When you first hear that ringing in your ears you may have a very common reaction: pretend everything’s fine. You go through your day the same way you always do: you do your grocery shopping, you cook dinner, you try to have a conversation with your friends. While at the same time you try your best to ignore that ringing. Because you feel sure of one fact: your tinnitus will fade away on its own.
After several more days of unrelenting buzzing and ringing, however, you begin to have doubts.
This scenario happens to other people as well. Tinnitus can be a tricky little affliction, sometimes it will go away by itself and in some cases, it will stick around for a long time to come.
The Condition of Temporary Tinnitus
Tinnitus is incredibly common around the world, nearly everybody’s had a bout every now and then. In nearly all circumstances, tinnitus is basically temporary and will eventually vanish by itself. A rock concert is a good example: you go to your local arena to see your favorite band and you notice, when you get back home, that your ears are ringing.
The kind of tinnitus that is associated with temporary injury from loud noise will normally decrease within a few days (but you accept that it’s simply part of going to a loud show).
Naturally, it’s exactly this type of noise damage that, over time, can cause loss of hearing to go from temporary (or acute, as they say) to chronic. Too many of those kinds of concerts and you could end up with permanent tinnitus.
When Tinnitus Doesn’t Seem to be Getting Better on its own
If your tinnitus lingers for over three months it’s then labeled as chronic tinnitus (but you should have it checked by an expert long before that).
Something like 5-15% of individuals around the world have reported signs of chronic tinnitus. While there are some recognized close associations (like loss of hearing, for instance), the causes of tinnitus aren’t yet really comprehended.
Usually, a quick cure for tinnitus will be elusive if the triggers aren’t apparent. There is a good chance that your tinnitus won’t recede on its own if you have been hearing the ringing for more than three months. In those instances, there are treatment options available (such as cognitive behavioral therapy or noise-canceling devices) that can help you manage symptoms and protect your quality of life.
It’s Relevant to Know What The Cause of Your Tinnitus is
When you can recognize the root cause of your tinnitus, dealing with the condition suddenly becomes much easier. For example, if your tinnitus is created by a persistent, bacterial ear infection, treatment with an antibiotic will tend to solve both problems, bringing about a healthy ear and clear hearing.
Here are some possible causes of acute tinnitus:
- Loss of hearing (again, this is often associated with chronic tinnitus)
- Meniere’s disease (this usually has no cure and is often associated with chronic tinnitus)
- Chronic ear infections
- A blockage in the ear or ear canal
- Damage to the eardrum (such as a perforated eardrum)
The Big Question…Will my Tinnitus Ever Subside?
Generally speaking, your tinnitus will subside on its own. But it becomes progressively more likely that you’re facing chronic tinnitus the longer these noises linger.
You feel that if you just ignore it should go away on its own. But at some point, your tinnitus might become uncomfortable and it could become tough to concentrate on anything else. In those situations, wishful thinking might not be the extensive treatment plan you require.
The majority of the time tinnitus is just the body’s reaction to loud noise that may be damaging over time and will go away on its own. Only time will tell if your tinnitus is acute or chronic.
