If you experience a ringing, buzzing, or roaring sound in your ears that doesn’t go away and is not caused by external noise, you may have tinnitus. Tinnitus can be either temporary or permanent. In some cases, the sound may be intermittent, while in others, it may be constant.
How Long Will Tinnitus Last?
Tinnitus is often the result of exposure to loud noise. Sound is measured in decibels, and a typical conversation in a quiet room would measure at around 50-60 decibels. However, exposure to loud noise, such as a gunshot, can be uncomfortable and damaging to our inner ears.
Loud noises can cause tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears. Tinnitus can be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity and length of exposure to the loud noise.
Temporary Causes of Tinnitus
Here are some of the temporary causes of tinnitus:
- Earwax: Some people never have waxy build-up in their ears, while others may get regular episodes of tinnitus due to wax. How much earwax you have can depend on where you spend your time, your overall health, how often you wear earphones, and how you clean your ears. Some people are just more prone to excess earwax than others.
- Medications: Some medications can cause temporary tinnitus by affecting our blood flow and pressure. Other medications, called ototoxic medicines, can also cause tinnitus, but it usually goes away when you stop taking the medicine.
- Medical conditions: Conditions like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes can all lead to tinnitus. The duration of the condition will depend on the underlying cause, but in many cases, tinnitus will improve if the underlying condition is managed effectively.
- Ear infection: Tinnitus can also be caused by ear infections. These can be either bacterial or viral and lead to fluid build-up and swelling. Some ear infections require antibiotics to clear up, while others may just need time to heal. If you get tinnitus regularly, it may be worth talking to your audiologist about whether you have a chronic ear infection.
- Perforated eardrum: A perforated eardrum is a hole or tear in the thin membrane that separates your ear canal from your middle ear. This can happen due to loud noise, infection, or changes in air pressure. In addition to tinnitus, other symptoms of a perforated eardrum may include fluid leakage from the ear and ear pain. Most perforated eardrums heal on their own, and your tinnitus should go away as the eardrum heals.
Could Tinnitus Be Permanent?
The duration of your tinnitus depends on the underlying cause. If the reason is temporary, such as an ear infection or exposure to loud noise, your tinnitus is likely to be temporary as well. However, if you have a long-term condition affecting the ear, such as Meniere’s disease, your tinnitus may be more long-lasting. If your tinnitus is caused by the natural loss of hearing that occurs with aging, it may also be permanent.
To Sum Up
A number of factors can cause temporary tinnitus, but most cases resolve on their own within a few weeks or months. If you experience tinnitus for more than six months, it is likely a more chronic condition requiring professional treatment.
Country Hearing Care offers hearing services in Mildura. We have hearing tests, hearing aids, balance issues, tinnitus treatment, and more. Get in touch with us.
