Hearing a buzzing in your head, often described as ringing, humming, or hissing, is usually Tinnitus, a phantom sound caused by nerve signals, often from hearing loss (loud noise, aging), ear issues (wax, infection), head/jaw injury, or stress, but it can also be related to blood flow or medications; it's a symptom, not a disease, and a doctor can help find the underlying cause.
People with tinnitus hear a constant ringing in their ears. Or the sound may be a buzzing, rushing, pinging, clicking, whistling, or roaring. Some people describe it as a freight train constantly rolling through their brains.
Tinnitus is only rarely associated with a serious medical problem and is usually not severe enough to interfere with daily life. However, some people find that it affects their mood and their ability to sleep or concentrate. In severe cases, tinnitus can lead to anxiety or depression.
Use a noise machine.
Things like white noise, nature sounds or ambient soundscapes can help distract your brain and reduce your tinnitus symptoms. You can purchase noise machines for this very purpose, but many fans and humidifiers emit white noise that can help with ear ringing, too.
Tingling, buzzing, or vibrating feelings in your body can sometimes be due to nerve signals sending extra messages. These sensations might be linked to conditions like diabetes, phantom vibration syndrome or internal tremors seen in some people, including those with a history of long COVID.
Pulsatile tinnitus can be a symptom of a dangerous problem with the blood vessels in the head, but not always. Sometimes, pulsatile tinnitus can signal a more serious impending health problem, like a stroke or blindness.
The sense of tingling, buzzing, or vibration throughout your body, particularly in your feet, hands, fingers, or legs, is known as anxiety numbness. You must be aware that there is a connection between generalized anxiety disorder and any instances of tingling or numbness in your body.
The Tinnitus and B12 Deficiency Connection
If you lack B12, communication between your nerves may begin to deteriorate, a damaged mechanism that leads to tinnitus.
Research shows that stress can be a trigger for tinnitus, or make it worse. And some people, though not all, find that tinnitus makes them feel stressed and anxious.
Let's explore several holistic ways to help ease tinnitus:
People with acoustic neuromas may experience a high-pitched tone in the ear affected by the tumor. In other cases, the tinnitus can sound like hissing, buzzing or roaring — like when putting a seashell to the ear.
The main symptoms of Ménière's disease are:
While tinnitus can sometimes linger around for a long time, it resolves on its own most of the time. In fact, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the condition is merely a temporary phenomenon and goes away by itself. One such example is noise-induced hearing loss.
Five key signs your brain might be in trouble include significant memory loss (forgetting important things or familiar routines), difficulty with everyday tasks, confusion about time/place, problems with language/communication, and noticeable personality or mood changes, such as increased irritability or loss of interest in hobbies, which signal potential cognitive decline or neurological issues.
3 Ways to Quiet Your Brain
If you experience auditory hallucinations just as you're falling asleep (hypnogogic hallucinations) or waking up (hypnopompic hallucinations), it's considered normal and usually not a cause for concern. Up to 70% of people experience these types of hallucinations at least once.
Certain foods can trigger or worsen tinnitus by increasing neuroinflammation or overstimulating the nervous system. Common triggers include high sodium, caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and foods high in tyramine or histamine.
Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system. For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or with other treatments that reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.
For instance, it can be a symptom of hearing loss or other ear-related problems. The persistent noise associated with tinnitus can lead to heightened stress levels, difficulty concentrating and sleep disturbances, all actors that may contribute to brain fog.
Vitamin D influences inflammation, nerve signaling, and sensory stability in both the ear and the brain. While it is not a treatment for tinnitus on its own, correcting a deficiency can reduce biological stress on the system and support recovery when used as part of a broader, medically guided care plan.
The worst symptoms of B12 deficiency involve severe neurological damage, including severe memory loss, confusion, dementia, psychosis, hallucinations, balance problems, trouble walking, and irreversible nerve damage (neuropathy), alongside serious mental health issues like severe depression or irritability, with physical signs including extreme fatigue, pale skin, and a sore, smooth tongue. These severe cognitive and neurological issues are the most concerning because they can become permanent if left untreated.
Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to tinnitus symptoms in some individuals. Research suggests that low levels of vitamin D may affect ear health, potentially exacerbating tinnitus. Consulting a healthcare provider for assessment and possible supplementation is advisable.
“Brain zaps are commonly described as short-lived, repeated 'buzzing' or tingling in the head, sometimes with dizziness, 'whooshing' sounds, and, in rare cases, feelings of disorientation,” Jackson says. Other feelings that people have reported include: Electric shocks.
Some people describe an odd buzzing feeling. It gives you a sudden jolt on the back of your neck and runs down your spine. This sensation may move into your arms and legs and sometimes onto fingers and toes. It usually only lasts a few seconds but can be very intense.