Why Does My Child Hear Ringing or Buzzing in Their Ears? Tinnitus in Children Explained
Your child suddenly says:
“Mum, there is a ringing noise in my ear.”
You listen.
You cannot hear anything.
They may describe a buzz, whistle, hum, hiss or perhaps something much more imaginative:
“It sounds like bees.”
“There is a fan inside my ear.”
“I hear wind when the room is quiet.”
For a parent, this can sound alarming.
But children can experience tinnitus, just as adults can.
Tinnitus means hearing a sound when there is no corresponding external sound producing it.
The NHS describes tinnitus as hearing noises such as ringing, buzzing, whooshing, humming or hissing that do not come from an outside source.
And importantly:
Tinnitus does not automatically mean that something serious is wrong.
Can children really get tinnitus?
Yes.
It is probably more common than many parents realise.
Current NHS children's information from East Sussex reports research estimates suggesting that approximately 12–36% of children may experience tinnitus, although most children who experience it are rarely significantly bothered.
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust similarly notes that children may experience tinnitus without mentioning it to adults if it is not troubling them.
So a child mentioning ringing does not automatically mean that the symptom has suddenly appeared.
They may simply have found the words to describe something they have noticed before.
What does tinnitus sound like to a child?
Adults tend to use terms such as ringing or buzzing.
Children can be much more creative.
They might describe:
- bees
- wind
- whistles
- humming
- a television sound
- an engine
- music
- clicking
- “something moving”
- a noise they cannot describe.
The sound can be in:
one ear, both ears or apparently inside the head.
It may be intermittent or persistent.
Birmingham Children's Hospital notes that younger children may describe tinnitus by comparing it with familiar noises such as bees, birds or wind.
That can help parents recognise what their child is trying to explain.
Does tinnitus mean my child is losing their hearing?
No—not necessarily.
Children can experience tinnitus with normal hearing.
However, tinnitus and hearing loss can occur together.
The NHS tinnitus guidance identifies hearing loss as a common association with tinnitus.
East Sussex NHS also notes that tinnitus is more commonly reported in children who have hearing loss.
Therefore, when tinnitus is persistent or troublesome, a hearing assessment is often a sensible starting point.
Could earwax cause ringing?
Yes.
Earwax is protective and normally moves out of the ear naturally.
But if it becomes impacted, it can produce:
- blocked hearing
- mild earache
- tinnitus
- a sensation of fullness.
Current NHS children's earwax guidance specifically lists ringing in the ear and difficulty hearing among possible symptoms of hardened wax.
This is one reason an ear examination is useful.
And remember:
Do not use cotton buds to investigate.
They often push wax further down the ear canal.
Could glue ear cause tinnitus?
Yes.
Glue ear means fluid is present behind the eardrum.
The most important symptom is usually temporary hearing loss, but the NHS also lists ringing or buzzing—tinnitus—among possible symptoms.
A child with glue ear might therefore have a combination of:
blocked hearing + asking for the television louder + popping ears + occasional ringing.
The tinnitus may improve as the middle-ear problem resolves.
What about an ear infection?
Ear infections can temporarily alter hearing and produce unusual sensations or sounds.
If tinnitus appears during an episode of:
- earache
- fever
- ear discharge
- blocked hearing
the ear should be assessed for infection or another middle-ear problem.
Current NHS advice recommends prompt review when ear symptoms are accompanied by new hearing loss, discharge or significant systemic illness.
Can loud headphones cause ringing?
Loud sound exposure can cause temporary tinnitus.
A child may notice ringing after:
- loud headphones
- a concert
- a party
- amplified music
- fireworks or another sudden loud sound.
A brief episode may settle.
However, repeated tinnitus after loud sound is a useful warning that the listening level may be excessive.
Rather than frightening children about headphones, parents can encourage sensible listening habits:
comfortable volume + listening breaks + avoiding prolonged maximum-volume use.
If tinnitus or reduced hearing persists after significant noise exposure, arrange an assessment.
My child only notices ringing at bedtime. Why?
This is common.
During the day, children are surrounded by:
school noise,
conversation,
traffic,
television,
music,
play.
At bedtime, the environment becomes quiet.
A faint internal sound that was previously masked by background noise can suddenly become noticeable.
This does not necessarily mean that the tinnitus becomes physically louder at night.
The contrast between the tinnitus and the quiet environment has simply increased.
Should the bedroom be completely silent?
Not always.
The NHS advises people with tinnitus not to aim for total silence, because gentle background sound may make tinnitus less noticeable.
For a child who is bothered by tinnitus at bedtime, low-level neutral sound can sometimes help.
Examples might include:
- quiet natural sounds
- a fan
- gentle background audio.
The sound should remain comfortable and should not be used loudly enough to completely overpower the tinnitus.
Should I keep asking my child about the tinnitus?
Probably not.
This is an important practical point.
If a child mentions a noise but is otherwise completely untroubled by it, repeatedly asking:
“Can you still hear it?”
may unintentionally direct more attention towards the tinnitus.
A calmer approach is to acknowledge what the child has said, check for associated symptoms and observe whether it is affecting everyday life.
The important issue is often not simply whether tinnitus exists.
It is:
Is it bothering the child?
How can tinnitus affect a child?
Many children are not significantly troubled.
Others may develop difficulties with:
- falling asleep
- concentration
- schoolwork
- anxiety
- frustration
- quiet environments.
Birmingham Children's Hospital notes that troublesome tinnitus may present through anxiety, frustration, avoidance or difficulty sleeping without background sound.
