Ringing in ears

Question

Can somebody tell me, what's that ringing sound in the ears which prevails even when somebody is in quiet surroundings? Is that sound real or just created by our brain due to some sort of malfunctioning? Some scientific explanation would be more apt.

EDIT1: As far as I have observed my body, I found neck pain(most likely cervical spondylosis) to be a prominent reason for this. But the wiki article, as referred by a user, doesn't point include it. So, I'm now curious to add this to the question as well. If there is any valid study that pin-points cervical pain to be a reason for Tinnitus?

EDIT2: Please don't downvote since I'm not asking for diagnosis. But want to know what physical & chemical changes could be behind this issue.

My facts: I observed, that cardio exercises and outdoor gaming activity, temporary eradicated this problem. The longest relief span recorded by me was 2 days. I can understand that exercise improves the blood flow which could have helped, but what continued the relief for 2days?

Answer 1

Most people describe ringing in ears as tinnitus. From a medical perspective, the definition of tinnitus is a real mess. It is typically described as a symptom and not a disease and diagnosis is often based on self report (although objective tinnitus is when a doctor can hear the sound). Things get messy though in that Heller and Bergman (1953) found that 93% of individuals without tinnitus reported hearing sounds when placed in a very quiet room. In general, the Mayo Clinic does not suggest seeing a doctor about tinnitus unless, it is bothersome, occurs suddenly, is accompanied by dizziness, or is brought on by an upper repository infection.

Answer 2

Ringing in ears can happen due to various reasons.

Its causes can be:

1. Normal aging process
2. Head and neck injuries
3. Ear infections
4. A foreign object, or earwax touching the eardrum
5. Eustachian tube (middle ear) problems
6. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
7. Stiffening of the middle ear bones
8. Traumatic brain injury
9. Cardiovascular diseases

There are various ways you can get rid of it but consult with your doctor first before taking any medication or doing any exercise.

Answer 3

Usually tinnitus or ringing in ears is caused by infections or blockages in the ear, and it can disappear once the underlying cause is treated. Prolonged exposure to loud sounds is the most common cause of tinnitus. Other conditions and illnesses that can lead to tinnitus are as follows:

• Blockages of the ear due to a buildup of wax

• Some drugs mostly aspirin, different types of antibiotics, anti-
  inflammatories,sedatives, and antidepressants.

• The natural aging process

• Meniere's disease, which affects the inner part of the ear

• High blood pressure

• Allergies

• Circulatory problems

• Underactive thyroid gland

• Cardiovascular disease

• Anemia

• Diabetes