When you first notice that ringing in your ears you may have a very typical response: pretend that it’s no big thing. You go through your day the same way you always do: you do your shopping, you make dinner, you attempt to have a discussion with your friends. All the while, you’re trying to force that ringing in your ear to the back of your mind. Because you’re convinced of one thing: your tinnitus will go away by itself.
After several more days of unrelenting buzzing and ringing, though, you begin to have doubts.
This situation happens to other people as well. Tinnitus can be a challenging little affliction, at times it will disappear by itself and sometimes, it will stick around for a long time to come.
When Tinnitus is Likely to Subside by Itself
Tinnitus is very common everywhere, almost everyone’s had a bout every now and then. In virtually all situations, tinnitus is essentially temporary and will eventually go away by itself. The most common example is the rock concert: you go to your local stadium to see your favorite band and you notice, when you get home, that your ears are ringing.
Within a few days the type of tinnitus connected to damage from loud noise will usually disappear (and you chalk it up to the cost of seeing your favorite band on stage).
Eventually loss of hearing can develop from temporary or “acute” to permanent or “chronic” because of this exact kind of damage. One concert too many and you might be waiting a long, long time for your tinnitus to recede by itself.
When Tinnitus Doesn’t Seem to be Disappearing by Itself
If your tinnitus persists for over three months it’s then referred to as chronic tinnitus (but you should have it examined by a specialist long before that).
Something like 5-15% of individuals around the world have documented symptoms of chronic tinnitus. The precise causes of tinnitus are still not well understood although there are some known associations (like loss of hearing).
Usually, a quick cure for tinnitus will be elusive if the causes aren’t apparent. There is a strong possibility that your tinnitus won’t recede by itself if you have been hearing the ringing for more than three months. But if this is your situation, you can preserve your quality of life and manage your symptoms with some treatment possibilities (like noise canceling devices and cognitive behavioral therapy).
The Reason For Your Tinnitus is Important
It becomes much easier to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus when you are able to determine the underlying causes. For example, if your tinnitus is created by a stubborn, bacterial ear infection, treatment with an antibiotic will tend to solve both problems, resulting in a healthy ear and crystal-clear hearing.
Some causes of acute tinnitus might consist of:
- A blockage in the ear or ear canal
- Meniere’s disease (this usually has no cure and is often associated with chronic tinnitus)
- Eardrum damage (such as a perforated eardrum)
- Chronic ear infections
- Loss of hearing (again, this is often associated with chronic tinnitus)
So…Will The Ringing in My Ears Subside?
Generally speaking, your tinnitus will subside by itself. But it becomes increasingly more likely that you’re experiencing chronic tinnitus the longer these noises linger.
You think that if you just forget it should vanish on its own. But at some point, your tinnitus could become uncomfortable and it may become tough to focus on anything else. In those situations, wishful thinking might not be the complete treatment plan you require.
In most situations, however, as a matter of fact, throughout most of your life, your tinnitus will often go away on its own, a normal reaction to a loud environment (and your body’s way of telling you to stay away from that environment in the future). Whether that’s acute or chronic tinnitus, well, only time will tell.