Tinnitus or ringing in the ears is a condition that affects millions of people. You can learn more about Tinnitus demographics here. For the vast majority of people, Tinnitus is a manageable condition. But, there are instances where Tinnitus can become permanent or chronic and also debilitating in nature. So, if you have a case of Tinnitus, you are probably very curious or anxious to know how long it will last? We give you information to help you decide whether your Tinnitus is permanent or not. If your Tinnitus is temporary, you can look for these signs that Tinnitus is going away, when it eventually begins to fade away.
When Your Tinnitus is Temporary?
Tinnitus caused by sudden or one-off loud noise exposure is usually temporary in nature. It is very common for people to wake up with a ringing in their ears after they have gone to a loud concert the night before. In such cases, Tinnitus will begin to fade in a few hours from the time of exposure.
Tinnitus is also temporary in nature when the ringing is caused by earwax impaction. Earwax impaction is simply another name for hardened earwax. When wax in the ear becomes hardened, it can impede the function of the eardrum which then begins to malfunction. The brain then misconstrues this problem as a hearing problem and tries to compensate for it, by inventing sounds that you then begin to hear as a ringing in your ears. Thankfully, Tinnitus caused by earwax impaction is temporary in nature and will go away after the earwax is removed.
When your Tinnitus is Permanent?
Ringing that lasts more than 2 weeks is usually considered permanent or chronic in nature. Unfortunately, long term Tinnitus is a bit of a mystery. In most cases, it is idiopathic in nature. What this essentially means is that the cause is unknown. When your Tinnitus is permanent in nature, you might have to habituate to it as Tinnitus doesn’t have a cure. There are plenty of natural ways to treat Tinnitus with herbs like Ginkgo Biloba or even vitamins and mineral supplements like B12, Magnesium, Vitamin D etc. But, there’s no FDA approved cure for it.
If you however have Pulsatile Tinnitus that lasts more than two weeks, a cure might be available. Treatment of pulsatile Tinnitus requires imaging studies to see what is causing the heartbeat like rhythmic sounds you and even your doctor can hear. Surgery, blood thinners or even a chiropractic visit can all possibly make Pulsatile Tinnitus go away.
Whether your Tinnitus is permanent or temporary in nature, you must try to remain calm about the condition. Constantly worrying about when the ringing will go away will only make Tinnitus a lot worse in most cases. Studies have shown that Tinnitus and stress are very interdependent. Stress exacerbates Tinnitus and a spike in Tinnitus exacerbates stress. It’s a constant vicious cycle that you must very mindfully break to give your relief from both Tinnitus and stress.
If you are looking for a support forum where you can meet fellow Tinnitus sufferers to try and cope with the condition, Tinnitus Talk is a good place to start. While the forum is helpful, please be mindful that it can many times lead you to a rabbit hole of experiments and personal theories that may or may not be useful. But, it can be a good starting or reference point for your research.