Parents should therefore consider the child's reaction and functional impact, not merely the presence of the sound.
Can stress make tinnitus seem worse?
It can.
Tinnitus often becomes more noticeable when you focus on it.
Worry can create a cycle:
notice tinnitus → worry → listen for tinnitus → notice it more → worry more.
This does not mean the symptom is imaginary.
The sound is real to the child.
But helping the child understand that tinnitus is common and often not dangerous can reduce the fear attached to it.
What happens during a tinnitus assessment?
Assessment begins with the story.
Useful questions include:
- Is the sound in one or both ears?
- When did it start?
- Is it constant or intermittent?
- What does it sound like?
- Does it pulse with the heartbeat?
- Is hearing affected?
- Is there ear pain or discharge?
- Is there dizziness?
- Has there been significant noise exposure?
- Was there a recent head injury?
- Is it affecting sleep or school?
The ears can then be examined.
A hearing assessment is often useful.
London's Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust children's audiology service specifically includes tinnitus among the conditions for which children receive comprehensive hearing assessment.
What hearing tests might my child have?
Testing is adapted to the child's age.
It may include:
- behavioural hearing assessment
- pure-tone testing in older children
- tympanometry to assess the middle ear
- otoacoustic emissions in selected circumstances
- speech-perception testing.
The aim is not simply to “prove” that tinnitus exists.
It is to determine whether an associated hearing or middle-ear problem can be addressed.
Does tinnitus require a scan?
Usually not.
Most children with tinnitus do not automatically require an MRI or CT scan.
Imaging is considered based on the child's history, examination, hearing results, and specific features of the tinnitus.
Current NICE tinnitus guidance applies to adults, children and young people and recommends a structured approach to assessment rather than routine imaging for everybody.
This reassures parents who may assume tinnitus automatically means a brain scan.
What is pulsatile tinnitus in children?
Occasionally a child describes a sound that seems to beat:
whoosh… whoosh… whoosh
in time with their pulse.
This is called pulsatile tinnitus.
It is different from ordinary continuous ringing or buzzing.
Current NHS advice recommends an urgent GP appointment when tinnitus beats in time with the pulse.
What if tinnitus is only in one ear?
Tinnitus can occur in one or both ears.
Persistent unilateral tinnitus deserves clinical assessment, particularly if there is associated asymmetrical hearing loss or other ear symptoms.
It does not automatically indicate a serious condition.
But the pattern is useful information when deciding whether further investigation is appropriate.
Can tinnitus be treated?
Management depends on what is causing it and how much it bothers the child.
If assessment identifies:
- impacted wax
- glue ear
- hearing loss
- another treatable ear problem
then addressing that problem may help.
When tinnitus remains, but no concerning underlying cause is identified, management often focuses on understanding the symptom, reducing fear and helping the child pay less attention to it.
For children who are significantly troubled, specialist audiology, audiovestibular medicine, and psychological support can help.
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides a dedicated paediatric audiovestibular service that assesses and manages tinnitus, hearing and balance disorders, with specialist psychological support available for children whose tinnitus or sound sensitivity affects daily life.
Should my child wear earplugs because of tinnitus?
Not routinely.
Appropriate hearing protection is sensible around genuinely hazardous loud noise.
But routinely wearing earplugs in ordinary environments can make everyday sound seem quieter, potentially making tinnitus more noticeable.
Children should generally continue normal daily activities unless a hearing professional recommends otherwise.
When should I arrange a routine assessment?
Consider speaking to your GP, audiology service or appropriate clinician if your child's tinnitus:
- occurs regularly or constantly
- is becoming more noticeable
- is repeatedly in one ear
- is affecting sleep
- interferes with concentration or school
- is making the child anxious
- occurs with suspected hearing loss
- accompanies recurrent ear problems.
The NHS similarly recommends medical review for tinnitus that is regular, worsening or affecting sleep or concentration.
Red flags: when should parents seek help sooner?
Seek urgent medical advice if:
- tinnitus beats in time with your child's pulse
- there is a sudden or rapidly worsening change in hearing
- tinnitus is accompanied by significant new dizziness or vertigo
- there is new facial weakness
- there is persistent ear discharge or significant ear pain.
Seek emergency assessment if tinnitus occurs:
- after a significant head injury
- with sudden hearing loss
- with facial weakness
- with a significant spinning sensation/vertigo.
These are specifically identified as emergency features in current NHS tinnitus guidance.
Paediatric tinnitus assessment in London and Essex
A child saying they hear ringing does not automatically mean something seriously wrong with their ears.
The more useful questions are:
How often is it happening?
Is the hearing normal?
Is it affecting the child?
Are there any associated symptoms?
Mr Gaurav Kumar, Consultant ENT Surgeon, assesses children with tinnitus, hearing concerns, glue ear, recurrent ear problems, dizziness and related paediatric ENT conditions across London, East London, Romford, Ilford, Redbridge, Brentwood, Chelmsford and surrounding areas of Essex.
The key message for parents
Children can experience tinnitus—and many are not troubled by it.
Ringing or buzzing can occur with completely normal hearing, but it can also accompany earwax, glue ear, hearing loss or other ear problems.
If tinnitus persists, a hearing assessment is often a useful first step.
And rather than repeatedly asking your child whether the noise is still there, focus on whether it is affecting their hearing, sleep, concentration or wellbeing.
Most importantly, tinnitus accompanied by sudden hearing loss, significant vertigo, facial weakness or head injury requires urgent assessment.
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