Re: Tinnitus

ThinkingOutLoud · ‎05-01-2020

Since western medicine has been no help, I'd be calling every holistic health professional I could think of. I'd start with accupuncturists, naturopaths, herbalists, etc and ask if they know of any solutions or who might.

granddi · ‎03-16-2010

@matty liz wrote:
You guys are so helpful and just checking for help with my problem, just to cope. I have tinnitus in an almost deaf ear. No lectures please as I have a GP, Audiologist, recently a sleep specialist. Had MRI Cat scan nothing. I'm to the point of knowing no stopping noise,which is 24/7 365 days a yr. but just looking for something that might distract me, esp. at night. Thanks

I could have written your post. I have 80% hearing loss in one ear. It was a sudden onset and like you have MRI, ENT, GP, Audiologist.......I'm new to all this and trying to learn but here are some things that I have discovered.

For those of us with hearing loss, tinnitus is like phantom pain from a missing limb. Our ear is receiving sound but the sensory connections (nerves) are not responding- the term sensory hearing loss.

I had been reading about Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy possibly giving some relief for tinnitus. I have not persured this but I am scheduled to go to a major university medical system soon.

I had also asked if anyone was familiar with CROS hearing aids. This is a type of hearing aid that redirects the sound from the affected ear to the more normal ear. Apparently they are difficult to manage and results are mixed. A more successful proceedure is a BAHA- bone attached hearing aid. It is not a cochlear implant.

Some else mentioned background noise helps. It's odd about sleeping. If I sleep on my good side, I am more aware of the tinnitus. I guess bc the good ear is restricted to not receiving the sound of the "night" like the fan noise.

I am not responding as an expert but from someone who is going through this too. I hope others will repond.

If you or a someone you know reports a sudden loss of hearing, go to ENT or audiologist ASAP. In some cases, steroids or antivirals could salvage some hearing but your window of treatment is only a few weeks. Dont just think it is age related.

author · ‎03-09-2010

I've had a mild case of it for years and in the day with other noises all the time I don't notice it too much. It's a high pitched whine, all the time in one ear. I can still hear very well.

Sleeping was a problem, but now my cat and I love to play Yo Yo Ma's Bach cello solos at bedtime; we fall asleep in minutes. The music is wonderful and I can't hear the noise in my head.

Choose something you love that is relaxing and give it a try. I also play music at low level in the house all day.

ALRATIBA · ‎07-15-2016

@Auntie CC

I agree ....

Same here - it's been about 15 years for me. I got used to it.

The only time I "hear" it is for a short while when there's been a change in tone or volume.

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

Mine is very high pitched. I used to think it was coming from the TV. Mostly, I'm able to ignore it, especially the more busy I am. Of course, talking about it makes it worse. I do keep the TV on in the background all the time when I'm inside, but when I'm outside, I don't want to hear that sort of stuff, just the sounds of nature. My hearing is excellent especially for my age. I have no difficulty falling asleep though. I have used a white noise machine for years, even before getting the tinnitus, so I don't know if it helps or not. I don't sleep well away from home though.

Still Raining · ‎03-30-2014

Seems to be something that will be with you, so best to make friends with it. Then ignore.

I do have fun pressing on the top of my head to make it louder 🙇

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

What is odd to me is that it seems like something that should be curable. Yet, it's not.

Mine sometimes is so loud, it's about as loud as if somebody were yelling at me. I have a few different sound profiles going on in mine. Fortunately, the super high-pitched sound mostly happens whenever there is a loud, sudden, shrill, and/or right near my head, sound. I will suddenly get that REEEEEEEEEEEE, high pitched sound that's so dreadful. Then it will dissipate, as a rule, and just go back to what it usually is.

The main sound I have is like a swarm of those cicada bugs you have in some parts of the country. I didn't know this, as we don't have them, until I heard a video recently of what they sound like.

Then I also have kind of a background sound that sounds like either the heat/ac coming on or the garage door opening. That's annoying. Another background one I get sometimes sounds like a bunch of people somewhere in the distance talking. It's not like hearing words but just the effect of a bunch of people talking. That sounds odd, but it's hard to describe.

Every now and then I find myself in a period where it's really low and I always try to appreciate that while I have it because it's probably once in a month or two and only lasts a couple hours. The rest of the time it ranges from fairly loud to REALLY loud.

It's like you never have any peace, you know?

I agree with others that having other sounds going on kind of takes your mind off it a bit. It takes really loud sounds, like being at a live concert to fully overtake it. But having the tv on or music can make it less invasive.

helping1 · ‎07-18-2010

@matty liz I'm sorry that you're suffering so much. I sometimes get tinnitus, and I also have TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder (that includes jaw pain), such as from grinding or clenching the teeth in my sleep. I'd gone to a local tinnitus support group and the group leader had mentioned how some with TMJ may get tinnitus. I then got TMJ physical therapy (and a custom-made jaw splint/bite guard), which did help the tinnitus symptoms. My TMJ bite guard no longer fits, so perhaps that is one reason why I tend to get more symptoms.

Just an fyi that the bite guard was from a periodontist (dentist who specializes in gum disease and disorders), however, their jaw splints are usually pricier (though may be more comfortable) than from a regular dentist. With regard to physical therapy (PT) for TMJ for anyone to know, a licensed dentist or periodontist usually needs to give the patient a 'script before receiving PT.

Some have suggested a white noise machine (though I don't personally use one).

I've read that if using a noisy device (perhaps even when vaccumming), to consider wearing ear phones to help lessen the sound. (Too much noise or decibels in life may apparently worsen tinnitus.) Hoping that you get some relief soon and/or find some coping strategies that work. The American Tinnitus Association site has more general information (though, *not* in place of medical advice).

matty liz · ‎03-14-2011

I don't know how to thank each of you. We are all on the same path and someday help maybe more direct. In a way it helps to know you understand. If I ever come across a viable suggestion, I,ll share. Thanks to each of you and I did pick up things to try.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

One other unfortunate thing I find is that, after years of this, my hearing is worse all the time. Plus, I can only handle (barely) two sounds at a time - the tinnitis and one more thing. So, if there are multiple external sounds, or more than one person talking, it just all goes blotto and all I hear is the tinnitis and a bunch of racket.

I so hate having to say 'pardon me' when somebody speaks softly and I cannot hear what they say because a lot of people, at that point, will YELL. I also have an adversion to yelling (childhood horrors). So, sometimes I just end up not hearing some of it and hoping I didn't miss anything important.