Grace,
Transient spontaneous tinnitus comes on suddenly and unpredictably in one ear, lasts for a few seconds, and fades away. The name for this type of tinnitus has to do with how it comes on out of nowhere and doesn't last. It sometimes occurs in a quiet setting. While it lasts, this generally high pitched tinnitus is louder than a person's usual tinnitus and hearing may be very muffled in that ear. Some people feel some fullness in the affected ear.
Erlend, its cause is unknown, but people in the field generally agree that it is not associated with an underlying pathology or that it is a cause for concern about a person's hearing.
Some find it unnerving, especially at first and particularly if it happens when we are having a hard time with tinnitus. Although it is a very common experience, and can even happen to people who do not otherwise have tinnitus, some of us may believe it is a sign of damage. It isn't. Some of us also believe things must be getting worse when transient spontaneous tinnitus happens more often. Fortunately, things aren't getting worse.
This form of tinnitus often stops happening at all over time.
The best way to stop feeling anxious or frightened of it is to assign as little meaning to these momentary sounds as we can.
Grace, no matter how often it occurs, people who have had their ears examined before and after this sudden, momentary ringing occurs, show no sign of ear damage.
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