, technically it is called tinnitus. It can be the result of sounds generated in the body which is called objective tinnitus. The sound reaches the ear through it's conduction in body tissue, but this is not the most common type of tinnitus. More common is a type of tinnitus that happens without any physical sound even reaching the ear. This is termed subjective tinnitus and is a phantom sensation a sensation with no stimulus or sensory input causing it. The abnormal activity of the nervous system is generated in the ear, the auditory nerve or in the central nervous system.
There can be many different types of subjective ringing in ears and it can happen with different severity. This type of subjective problem often happens in association with hearing loss which can happen after exposure to loud noise or after certain antibiotics, but in some cases there may be no cause. Tinnitus usually occurs with hearing loss called presbycusis and it can even occur with deafness. It can also be a symptoms associated with other neurological symptoms such as meniere's disease or a vestibular schwannoma.
The associated factors with ringing in ears when severe can be hearing distorted sounds or increased sensitivity to sounds, which is termed hyperacusis and some individuals even develop phonophobia which is a fear of sounds. The ringing in the ears can be in just one ear, or both ears or even feel poorly localized to sounding like it is coming from somewhere inside the head.
Modern medicine has failed to find an adequate cure or solution to this problem. There is no specific medication for ringing in ears. Therefore many people are seeking alternative treatments and therapies. Such therapies as acupuncture, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements have all been used to help find relief for ringing in ears.