MEDICINE

That's tinnitus. She should see an otorhinolaryngologist (ear specialist; ear, nose and throat specialist) as, if this is recent, there may be things they can do.

Yeah, I have an idea: have her see a doctor.

Repeating what's been written here : Have her see the doctor. Symptoms like that are is not uncommon, but could be a sign of a bigger problem.

Sometimes aspirin overdosing can cause this.

Also, elevated blood pressure issues can be a possible explanation for this.

I have, on the other hand, two ringing ears since 1985, perhaps, or not, from a basketball hitting me on the back of the head from the next court (we were in the stands, facing in the other direction.) I've read a lot about tinnitus, not least in some recent new yorker articles on some advances.
Since I haven't immediate links, because of my failure to put my bookmarks on some general site, I can't just point to useful info.

Anyone perceiving they have tinnitus needs to get checked out.

I just googled New Yorker article on tinnitus:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/02/09/090209fa_fact_groopman

Thanks, Ragman. I didn't even try to look up the NYer article as so many I want to reference are for viewing by subscribers only, just giving small abstracts re the articles. Makes sense that this one is for general public reading as it is about a health issue.

YVW