How Long Does Tinnitus Last ? Timelines, Causes, and Proven Relief
Updated February, 2026
If you are asking how long does tinnitus last, you are not alone. Millions of people hear ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking sounds with no external source. Some notice it after a loud concert and it fades within days. Others find it lingering for months or even years. The honest answer is that how long tinnitus lasts depends almost entirely on what is causing it.
This guide breaks down the timelines by cause, explains what helps and what makes it worse, and walks you through practical steps you can take starting today. Whether your symptoms are brand new or have been around for a while, understanding the “why” puts you in a much stronger position to find relief.
What Is Tinnitus and Why Does It Happen?
Tinnitus is not a disease. It is a symptom. That distinction matters because it means the duration and severity of tinnitus are closely tied to its underlying cause. Your brain perceives sound that has no external source. This happens when the auditory system sends abnormal signals, often triggered by damage, inflammation, or changes in how the inner ear communicates with the brain.
Common triggers include noise-induced hair cell damage, earwax buildup, ear infections, medication side effects, age-related hearing changes, head and neck injuries, and cardiovascular conditions like high blood pressure. Because the causes vary so widely, so does the timeline for how long tinnitus lasts.
How Long Does Tinnitus Last? A Timeline by Cause
Understanding the cause gives you a realistic picture of the road ahead. Here is a breakdown of how long tinnitus typically lasts depending on what set it off.
After Loud Noise Exposure
This is one of the most common reasons people suddenly notice ringing. A concert, a sports event, a gunshot, or even a very loud work environment can trigger short-term tinnitus. The hair cells in your inner ear experience temporary stress.
In most cases, this type of tinnitus resolves within 16 to 48 hours. Some people experience symptoms for up to a week. Recovery depends on how loud the exposure was, how long it lasted, and whether your ears had time to rest afterward. If ringing continues past two weeks after noise exposure, see a hearing care provider. That is a signal that the damage may be more than temporary.
After an Ear Infection
Middle ear infections create fluid pressure and inflammation that can distort sound perception. Tinnitus linked to an active infection typically clears once the infection is treated, usually within one to three weeks. Untreated infections, however, can cause lasting complications. If tinnitus does not resolve after completing a course of treatment, a follow-up evaluation is worth scheduling.
From Earwax Buildup
Impacted earwax blocks sound transmission and changes how your eardrum vibrates. The good news: this cause is highly treatable. Once a hearing care provider safely removes the blockage, most patients see tinnitus resolve within days. Attempting to remove earwax at home with cotton swabs can push it deeper, making the situation worse.
From Medication Side Effects
Certain drugs are ototoxic, meaning they can damage the auditory system. High-dose aspirin, some antibiotics, diuretics, and certain chemotherapy agents are known culprits. Tinnitus caused by medication often improves or disappears once the drug is discontinued or the dose is adjusted. Always work with your prescribing physician before changing any medication.
From Cardiovascular and Blood Pressure Issues
High blood pressure, poor circulation, and vascular irregularities can cause a specific type of tinnitus called pulsatile tinnitus. You may hear a rhythmic sound that pulses with your heartbeat. This type is closely tied to cardiovascular health. Research confirms a meaningful link between hypertension and tinnitus, and managing blood pressure often reduces symptom severity. Duration is variable and closely tied to how well the underlying condition is controlled.
From Age-Related Hearing Loss
Presbycusis, the gradual hearing loss that comes with aging, is one of the most common causes of chronic tinnitus. As the delicate hair cells in the inner ear deteriorate over time, the brain compensates by turning up its own internal signals. This type of tinnitus tends to be persistent. It does not disappear, but it can be managed very effectively with the right hearing aids and sound therapy programs.
From Head or Neck Trauma
Injuries to the head, neck, or jaw can disrupt the auditory nerve or alter the way the brain processes sound. Tinnitus following trauma can be unpredictable. Some cases resolve as swelling decreases and tissue heals. Others persist long-term, particularly when the auditory nerve itself is affected.
Temporary vs. Chronic Tinnitus: What’s the Difference?
The two broad categories are worth understanding clearly.
Temporary tinnitus resolves within a few days to a few weeks. It is typically tied to a short-term trigger like noise exposure, infection, or earwax. The auditory system recovers, and the perceived sound fades.
Chronic tinnitus is defined as tinnitus that persists for more than three months. At this threshold, the brain has often begun to reorganize around the signal, making it harder to ignore. This does not mean it is untreatable. It does mean that professional evaluation and an ongoing management plan become essential.
