(HealthDay News) -- Tinnitus is the medical term that describes hearing ringing, whistling, buzzing or other noises in your ears when there's no source for those sounds.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says possible causes of tinnitus include:

• Having an ear infection.
• Having an object or wax build-up in the ear.
• Having damage to the ear from exposure to loud noise.
• Having an inner-ear condition called Meniere's disease, which affects balance and hearing.
• Consuming alcohol, caffeine or medication such as aspirin or certain antibiotics.