Why Do We Hear Ringing in Silence? | RapidSmartFacts

Ever noticed a faint ringing in a quiet room? Your hearing system is always active,

even in silence. This phenomenon is commonly known as tinnitus. Ears and brain

continuously process signals, including tiny background noise. When it gets silent,

there's less external sound to compete. Internal signals then become more noticeable by comparison.

The brain might 'turn up the gain' when expecting sound. This amplifies faint

neural activity into a perceived tone. Stress, fatigue, caffeine,

or loud noise can make it worse. For most, this ringing is

brief and harmless. But persistent, one-sided ringing, or with hearing loss...