Here is a quick reference chart to help frame expectations:
| Cause | Typical Duration | Likely to Resolve on Its Own? |
|---|---|---|
| Brief loud noise exposure | Hours to 48 hours | Yes |
| Prolonged noise exposure | Days to 2 weeks | Often, with ear rest |
| Ear infection (treated) | 1 to 3 weeks | Yes, with treatment |
| Earwax impaction (removed) | Days after removal | Yes |
| Medication side effect | Varies; may improve with dose change | Often, with medical guidance |
| Hypertension / vascular causes | Ongoing; tied to cardiovascular control | Partially, with treatment |
| Age-related hearing loss | Persistent | Rarely without intervention |
| Head or neck trauma | Variable | Sometimes |
| Meniere’s disease | Episodic, recurring | Managed, not cured |
The Real Impact on Daily Life
How long does tinnitus last matters so much because of what it costs people while it is present. The constant auditory intrusion affects more than just hearing.
Sleep disruption is one of the most common complaints. Quiet environments make tinnitus louder and more noticeable, which makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Chronic sleep deprivation, in turn, heightens the brain’s sensitivity to the signal and creates a frustrating loop.
Concentration suffers next. Many people describe tinnitus as an uninvited background track that competes with everything they are trying to focus on. Work, reading, conversations, and even leisure activities become more effortful.
The emotional toll is significant too. Anxiety and depression are commonly reported alongside chronic tinnitus, not just as reactions but as conditions that can genuinely amplify how loud and intrusive the sound feels. Stress and tinnitus share a bidirectional relationship. Stress worsens tinnitus, and tinnitus worsens stress.
Nutrition and Lifestyle: Your Overlooked Tinnitus Levers
Most people do not connect what they eat and how they live to tinnitus severity. The connection is real and well-supported by research. Your inner ear depends on strong blood flow and healthy cellular function. Both are directly influenced by nutrition and lifestyle choices.
Foods That Help
Antioxidant-rich foods protect the hair cells in your inner ear from oxidative stress. Leafy greens, berries, and colorful vegetables all contribute. Magnesium-rich foods like nuts, seeds, and dark chocolate help buffer the auditory system against noise-induced damage. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish, flaxseed, and walnuts support circulation and reduce inflammation.
Potassium-rich foods like bananas, potatoes, and avocados support the fluid balance in your inner ear, which is critical for proper auditory function. For a full breakdown of foods that support your auditory health, our guide on eating for auditory health is a helpful resource.
What to Limit
Excessive caffeine can spike vascular reactivity and heighten tinnitus perception in sensitive individuals. Alcohol dilates blood vessels and alters inner ear fluid pressure. High sodium intake raises blood pressure and reduces circulation to the auditory system. None of these require complete elimination for most people, but moderation makes a measurable difference.
Sleep, Exercise, and Stress Management
Regular aerobic exercise improves cardiovascular health, which directly supports inner ear circulation. Even a daily 30-minute walk helps. Stress reduction practices, including mindfulness, progressive muscle relaxation, and consistent sleep schedules, reduce the brain’s hypervigilance around the tinnitus signal. Prioritizing quality sleep is not optional. It is one of the most powerful tools available for managing how loud and bothersome tinnitus feels day to day.
Proven Strategies for Managing Tinnitus
When tinnitus persists past the temporary phase, a layered management approach is far more effective than any single remedy. Here is what the evidence and clinical practice support.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy introduces external auditory stimulation to reduce the contrast between tinnitus and silence. White noise machines, nature sounds, and low-level music all work by giving your brain something else to process. This is not masking in the simplest sense. Over time, consistent sound enrichment supports habituation, the process by which your brain learns to deprioritize the tinnitus signal.
Tinnitus Relief Apps
Modern apps have made sound therapy far more accessible. Several apps allow you to customize soundscapes, track usage, and pair directly with hearing aids. Our detailed guide on tinnitus relief apps covers six clinically informed options from brands including ReSound, Starkey, and Phonak. These tools work best as part of a broader care plan rather than as standalone fixes.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
TRT combines structured sound therapy with educational counseling. The goal is to move tinnitus from the brain’s threat category to a neutral background signal, one your brain learns to filter out like the hum of a refrigerator. It typically involves regular sessions over 12 to 24 months and has a strong evidence base for reducing tinnitus severity and the distress it causes.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT does not make tinnitus quieter. What it does is change how you respond to it. By working with a trained therapist to identify and reframe negative thought patterns around tinnitus, many people experience significant reductions in emotional distress and functional impairment. CBT is widely considered the most evidence-backed psychological approach for chronic tinnitus management.
