Tinnitus is a clinical term used for a condition of a person who experiences ear ringing and it is a very common clinical condition.  An estimate of around 50 million Americans has had different types of tinnitus in one way or another according to the American Tinnitus Association.  Usually the ear ringing a person with tinnitus would hear takes a form of hissing, ticking, roaring, chirping or whining. 

This clinical condition is usually a symptom of an underlying illness so a person needs to undergo appropriate medical evaluation to pinpoint what caused the symptom tinnitus and for proper medical treatment to be carried out. 

Among the most common causes of tinnitus is temporary and permanent hearing loss.  The usual cause of hearing loss would be exposure to loud noises particularly loud music.  Very loud music causes the hair cells to be over-stimulated and constantly exposing it to loud music weakens the hair cells and cause permanent hearing loss. 

In today’s modern technology, people are more inclined to get tinnitus from listening to loud music.  Tinnitus causes alarm now more than ever cause a lot of young people are experiencing hearing loss from constant listening to loud music.  The very popular MP3 player among the youth is the main culprit.  Unknown to most of them but using ear bud speakers which are set at high volumes can cause damage to their hair cells in as fast as 15 minutes.  Hearing loss is now common among the young because of this and most of them are unaware that the relatively harmless looking MP3 players have been causing this problem.

People may ask what needs to be done with this problem.  When listening to music it must be noted that we need not turn up the volume to a full blast to be able to appreciate or enjoy the music we are listening to.  Always remember the 60-60 rule.  Never turn your speakers to more than 60% of the full volume and do not exceed a listening time of more than 60 minutes.  But if it is really unavoidable, it would be best to use loud speakers instead of the popular ear bud speakers.

There is also a misconception that the ears get immune when it is constantly exposed to loud music.  Tinnitus causes from loud noises are due to constant exposure to loud noise.  The more your ears are exposed to loud music, the more it is damaged and can possibly lead to complete hearing loss.