When you first notice that ringing in your ears you could have a very common response: pretend everything’s ok. You set about your normal habits: you have a conversation with friends, go to the store, and prepare lunch. All the while, you’re attempting to force that ringing in your ear out of your mind. Because you feel sure of one fact: your tinnitus will go away by itself.
After a few more days of unrelenting buzzing and ringing, however, you start to have doubts.
You’re not the only person to ever be in this position. sometimes tinnitus stop by itself, and at other times it will stick around and that’s the reason why it’s a tricky little disorder.
When Tinnitus is Likely to Vanish on Its Own
Tinnitus is incredibly common around the world, almost everyone’s had a bout every now and then. Tinnitus is a temporary condition, in most circumstances, and will ultimately vanish by itself. A rock concert is a good example: you go see Bruce Springsteen at your local arena (it’s a good show) and when you go home, you notice that there is ringing in your ears.
Within a few days the kind of tinnitus associated with damage from loud noise will usually disappear (but you realize that it’s just part of going to a loud show).
Of course, it’s exactly this type of noise injury that, over time, can cause loss of hearing to move from temporary (or acute, as they say) to chronic. One concert too many and you may be waiting quite a while for your tinnitus to go away by itself.
When Tinnitus Doesn’t Seem to be Disappearing on its own
If your tinnitus lingers for over three months it’s then labeled as chronic tinnitus (but you should get it examined by an expert long before that).
Something like 5-15% of people globally have documented symptoms of chronic tinnitus. While there are some understood close connections (like hearing loss, as an example), the causes of tinnitus aren’t yet very well understood.
Usually, a fast cure for tinnitus will be evasive if the causes aren’t evident. If your ears have been buzzing for more than three months and there’s no discernible cause, there’s a strong chance that the sound will not disappear by itself. In those instances, there are treatment options available (such as cognitive behavioral therapy or noise-canceling devices) that can help you deal with symptoms and protect your quality of life.
It’s Important to Know What The Cause of Your Tinnitus is
When you can determine the root cause of your tinnitus, mitigating the condition suddenly becomes much simpler. For example, if your tinnitus is produced by a stubborn, bacterial ear infection, treatment with an antibiotic will usually solve both problems, resulting in a healthy ear and crystal-clear hearing.
Some causes of acute tinnitus could include:
- Eardrum damage (such as a perforated eardrum)
- A blockage in the ear or ear canal
- Meniere’s disease (this usually has no cure and is often associated with chronic tinnitus)
- Chronic ear infections
- Loss of hearing (again, this is often associated with chronic tinnitus)
The Big Question…Will my Tinnitus Ever Subside?
In general, your tinnitus will recede by itself. But it becomes progressively more likely that you’re dealing with chronic tinnitus the longer these tinnitus sounds remain.
You believe that if you simply forget it should vanish on its own. But eventually, your tinnitus might become distressing and it may become difficult to focus on anything else. In those circumstances, crossing your fingers might not be the comprehensive treatment plan you need.
In most cases, however, as a matter of fact, throughout most of your life, your tinnitus will normally go away on its own, a typical reaction to a loud environment (and your body’s way of letting you know to stay away from that environment in the future). Whether that’s chronic or acute tinnitus, well, only time will tell.