Almost everyone experiences a slight buzzing, humming, or ringing in the ears from time to time. But if that ringing ears sound is always or often there, you may be one of the 36 million Americans with the condition known as tinnitus.

The ringing in the ears associated with tinnitus can be intermittent — the sound occurs for a period of time and then returns later on — or some tinnitus sufferers hear the sound all the time. The ringing can only be heard by the person with the condition, and not by other people.

The Various Causes of Tinnitus

Tinnitus causes are quite varied. "Noise exposure (brief or longstanding), hearing loss, certain ear diseases, and stress are just a few tinnitus causes," says Karrie A. Slominski, AuD, a senior staff audiologist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

In some instances, tinnitus can result from excess ear wax or a loose hair that rubs against the ear drum and vibrates. Middle ear infections or muscle spasms in or around the middle ear can also cause tinnitus.

Head lesions or tumors can also lead to tinnitus. Tinnitus could also be related to blood pressure problems or even circulatory problems linked to poor diet and lack of exercise.

Who Is at Greatest Risk for Tinnitus?

Tinnitus doesn't discriminate. "Tinnitus can affect anyone of any age," says Laura Tocci, AuD, the director of audiology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

Related: Why Do We Have Ear Wax?

Tinnitus does seem to be reported less in children under the age of 18. However, some experts believe that this may be because children don't know how to communicate what they experience or that they have a problem. In some instances, they have become accustomed to the tinnitus and their brain simply perceives the ringing ears as a normal sound.

Present Tinnitus Treatments

While there is no cure for the condition yet, doctors have tinnitus treatments to help you cope with ringing ears. "For people who find tinnitus overly bothersome, it can be treated with sound therapy," says Slominski. "Options include hearing aids for those who have hearing loss, tabletop devices, ear-level devices, or masking devices that attempt to block the sound."

Related: What Causes Ear Pain?

Another promising approach to tinnitus treatment is called tinnitus retraining therapy, or TRT. This strategy actually uses sound therapy to attempt to train your brain not to hear the ringing anymore. Other tinnitus treatments that have helped some people include meditation, counseling, diet and lifestyle changes, and some medications.

New Hope for People With Tinnitus

In a recent study published in the journal Nature, researchers discovered a promising new tinnitus treatment that could relieve ringing ears in the future.

Because tinnitus is often related to nerve damage caused by noise exposure, the researchers treated damaged nerves in rats with magnetic electrical nerve stimulation. They were able to eliminate the symptoms of tinnitus completely in these noise-exposed rats, and the improvement in hearing for the rats lasted for weeks after the treatment ended. This type of nerve stimulation may eventually lead to a treatment for tinnitus for humans.

If you have tinnitus, the persistent ringing in your ears can be very frustrating to live with. Talk to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor about which treatment might be best for you to help lessen the noise.