I keep hearing ringing in my ears. its not loud but i can hear it. i always thought this was normal. what is this called and how do i stop it ?

Tinnitus is the label used for this finding. It affects about 15-20% of the population. It is more common associated with age related hearing loss, ear injury or circulatory problems. It can be aggravated by certain medications. Treatment of an underlying cause may help some, but for many it is a lifelong process.

Tinnitus or ringing in the ear is a poorly understood symptom that may end up affecting quality of life if poorly controlled. Start with a thorough ENT evaluation in order to identify a possible cause, hearing will have to be checked as well.