Noise Trauma
Noise is a very significant factor that can cause acute tinnitus or chronic tinnitus. A sudden exposure to noise can cause a short-lived tinnitus due to the transient trauma. Elimination of the source of noise can effectively diminish tinnitus. Occupational or long-term exposure can lead to chronic tinnitus. The nature of noise-induced chronic tinnitus differs from the acute type; as the latter may gradually increase in intensity and is usually high-pitched. The pattern of occurrence may vary from intermittent to steady and constant. It is often seen with partial hearing loss. Whether tinnitus in this case is secondary to noise-induced hearing loss or an accompanying factor is up to debate.