How to Identify Tinnitus by Covering Your Ears

Tinnitus refers to the perception of sound in the ears or head in the absence of external acoustic stimuli. It can adversely affect physical health. So, how can one distinguish tinnitus by covering the ears?

How to Differentiate Tinnitus by Covering the Ears

When you firmly cover your ears or lie on your side and press gently against the inner ear, you often hear a buzzing or humming sound. Once the pressure is released and the ear returns to its normal state, the tinnitus disappears. This phenomenon is termed physiological tinnitus. Physiological tinnitus actually originates from internal bodily sounds—such as breathing, heartbeat, blood circulation, joint movement, muscle contractions, or pulsations of blood vessels within the ear. These sounds are typically masked by ambient environmental noise; they become audible only when external noise is blocked or when their intensity exceeds that of surrounding sounds.

Conductive tinnitus arises from obstruction or dysfunction in the conductive components of the auditory system—for example, swelling or blockage of the external auditory canal, tympanic membrane perforation or retraction, otitis media, adhesions, or otosclerosis. Such impairments reduce the ability to perceive external sounds, thereby weakening their natural masking effect on internal bodily sounds. Consequently, these internal sounds become perceptible as tinnitus. Additionally, bone-conducted sounds may be impeded due to the conduction disorder, enhancing the subjective perception of sound within the ear—often manifesting as a low-frequency, wind-like rushing or roaring noise. You can test this yourself: cover one ear with your hand and you will likely perceive a rumbling or booming sound inside the ear—this is characteristic of conductive tinnitus. We hope this explanation proves helpful. Wishing you good health and happiness!

Neurosensory (or sensorineural) tinnitus is characterized by variable loudness—either soft or intense—and typically presents as a continuous, prolonged tone, such as a cicada-like chirping or telephone ringing. Other common descriptions include sounds resembling running water, wind, or machinery.