Tinnitus is a hearing condition that makes an individual perceive buzzing, ringing, or hissing sounds without any external source. The condition can affect people across any age bracket. It usually gets triggered after being exposed to loud noises. Other factors that can cause this condition are age-related hearing issues or ear infections.
For a few people, tinnitus is a temporary condition. However, others can suffer from this for a prolonged time. In such cases, the condition affects their focus, sleep, and overall quality of life. USA Today reported that the American Tinnitus Association estimated that over 50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus. Additionally, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states that close to 25 million U.S. adults have faced this condition.
Hence, tinnitus can have a significant physical and emotional toll on a person. However, there is hope for recovery. Over time, tinnitus can subside, and patients can notice their symptoms improving. Not everyone recovers in the same way. Hence, it is necessary to identify the recovery signs that tinnitus is improving and take steps for further recovery. Keep reading to learn more about this.
Common Signs that Tinnitus is Going Away
According to WebMD, tinnitus is the brain’s response to a nerve issue or any other ear part that controls hearing. Almost 90% of people who suffer from this condition have certain noise-related hearing loss. Exposure to noise in the long term can permanently damage the cochlea’s sound-sensitive cells.
In most cases, tinnitus can’t be cured. However, at times, this condition is temporary and can fade away. Medical News Today shared some signs that indicate your tinnitus issue might be going away.
The crucial ones are:
Lesser Duration of Tinnitus
The duration of tinnitus is never the same for everyone. Some witness ongoing symptoms, while others have intermittent episodes throughout the day or once a week. In certain cases, tinnitus may worsen over time and not get better. However, if the episodes start getting shorter, it might indicate that the condition is improving.
Reduced Volume of Tinnitus
Even the loudness of tinnitus varies from one person to the next. However, over time, the noises might start to get mild. If there is a significant improvement, this may suggest that the condition is healing.
Better Pressure Sensation
If you suffer from tinnitus, chances are you will experience heightened ear pressure that aggravates the condition. This is mostly caused due to ETD (eustachian tube dysfunction). This pressure can make the sounds louder before they get back to a steady level. At times, this gets resolved by itself when the pressure sensation reduces. If you witness this, it may be a sign that the condition is improving.
How to Recover Better From Tinnitus?
Once you notice the symptoms discussed above, you can be hopeful that your tinnitus might be reducing. However, you have it in your hands to take steps to ensure a better recovery.
Here are a few guidelines to follow that AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) mentioned that can be of help:
Get Your Earwax Removed
This is an important step, but don’t attempt this by yourself, as that can aggravate the issue. In a worst-case scenario, it can even damage your eardrum. If earwax is the cause of tinnitus, get a professional to remove it and heal from the condition.
Be Careful of Medications
Medicines such as diuretics, aspirin, certain antibiotics, and cancer drugs might affect tinnitus. A study done on 70,000 women revealed that pain relievers such as ibuprofen can increase the chances of developing tinnitus. This is more so for women who use this medicine frequently.
Another medication to stay wary of is Tepezza (teprotumumab), which is used for treating thyroid eye disease that may cause tinnitus. In clinical studies done on 170 TED patients who were given Tepezza, 10% developed tinnitus.
Patients who have faced similar predicaments have filed legal complaints to report the issue and raise awareness. According to the October 2024 Tepezza lawsuit update, 178 cases are pending in the MDL. Since these lawsuits are in their initial stages, there haven’t been any court-sanctioned settlements.
Hence, although the medication was approved in 2020, the FDA added a warning about hearing issues in July 2023. Based on the warning, patients using Tepezza can face permanent hearing loss as well.
But it seems much damage has already happened. TorHoerman Law states that plaintiffs have argued that the manufacturers failed to offer necessary warnings before. This made them unaware of the severe hearing issues that they might develop in an attempt to treat TED.
Hence, it’s best to avoid this medication if you have TED and want to recover from tinnitus.
Opt for Hearing Aids
In older adults, tinnitus is typically linked with hearing loss. Although hearing aids are typically used to treat hearing loss, they can also help with tinnitus. The hearing aids can help by allowing you to hear the desired sounds, which might reduce the perception of tinnitus.
Consider Taking Sound Therapy
Sound therapy can help you manage tinnitus better, more so at night. By adding soft background sounds, like white noise, music, nature, and water, the ringing perceptions can be reduced. Joy Onozuka, communications and research officer at the American Tinnitus Association, says you can select any sound that feels soothing.
FAQs
Can anyone suffer from tinnitus?
Yes, anyone can develop tinnitus, though it is more prevalent in older adults. It is also common in those exposed to loud noises. Tinnitus can occur from a wide range of causes, including hearing loss, ear infections, earwax buildup, or exposure to loud sounds. At times, it can also be caused by certain medications, underlying health conditions, or ear injuries.
Can tinnitus disappear with time?
Tinnitus can disappear over time if it’s caused by temporary factors like ear infections, earwax buildup, or exposure to loud noises. However, in other cases, it may persist or fluctuate based on the underlying cause. If tinnitus minimizes in frequency, intensity, or duration, it could be a sign of improvement. In chronic cases, you might require prolonged treatment.
Should you refrain from using Tepezza to avoid developing Tinnitus?
Patients with TED should think twice before using Tepezza to treat this disease. Today, there is much medical evidence and anecdotal accounts of patients suffering from tinnitus after using this medicine. That aside, even the FDA added a warning label stating that permanent hearing loss is possible. Therefore, it’s best to avoid using this medication.
Hence, it is evident that tinnitus, when left untreated, will affect your flow of life. However, even though the condition is said to be incurable, at times, it does fade away. Identifying the signs is crucial to knowing if your tinnitus is improving. Additionally, it is essential to implement useful steps to recover for better results. It can heal the condition and add to your overall well-being.
