Most often, it is caused by damage to or the loss of sensory hair cells in the cochlea, or the inner ear. Tinnitus can present in many different ways, including sounds related to the ocean, ringing, buzzing, clicking, hissing or whooshing. The sound can be in one or both ears, constant or occasional, loud or soft.

Is random ear ringing normal?

Most people experience the occasional ringing in their ear, and it usually will last just a few minutes. It's actually fairly normal to have this ringing in your ears so long as it doesn't last for long.

Why does my ear randomly ring for a few seconds?

The most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss that occurs with aging (presbycusis), but it can also be caused by living or working around loud noises (acoustic trauma). Tinnitus can occur with all types of hearing loss and may be a symptom of almost any ear disorder.