Emerging Treatments
Research into tinnitus treatment is advancing. One of the most discussed emerging approaches is bimodal neuromodulation, which pairs sound therapy with gentle sensory stimulation to retrain the auditory system. The Washington Post recently reported on this approach in an in-depth look at tinnitus neuromodulation research, noting that some patients in clinical trials experienced meaningful reductions in tinnitus severity. These therapies are not yet mainstream, but they represent a genuinely promising direction for people who have not found sufficient relief through existing options.
How Hearing Aids Help Tinnitus
For the significant portion of people whose tinnitus accompanies hearing loss, hearing aids are often one of the most immediately effective tools available. When the auditory system is not working hard to process quiet sounds, tinnitus tends to become less noticeable and less disruptive.
Modern hearing aids from brands we carry do far more than amplify sound. They include dedicated tinnitus management programs that deliver customized sound therapy directly to your ears throughout the day. Our detailed guide on the best hearing aids for tinnitus walks through the specific features that matter most. For older adults in particular, combining amplification with tinnitus sound therapy has shown strong results. Our article on hearing aids for seniors with tinnitus goes deeper on what to look for and why fit and programming matter so much.
The Starkey Genesis AI, for example, delivers over 80 million automated sound adjustments per hour and includes a built-in tinnitus multiflex tinnitus technology feature. The ReSound Nexia combines its award-winning M&RIE design with direct app-based tinnitus sound control. Phonak’s Audéo R Infinio uses SmartSpeech technology and EchoBlock to reduce the environmental noise that can make tinnitus more intrusive. Each of these is available through our locations in Sioux Falls and Buffalo.
A proper fitting and individualized programming are what separate a hearing aid that helps from one that merely amplifies. That is why our approach to tinnitus treatment options always begins with a thorough evaluation.
When to See a Hearing Care Provider
Most short-lived tinnitus resolves without intervention. These situations call for a prompt professional evaluation:
- Tinnitus that lasts longer than two weeks without an obvious cause
- Sudden tinnitus with no recent noise exposure or ear irritation
- Tinnitus in one ear only, especially when it starts suddenly
- Tinnitus accompanied by dizziness, hearing changes, or ear pain
- Pulsatile tinnitus that beats in rhythm with your heartbeat
- Tinnitus that is significantly affecting sleep, work, or mental health
Early evaluation is not an overreaction. It is how underlying causes get identified and addressed before they become harder to manage. Many people wait years before seeking help, and earlier intervention consistently leads to better outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tinnitus go away permanently after years of having it? It is possible, though less common once tinnitus has been chronic for an extended period. Some people do experience natural resolution, especially if the underlying cause is addressed. Many others achieve such a high level of habituation through treatment that tinnitus becomes a non-issue in daily life even if it has not disappeared entirely.
Does stress make tinnitus worse? Yes. Stress activates the nervous system and heightens the brain’s response to perceived threats, including tinnitus. Reducing stress through sleep, exercise, and relaxation practices is one of the most effective ways to reduce how loud and bothersome tinnitus feels.
Is tinnitus worse at night? For most people, yes. Quiet environments remove the background auditory competition that keeps tinnitus less noticeable during the day. Using a white noise machine, a fan, or a sound therapy app at bedtime makes a significant difference for many people.
Can a poor diet make tinnitus worse? Research supports a connection between cardiovascular health and tinnitus severity. Diets high in sodium, saturated fat, and alcohol can impair circulation and raise blood pressure, both of which can worsen tinnitus. Eating for overall vascular health directly supports your auditory system.
What is the difference between subjective and objective tinnitus? Subjective tinnitus, by far the most common type, can only be heard by the person experiencing it. Objective tinnitus, which is rare, can actually be detected by a clinician during examination. It is usually caused by a physical sound source, such as a vascular irregularity or muscle spasm near the ear.
How long does tinnitus last after a concert? Post-concert tinnitus usually resolves within 16 to 48 hours. Giving your ears complete rest during that window is important. Avoid additional noise exposure, skip headphone use, and let the auditory system recover. If ringing continues past 72 hours, see a hearing care provider.
You Do Not Have to Just Live With It
How long does tinnitus last is often the first question. The more empowering question is what you can do about it. Most people can reduce the impact of tinnitus meaningfully with the right combination of professional care, lifestyle strategies, and technology.
At Stanford Hearing, we have helped patients manage tinnitus for over 20 years. Our team offers free consultations, comprehensive tinnitus evaluations, and access to the latest hearing aids and sound therapy programs. You do not need to figure this out on your own. Contact us to schedule your free consultation and start building a plan that fits your life.