Is Tinnitus A Permanent Condition Or Can It Go Away In Time?

Tinnitus is often a noise that only you can hear. The sounds that begin to emerge are generally a ringing that originates only within your ears or in a single ear. This might happen as a result of being exposed to extremely loud noises or having too much jam in the ear. Some people may experience tinnitus which is characterized through a roaring in the ear and other loud or intermittent noises such as whistling, hissing or buzzing. It can either be heard by you at low or high pitches.

Experiencing it consistently does impact some people’s lives in a way that causes issues for them because the consistent noise distracts them in their daily lives. The noises might lead to depression, a lack of sleep and other difficulties. Continue reading to learn more about the many reasons why you may be experiencing the symptoms of tinnitus, whether it is treatable and what treatments you may use to alleviate the sounds so that they may subside or disappear.

What Are the Causes of Tinnitus?

Typically, the auditory circuits within the ear canal are damaged, which begin inside the middle or within your inner ear. Tinnitus is commonly caused by damage to the hair cells within your ear’s auditory pathways. If not treated by an audiologist, the consequences might result in hearing loss or diminished hearing because the soundwaves would not be able to travel to the brain cortex the way that they should be.

Objective tinnitus is when your heart can be heard which may be something such as a heart murmur or from your blood vessels around your ears which may have an issue. However, some people may experience something that is called pulsatile tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus is heard by you in time with your heartbeat. Objective and pulsatile tinnitus is usually experienced with old age.

The other underlying medical reasons that could be causing the experience of tinnitus are:

• Medically prescribed drugs
• Infections or flue that affect your ear or sinuses
• Old age
• Traumatic brain or ear injury
• A tumor
• Head and neck injuries
• Meniere’s disease

Can Tinnitus Go Away?

Persistent tinnitus will not go away since you will be experiencing chronic tinnitus. It may worsen, but if it is not persistent or caused by a significant medical condition, it may be able to go away. Those who do not experience it regularly may very well be able to divert themselves from the noise, or it will go away with time. You may go and check it out for an audiologist to help alleviate the experience you are currently having, as will be discussed.

What Treatments Are Available?

Finding tinnitus relief will be possible through the aid of your audiologist even if there is no cure. When tinnitus is not experienced intermittently or from being exposed to loud noises and you hear it on a more regular basis it is advised that you check it out. An audiologist will be able to let you know if there are underlying causes after a hearing evaluation and their expertise can help bring possible treatments for alleviation of the noise or possibly get rid of tinnitus. They can also send you to get a medical evaluation if they believe the issues are serious. You could help alleviate tinnitus by becoming healthier and changing your habits. Other treatments that you can look at other than your lifestyle changes are:

• Neurofeedback or biofeedback therapy: The two therapies are relatively the same and use electrodes to influence the body.
• Tinnitus retraining therapy: Influences your ability to become more unaware of the ringing or noise in the ears.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Almost similar to tinnitus retraining therapy the therapy uses relaxation as a means to become more unaware of the noise.
• Hearing protection: They provide you with protection from loud noise at an event or your place of work to prevent tinnitus.
• Hearing aids: The audiologist will provide you with hearing aid styles to use such as in the ear (ITE), behind the ear (BTE) and in the canal (ITC).
• Earwax removal

Learn more about Quality Hearing & Audiology Center at (816) 205-7220.