It’s common to experience loud ringing or buzzing in your ears after watching fireworks or attending other loud events. This sensation – called tinnitus – usually only lasts for a few hours.

Sometimes, though, that ringing doesn’t go away. Considering fireworks and other loud events can lead to temporary (or permanent) hearing loss, it’s important to know how to treat tinnitus spikes and when to seek professional care.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing ringing or buzzing in your ears, and around 20% of the global population has some form of it.

Tinnitus can be caused by damage to your inner ear, infections, medications, and a variety of other events. It’s most common after loud events like fireworks or concerts. The vibrations overstimulate or even damage the cells of your inner ear, and tinnitus is your body trying to repair the damage.

Depending on the cause or severity of the damage, tinnitus can be temporary or permanent. Permanent tinnitus doesn’t always mean constant ringing in the ears. Instead, people might experience episodes intermittently even if they don’t attend loud events.

Avoiding Tinnitus

Hearing conservation is important. While tinnitus can go away on its own, repeated exposure to loud noise can worsen your hearing over time.

It’s important to maintain a safe distance from the source of the noise. For example, you don’t want to be near the launch site of fireworks without significant hearing protection.

Wearing earplugs to all loud events can help protect your hearing. It might take some time to find the earplugs that work best for you. Investing in custom ear protection that’s fitted to your specifications and needs can significantly reduce the risk of hearing loss over time.

How to Recover from Tinnitus After Fireworks

It’s completely normal to experience tinnitus after a loud event (like fireworks). It’s a sign that your ears are recovering. But during this period, you want to avoid other loud events or noises to give your ears time to recover.

Additionally, gentle background noise (like a fan) can help alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus as it will give your brain something else to focus on.

When should I see an audiologist?

You should consider getting your hearing checked if your tinnitus doesn’t go away after 48 hours or if it is accompanied by any of the following:

• Headaches
• Ear Pain
• Dizziness
• Noticeable Hearing Loss

Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center offers a wide range of audiology services, including hearing evaluations. We can help determine the level of hearing loss (if any) and provide recommendations to ease your tinnitus symptoms. Call 216-231-8787 to request a hearing evaluation or submit an Appointment Request Form.