Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesHow to Describe ItTreatmentTestsSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
How to Describe It
Treatment
Tests
Seeking Medical Care
Leftear ringingcan occur alone or as a symptom of other health problems. While it is often described as ringing, it can also be a roaring, buzzing, hissing, whistling, or other sounds.
Left ear ringing can occur for the same reasons that right ear ringing or ringing in both ears occurs. Factors can involve structural changes,hearing loss, and blockages. Certain health problems and drugs can also cause changes that trigger left ear ringing, or a cause cannot be determined.
This article explains left ear ringing, its causes, and symptoms. It also discusses treatments and when to contact a healthcare provider.
Vladimir Vladimirov / Getty Images
Causes of Left Ear (Unilateral) Ringing
While the exact cause of left ear ringing is not fully understood, it is linked to the following conditions:
Tinnitus
Allergies
Medications
Left ear ringing can be a side effect of taking certain drugs categorized asototoxic medicines. They are more likely to cause problems when taken at high doses. The followingmedicationsare linked with ear ringing:
Hearing Loss
Noise Exposure
Ringing in your ears is an early sign of noise-induced hearing loss. Loud noise can cause irreversible damage to the cells and membranes inside your inner ear that help you hear. This can occur after you’ve had a single experience or prolonged exposure to noises at 85 decibels or more. These sounds can include loud machinery, concerts, or firecrackers.
Earwax
Excess or impacted earwax can change the natural traits of your ear canal and interfere with the parts of your brain that process sound. In addition, impacted earwax can create pressure in your ear canal to stimulate your nerves so that your brain interprets the sensation as internal sounds.
Certain Health Conditions
Ringing in your ear can be a symptom of a wide range of health conditions that can damage your ear’s auditory system and/or inner structure. These conditions include:
What Are Metabolic Disorders?
How to Describe Left Ear Ringing
Left ear ringing can be categorized as one of the following:
Sounds of left ear ringing can be described as:
Spiritual Significance of Left Ear RingingMany cultures assign a spiritual significance to ringing in your left ear. Some interpretations of this symptom include:An indication that you may be losing control and have to reevaluate your pathA sign that negative energy is disrupting your spiritual equilibriumA sign that someone is gossiping about you behind your backA sign of spiritual awakening when the ringing occurs during a meditationDevelopment of clairaudient ability (spiritual awakening and intuitive messages)
Spiritual Significance of Left Ear Ringing
Many cultures assign a spiritual significance to ringing in your left ear. Some interpretations of this symptom include:An indication that you may be losing control and have to reevaluate your pathA sign that negative energy is disrupting your spiritual equilibriumA sign that someone is gossiping about you behind your backA sign of spiritual awakening when the ringing occurs during a meditationDevelopment of clairaudient ability (spiritual awakening and intuitive messages)
Many cultures assign a spiritual significance to ringing in your left ear. Some interpretations of this symptom include:
How to Treat Ringing in Left Ear
Treatment for ringing in your left ear depends on the cause of the problem. The following treatments can be effective for ringing in your left ear:
Living With Permanent/Irreversible Hearing DamageIt is possible to live with permanent/irreversible hearing damage. The following strategies can help improve your quality of life:Avoid loud noises and sounds.Use hearing protection.Control chronic conditions, including diabetes and blood pressure.Exercise regularly for good circulation.Get plenty of sleep.Avoid fatigue.Use sound devices to reduce your attention to the ringing.Limit alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
Living With Permanent/Irreversible Hearing Damage
It is possible to live with permanent/irreversible hearing damage. The following strategies can help improve your quality of life:Avoid loud noises and sounds.Use hearing protection.Control chronic conditions, including diabetes and blood pressure.Exercise regularly for good circulation.Get plenty of sleep.Avoid fatigue.Use sound devices to reduce your attention to the ringing.Limit alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
It is possible to live with permanent/irreversible hearing damage. The following strategies can help improve your quality of life:
Tests to Diagnose Left Ear Ringing
Tests to diagnose left ear ringing can help determine the potential causes of the problem and whether there are signs of underlying medical conditions. The following tests are typically used:
Diagnostic tests of your head, auditory canal, and surrounding areas to identify structural or physical changes in your ear:
Laboratoryblood teststo confirm clinical suspicion of contributing conditions may also be used.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
It is difficult to determine whether ringing in your ear is a sign of a more serious condition without a medical evaluation. Contact your healthcare provider if your ear ringing involves the following circumstances:
A Word From VerywellAlthough there may not always be a cure for ringing in the ears, fortunately, there are many treatment options, including sound and behavioral therapies, to minimize the noise so that it is manageable for good quality of life.—AMELIA MACINTYRE, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Although there may not always be a cure for ringing in the ears, fortunately, there are many treatment options, including sound and behavioral therapies, to minimize the noise so that it is manageable for good quality of life.—AMELIA MACINTYRE, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Although there may not always be a cure for ringing in the ears, fortunately, there are many treatment options, including sound and behavioral therapies, to minimize the noise so that it is manageable for good quality of life.
—AMELIA MACINTYRE, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Summary
Ringing in your left ear is not a disease. It can occur alone without a known cause or as a symptom of many types of health problems. Ear ringing can affect each person differently.
The impact of ringing in your ear can range from annoying to severe. While it can affect your quality of life, certain treatments can reduce or mask the ringing so you can function normally.
Contact your healthcare provider if the ringing in your ear persists for longer than one week. They can help you find the cause of the problem and ways to improve your symptoms.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Tinnitus.
Harvard Health Publishing.When should I be concerned about ringing in my ears?
Columbia Doctors.Medicines that cause hearing loss.
UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services.Ear wax blockage (cerumen impaction).
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Sugery Foundation (AAO-HNSF).Tinnitus.
Northern Territory Government.Ringing in the left ear: 5 spiritual meanings and things to be cautious.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Cochlear implants.
Yale Medicine.Tinnitus.
Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School.Tinnitus: ringing or humming in your ears? Sound therapy is one option.
UpToDate.Patient education: tinnitus (ringing in the ears) (Beyond the basics).
Penn Medicine.Tinnitus.
American Tinnitus Association.Who should I see for help?
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