Ear infections can sometimes lead to tinnitus. When this happens, it’s normal to feel worried or frustrated. However, tinnitus caused by ear infection is not uncommon and will usually resolve on its own over time. There are many things you can do in the meantime to learn how to cope.
How exactly do ear infections lead to tinnitus? When you have an ear infection, tinnitus can result from an increase of earwax or fluid in your ear. That excess wax or fluid can put pressure on your eardrum which may trigger the perception of a ringing sound, also called tinnitus. Tinnitus is quite common; around 10% of adults in the U.S. (or 25 million Americans) have experienced tinnitus in the past year.¹
Tinnitus can be a temporary side effect of an ear infection. But you might wonder, how long does temporary tinnitus last? Typically, tinnitus from an ear infection only lasts for a few weeks. However, if the ear infection was severe, the tinnitus may last as long as several months. If your tinnitus is lingering for months after an ear infection and disrupting your daily life, it’s a good idea to see a doctor to be sure there isn’t another cause.
Tinnitus is always caused by an underlying condition. Because of this, the symptoms of tinnitus are mostly the same, regardless of what caused it. Tinnitus symptoms typically include a ringing or buzzing sound in one or both ears that can vary in pitch. Sometimes, tinnitus is perceived as a whooshing or heartbeat sound in the ear. This is called pulsatile tinnitus.
Treating tinnitus caused by an ear infection first requires treating the ear infection. There are different types of ear infections. Some of them affect the inner ear while others affect the middle or outer ear. Some ear infections are bacterial while others are caused by viruses. Home remedies can help and are usually a good place to start. Here are a few things you can do for ear infection and tinnitus treatment:
While it isn’t an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for ear infections, specifically, pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help. These can reduce the swelling and inflammation in your ear and help you manage the pain. However, while they may help with the symptoms of your ear infection, medicine like this may actually make the ringing in your ears worse.
Many pain relievers are considered ototoxic , which means that they may cause temporary or permanent damage to your ear and hearing.2 Before taking pain relievers, be sure you review the dosage instructions and speak with your doctor if you have any questions.
Dealing with tinnitus after an ear infection can be frustrating, but your symptoms will most likely improve over time. Learning how to cope with tinnitus is an important part of managing it in the meantime. Here are a few strategies to try:
Another lifestyle change you can make when learning how to cope with tinnitus is adjusting your diet. There is still research being done to determine whether or not certain foods can lessen tinnitus symptoms. According to a study published in Ear and Hearing, higher intake of vitamin B12 was found to reduce the likelihood of tinnitus.4
Another study published in Nutrients found a potential correlation between high-protein foods and reduced tinnitus.5 While there is still not enough evidence to fully support this, eating a well-rounded diet can help support your immune system, keeping you healthy and at less risk of developing illnesses in the first place.
1 Bhatt, JM; Lin, HW; Bhattacharyya, N (2016): Prevalence, severity, exposures, and treatment patterns of tinnitus in the United States. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Oct 1;142(10):959-965. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2016.1700.
2 Cone, B., Dorn, P., Konrad-Martin, D., Lister, J., Ortiz, C., & Schairer, K. Ototoxic Medications (Medication Effects). (n.d.) American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. asha.org/public/hearing/ototoxic-medications/
3 Hackenberg, B., Döge, J., O'Brien, K., Bohnert, A., Lackner, K. J., Beutel, M. E., Michal, M., Münzel, T., Wild, P. S., Pfeiffer, N., Schulz, A., Schmidtmann, I., Matthias, C., & Bahr, K. (2023). Tinnitus and Its Relation to Depression, Anxiety, and Stress-A Population-Based Cohort Study. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(3), 1169. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12031169
4 Dawes, P., Cruickshanks, K. J., Marsden, A., Moore, D. R., & Munro, K. J. (2020). Relationship Between Diet, Tinnitus, and Hearing Difficulties. Ear and hearing, 41(2), 289–299. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000000765
5 Jarach, C. M., Lugo, A., Garavello, W., van den Brandt, P. A., Odone, A., Cederroth, C. R., Bosetti, C., & Gallus, S. (2023). The Role of Diet in Tinnitus Onset: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study from Italy. Nutrients, 15(3), 621. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030621
