Is your ear ringing a medical emergency? How to tell difference

That sudden, shrill ringing that catches you off guard in the middle of a quiet afternoon can be quite unnerving. It feels as though you have briefly gone offline, leaving you to wonder if something is wrong with your hearing.

Thankfully, Dr Kunal Sood, an anaesthesiologist and pain specialist, has stepped in to demystify this strange phenomenon in a recent health update.

The doctor identifies the sensation as “Transient ear noise, also called Sbutt, which sudden, brief unilerated transient tinnitus.

"Thankfully, it does not mean something bad is going on, and it is pretty common, with over 75 per cent of people experiencing this at some point in their life.” Dr Sood likens it to a temporary system glitch rather than a sign of neurological trouble.

He points out that lifestyle factors like stress, a lack of sleep, or even that extra cup of coffee can make you more susceptible to these auditory interruptions.

However, there is a limit to what is considered normal. Generally, if the sound vanishes within a minute, it is nothing to fret over.

The red flags appear when the noise lingers or is accompanied by other physical symptoms. In those instances, a medical evaluation is vital to rule out underlying conditions.

For the vast majority, these fleeting pitches are simply a sign to perhaps slow down and catch up on some rest.

By paying attention to the duration and frequency, you can rest easy knowing your "offline" moments are just a natural part of being human.