You could have a typical reaction when you first notice that ringing in your ears: pretend everything’s ok. You continue your normal habits: you have a chat with family, go to the store, and make lunch. While at the same time you try your hardest to dismiss that ringing. Because there is one thing you feel certain of: your tinnitus will fade away by itself.
You start to worry, though, when after a few days the ringing and buzzing is unrelenting.
This situation happens to other people as well. At times tinnitus will go away by itself, and other times it will linger on and that’s why it’s a tricky little disorder.
When Tinnitus is Likely to Subside by Itself
Tinnitus is extremely common everywhere, nearly everyone’s had a bout here and there. Tinnitus is a non-permanent condition, in most cases, and will eventually vanish by itself. The most prevalent example is the rock concert: you go see Bruce Springsteen at your local arena (it’s a good show) and when you get home, you notice that your ears are ringing.
Within a couple of days the kind of tinnitus connected to injury from loud noise will normally disappear (but you accept that it’s simply part of going to a loud performance).
Of course, it’s exactly this kind of noise damage that, over time, can cause hearing loss to move from temporary (or acute, as they say) to chronic. One concert too many and you might be waiting quite a while for your tinnitus to go away on its own.
When Tinnitus Doesn’t Seem to be Disappearing by Itself
If your tinnitus persists 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 individuals globally have reported symptoms of chronic tinnitus. While there are some known close associations (like hearing loss, as an example), the causes of tinnitus aren’t yet well comprehended.
Normally, a fast cure for tinnitus will be evasive if the causes aren’t clear. If your ears have been ringing for more than three months and there’s no identifiable cause, there’s a good chance that the sound will not disappear by itself. In those instances, there are treatment possibilities available (such as cognitive behavioral therapy or noise-canceling devices) that can help you manage symptoms and preserve your quality of life.
The Reason For Your Tinnitus is Significant
When you can identify the root cause of your tinnitus, dealing with the condition quickly becomes a lot simpler. If a bacterial ear infection is, for example, the cause of your tinnitus, you can regain a healthy ear and clear hearing by managing it with antibiotics.
Some causes of acute tinnitus could consist of:
- Hearing loss (again, this is often associated with chronic tinnitus)
- Meniere’s disease (this is often associated with chronic tinnitus, as Meniere’s has no cure)
- A blockage in the ear or ear canal
- Chronic ear infections
- Eardrum damage (such as a perforated eardrum)
The Big Question…Will my Tinnitus Ever Subside?
The bottom line is that in most cases, yes, your tinnitus will subside by itself. But it becomes increasingly more likely that you’re dealing with chronic tinnitus the longer these noises linger.
You believe that if you simply forget it should vanish by itself. But there may come a point where your tinnitus begins to become uncomfortable, where it’s tough to concentrate because the sound is too distracting. In those circumstances, wishful thinking might not be the extensive treatment plan you need.
The majority of the time tinnitus is simply the body’s reaction to loud noise that could be damaging over time and will recede by itself. Only time will tell if your tinnitus is acute or chronic.