Tinnitus normally known as ear ringing is a condition when a person hears a hissing, buzzing, roaring or ticking sound in one or both ears.  This means tinnitus can either be unilateral or bilateral.  Unilateral tinnitus is the type of tinnitus when the ear ringing is heard on in one ear while bilateral tinnitus is the type of tinnitus when the ear ringing is heard on both ears.  On both types it is only usually the person having the tinnitus who hears the ringing not unless the person is having the pulsatile type of tinnitus where the tinnitus can be heard by the person having the tinnitus and the person near him. 

Non-pulsatile tinnitus is more common than pulsatile since pulsatile tinnitus only accounts for 3% of the total number of tinnitus sufferers.  Between unilateral and bilateral tinnitus, it is unilateral tinnitus that is more common.

Causes of unilateral tinnitus could either be serious or not.  A simple case of impacted ear wax causes unilateral tinnitus.  Usually when a person complains of tinnitus, it is the presence of excessive ear wax that is checked on first.  But in case there is indeed presence of impacted ear wax, never attempt to try a self-removal of the ear wax because it might do a more serious damage to your ears.  It is better to have a physician remove the ear wax. 

Other causes of unilateral tinnitus can be the presence of acute ear infections, but some medications that a person with ear infections are using specifically antibiotics might be ototoxic and may also cause unilateral tinnitus.  Other drugs that have been identified as ototoxic are anti-depressants, analgesics, anti-depressants, anti-inflammatories, diuretics, ibuprofen, anti-malarials, oral contraceptives and chemotherapy.  Traumatic head injuries are also identifies as causes of unilateral tinnitus since there have been victims involved in vehicular accidents who complain of sudden onset of tinnitus.

Stress may not be pointed as direct causes of unilateral tinnitus but it can aggravate a present case of tinnitus.  A salty diet, high caffeine intake, too much alcohol, too much fat and nicotine will also aggravate a tinnitus case.

Regular exposure to loud noises will cause damage to the hair cells and are also causes of unilateral tinnitus.  Exposing the ears to loud noises will slowly damage the hair cells and if done constantly the hair cells are damaged permanently and will lead to permanent hearing loss.  Hearing loss causes tinnitus. 

When a person experiences unilateral tinnitus, it would be recommended to immediately undergo proper medical evaluation to point the causes of unilateral tinnitus and immediately prescribe the proper treatment for the patient.