Tinnitus, the name for the phantom ringing noise in your ears without a source, is increasingly common across America, with millions of people dealing with tinnitus symptoms.
From a dull buzzing to a constant whistling, tinnitus can affect an individual at various levels, but there are two main types of tinnitus: temporary and permanent. Depending on this differentiator, your tinnitus will need specific treatment and assistance.
Both can be distracting and debilitating levels of tinnitus, but you don’t have to deal with it alone.
What Is Temporary Tinnitus?
Temporary tinnitus can be caused by ear infections, wax buildup, medication side effects, or noise exposure—ever come back from a night on the town with ringing ears?
This form of tinnitus, as expected, only lasts for a few minutes to a few days, and it is quickly resolved when the underlying issue is addressed. Whether that’s stopping the medication, curing the ear infection, or removing the earwax, temporary tinnitus will typically resolve itself on its own when this happens.
Signs that your tinnitus is temporary include a recent exposure to loud noise, symptoms of an ear infection (itchiness in the ear, earaches, dizziness), and no prior history of tinnitus within your medical history.
What Is Permanent Tinnitus?
Permanent tinnitus, on the other hand, features persistent sounds that don’t fade with time. These symptoms can persist for weeks or months; permanent tinnitus is often linked to hearing loss challenges.
Causes of permanent tinnitus include age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), underlying medical conditions, and prolonged noise exposure.
Permanent tinnitus can range in sound from a low hum to a distracting fluttering in your ear that can lead to stress, lack of sleep, and hearing loss challenges.
When to Seek Professional Help for Your Tinnitus
It’s important to note that tinnitus is not a disease by itself, but rather a symptom of something else going on within your body, whether that be to do with your hearing or side effects of medication you might be taking.
If you’re concerned that your tinnitus is permanent after several weeks or months of dealing with it, professional intervention with a tinnitus screening could help alleviate those worries and get you started on your hearing health journey to clear and noise-free hearing.
You can rest assured that with a professional tinnitus evaluation, you’ll learn about your unique tinnitus symptoms, how to manage them, and what you can do to alleviate your tinnitus, from specially programmed hearing aids and counseling to tinnitus treatments such as Lenire.
Regardless of whether your tinnitus resolves itself after a quick check or if you need a more in-depth way to manage it, you don’t have to deal with that phantom noise alone. Our team of hearing care professionals can help you manage your symptoms so you can get back to hearing the life you love without interruption.
To learn more about tinnitus treatment and comprehensive hearing care, we’re here to help! Simply get in touch with us via our website or give us a call at your closest clinic in:
Menlo Park: (650) 854-1980
Los Altos: (650) 941-0664
