Prolonged exposure to loud noise can cause tinnitus, a short-term or long-term hearing condition. There are microscopic cells on the cochlea in the inner ear that move as sound enters the ear and sends signals the brain perceives as sound. Tinnitus is caused by damaged hair cells that transmit erroneous signals to the brain as you age. Short-term tinnitus normally fades in 16-48 hours, while long-term tinnitus may never disappear and will require using a hearing device to alleviate the condition.
How Long Does Tinnitus Last?
There is no accurate way to predict the duration of tinnitus. It can linger for a short period after exposure to loud noises, for example, at the airport or during a music concert. It might take around two weeks for the condition to subside in certain circumstances. If you have long-term tinnitus, you most likely have a constant low buzzing in your ear. This might be loud, intrusive or quiet and invisible until you pay attention. Tinnitus is caused by repeated exposure to high-decibel noise and will not go away until it is addressed.
Can You Get Rid of Mild Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is usually moderate and brief, caused by exposure to loud noises from power tools, airplanes, music and lawnmowers, among others. These equipment and engines emit decibel levels far higher than the advised 75-80 decibels. Mild tinnitus generated by brief high-decibel noise exposure diminishes fast, while mild tinnitus caused by long-term noise exposure will not go away on its own. You may have to talk to your hearing health professional to remedy this issue, so feel free to consider this.
Is Tinnitus a Temporary or Permanent Condition?
Time is crucial when evaluating whether tinnitus is permanent or momentary. The condition is induced by the noise that disturbs the fragile hair cells of the inner ear’s cochlea. These cells cannot be healed or replaced, so you may experience long-term hearing challenges if compromised. You might damage your hair cells immediately after a loud event or over time.
However, tinnitus is typically temporary; the decibel levels have impacted the hair cells, but they are not destroyed or damaged. For a brief moment, the brain perceives the impulses differently. These hair cells can be damaged in continuous tinnitus, making the hearing condition permanent.
Could Tinnitus Go Away After Six Months?
Although the cochlea’s small hair cells cannot regenerate or repair themselves after damage, they can recover and regain normal hearing within a few weeks or months. If you are exposed to high decibel levels and get tinnitus, the effect will likely fade in a matter of days or weeks. The maximum duration of momentary tinnitus is six to twelve months, after which your hearing will restore to normal.
When to See the Hearing Health Professional
Tinnitus can quickly subside after being exposed to loud noise. It is not a hearing condition that always requires diagnosing. However, if your tinnitus isn’t fading or you experience additional symptoms that suggest eardrum damage or infection, you should talk to your hearing health professional.
