Will tinnitus symptoms go away on their own? Tinnitus is a common auditory disorder that affects 50 million Americans. It is usually a symptom of other conditions or diseases. The person who suffers from Tinnitus experiences ringing, hissing or whistling sounds without the presence of any external sound. The brain makes faulty perceptions of sounds due to dysfunctional tiny hair cells in the ear. Some people hear more frequent and constant sounds while others hear it less often.

Symptoms

There are different types of phantom noises one may hear if he suffers from tinnitus.

• Ringing
• Buzzing
• Hissing
• Roaring
• Humming
• Whistling

These noises may vary in amplitude, frequency and intensity depending on each individual. They can also occur in selective ears or both ears. There exist two types of Tinnitus.

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Subjective Tinnitus

This is the most common type of Tinnitus. In this Tinnitus, you only hear the sounds and no one else can hear the sounds because none is present externally or internally. It is occurring because your auditory nerves are interpreting frequencies that are not there.

Objective Tinnitus

This is a very rare type of Tinnitus. In this condition, the person hears sounds because there is a presence of sound. The blood vessels or muscle contractions can be responsible for this sound.

Common Causes of Tinnitus

Earwax

Overloaded build up of earwax in the ear can cause Tinnitus. This is because the wax can block the ear and cause hearing loss. This can cause the auditory nerve system to stimulate noises that do not exist.

Exposure to Loud Noise

Exposure to loud noise can damage the tiny hair cells in the ear that are sensitive to sound. These tiny hair cells absorb the sound vibrations and send them to the auditory nerve system, which interprets those vibrations and forms the sound in our brain. Long-term damage of these tiny hair cells can be a severe cause of hearing loss and Tinnitus.

Aging process

The average age of people with Tinnitus averages over 50 years old. This tells us that people over the age of 50 years old are more likely to develop Tinnitus and hearing loss. This is because, with age, cells in the body start to deteriorate. Better care of your lifestyle can slow down the aging process.

Stress

People suffering from Tinnitus can make this condition worse when they are under a lot of stress. Emotional stress can amplify Tinnitus in an individual and make it unbearable for them.

Pre-existing Conditions

Certain pre-existing medical conditions in an individual can lead to the development in Tinnitus symptoms. These conditions include, Menieres disease, Lyme disease, hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia.

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Other causes can include injury, certain medications, sinus infections, acoustic neuromas or high blood pressure.

Does Tinnitus Go Away?

Tinnitus is a condition that is specific to each person. Whether or not the Tinnitus symptoms will be persistent or short lasting will depend on many factors that will include your age, general health, and the underlying cause of the condition.

In some cases, tinnitus disappears on its own while in others it can last for a longer time. Exposure to loud noise can also trigger Tinnitus in some people, this Tinnitus will only last only a couple of days. It will also re-emerge when exposed to loud noise again.

Permanent Tinnitus

Tinnitus in most cases is a temporary condition, but some severe cases can result in lasting and irreversible affects of Tinnitus. It is mostly dependant on the severity of the underlying cause

Hearing Loss

Hearing impairment is the most common underlying cause of Tinnitus. There are several causes one experiences hearing loss, Old age, loud noise, injury. If one is permanently impaired of their hearing, this can also result in permanent Tinnitus

Repeated Exposure to Loud Sounds

Continuous exposure to loud sounds can cause permanent hearing damage. This can ultimately lead to irreversible Tinnitus in a person. Musicians suffer from Tinnitus because of this very reason. Exposure to high amplitude music or sounds over the course of repeated days can have destructive affect on your ear.

Brain Injury

The brain makes plays a key role in processing sound and interpreting it according to its frequencies. Protected beneath the skull, any internal damage in the form of fracture or concussion can result to severe consequences, including Tinnitus.

Standard Care for Tinnitus

Tinnitus can be short lived in some people, while long lasting in others. No matter how it affects someone, it always has negative impact on ones lives. You can take a few steps that can possibly award you some relief before seeking help from a professional. These include, wearing earplugs, finding ways to mask the sound, learning to remain calm and avoiding loud noises.

Conclusion

You should not use over-the-counter drugs  as a treatment or cure for Tinnitus. The treatment for the severe conditions of Tinnitus requires special help from professional audiologists or psychologists.  If you seek medical help regarding sound disorders, visit us at Tinnitus Cognitive Center and Dr. Stephen Katz, will provide you with all the care and professional help that you need.

TINNITUS COGNITIVE CENTER
Stephen Katz, LCSW
646-213-2321