Terrible High-Pitched Pinging Sound

[Smowball]

Since yesterday morning Ive had this dreadful, but not painful, sound in both ears. It sounds as though someone is pinging something incredibly incredibly fast, and it’s been there for over 24 hours. At first I actually thought I was standing next to something making the noise but no. I’m never going to get a doctors appointment and tbh at this moment in time I wouldn’t bother them as I’m not in pain.
Any ideas what it could possibly be?? It’s just driving me mad.

[Smowball]

Thanks for all the lovely useful answers - as usual!x

[gingejbee]

I see that everyone is saying "tinnitus"....well, of course it is. That's what tinnitus is...you perceiving a noise of some sort. But it isn't a condition...merely a symptom that something's not right. (For example, I have tinnitus because it's a symptom of my Meniere's Syndrome).

[10ClarionSt]

Really, gingebee? I was only 6 years old when I had a nasty fall. I was in Ancoats hospital for 5 days with concussion. Since that fall, I've had tinnitus, although for many years I didn't know there was such a thing. I was in my 50's before I knew what tinnitus was, from reading a poster in NMGH. My tinnitus wasn't helped by working in a weaving shed in the 1960's, for 3 years without ear protection. Anyone who has worked in that environment will testify how deafening it is. I've been in touch with various organisations about it, but none have been able to help. As I said, I just live with it now.

[gingejbee]

Yes, really. Tinnitus is the name given to "ringing" (or many other sorts of sound) in the ear....it's a symptom, not a diagnosis.
It's a bit like someone saying "I have a pain in my head" and being told "that'll be a headache, then". Like a headache, tinnitus is a symptom that can have many causes.

[gingejbee]

Meant to link to this...

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-20350156