ear noises that have probably been caused by tinnitus have also affected many other famous people, including the late ABC newsman Peter Jennings, broadcaster Larry King, actor Richard Thomas, and presidents Bill Clinton and the late Ronald Reagan.

Having tinnitus is not an symptom that you’re going to lose your hearing completely. But if you hear constant ringing in the ears, or noises like a whirr, hum, buzz, whoosh or any sound that shouldn’t be there, you should definitely make an appointment to get a hearing exam as soon as you can.

If you want more information on topics related to this article, click on what causes noises in the ear and what causes tinnitus. Neal Kennedy is a retired TV anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He is a frequent contributor to Ear Health and Hearing Loss, a resource website about ear health and wellness.

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