Eli5: what causes ringing in the ear?
In: Biology
You ear has a spiral shaped organ call the Cochlea. Sound waves enter the cochlea and travel through it, with different frequencies making contact with the wall of the Cochlea at different parts. The inner walls of the Cochlea are lined with small fibers called Stereocilia, which receive the sound wave’s energy. The sound’s energy determines how hard the Stereocilia are stressed, and the Stereocilia convert the energy into the sound signal that your brain receives.
Ear ringing is not completely understood, but a prevailing theory is that as stereocilia are stressed by sound waves (either a life time of them or very loud ones) they become permanently bent or damaged, causing them to send your brain a constant sound signal, which can take the form of ringing. This is one way someone can develop Tinnitus.
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