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Of course you don't have noise-induced tinnitus. How silly of me to suggest such a thing. Michael

I am not into avoiding sounds either, and I agree with you that's not the way to live. I am an audiophile and regularly listen to my Hi-Fi at 50 to 70 decibels without any problems. I only use hearing protection when using my petrol lawn mower and electric drills. If you're sure the desktop...

I am unable to recommend specific desktop speakers for you, @AfroSnowman, but I do have a few suggestions to consider. I think it would be better to purchase a pair of speakers from a store for a home trial rather than buying them online. When you visit the store, explain to the manager the...

I agree with the advice your audiologists have given you. Tinnitus and hyperacusis can improve with time and treatment. Please read my thread: Hyperacusis, as I See It. All the best, Michael

I have no experience with the supplements you have mentioned, @shasta0863. You have had noise-induced tinnitus for a long time. It is my area of interest, along with hyperacusis. This is the reason I replied to your questions: I want to try to help you. As I have previously mentioned, I advise...

Hi @Jupiterman, quite a few people have told me that hearing aids made their tinnitus worse. However, there is a correct way to use them that reduces this risk. I usually advise people to introduce hearing aids gradually, and in most cases, they do quite well. Hearing loss can make existing...

Listening to audio through headphones at what you call “normal conversation levels” does not apply to most people with noise-induced tinnitus. I have written about this many times in this forum and in articles on my threads. Please read: Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus? Variable tinnitus...

If you have noise-induced tinnitus, with or without hyperacusis, and you use any type of headphones, including bone-conduction headphones, even at low volume, then you risk making your tinnitus and hyperacusis worse. If the tinnitus and hyperacusis do become worse, they might not reduce to a...

No. I haven't experienced any form of hyperacusis in 27 years. I haven't had any desire to go to concerts or loud outdoor events. I have been to many parties over the years and have my noise-reducing earplugs to hand, just in case the music gets too loud. Normally, I wouldn't stay at any event...

I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you are having with your tinnitus at the moment. My advice is not to use bone-conduction headphones, as you risk making your tinnitus worse. I suspect that your tinnitus was originally noise-induced. People with this type of tinnitus risk making it...

You have noise-induced tinnitus. Therefore, you are playing with fire, as you risk making your tinnitus worse if you listen to audio through any type of headphone even at low volume. Michael

@Nick47, as you know, we are all different, which also means no two people will experience tinnitus the same. Clonazepam affects people differently. For some people, Clonazepam has no effect, while others find it helpful. Last year, in February, my tinnitus changed dramatically, and I have no...

I live in the UK. My ENT doctor prescribed me Clonazepam in 2011. I still take it when my tinnitus is severe. If your tinnitus is severe and you are having difficulty managing it, then talk to your ENT consultant. Clonazepam shouldn't be taken too often as it will lose its effectiveness in...

Hi @SBlue, I am sorry to know of the difficulties that you are going through with tinnitus at the moment. This condition can be very distressing in the early stages which you are in. If you are also experiencing any oversensitivity to sound or hyperacusis, it can make your situation worse. It...

It's not a good idea. Proving malpractice against anyone in the medical profession can be extremely difficult and costly. The only people who will benefit financially are lawyers. As soon as you run out of money, they will drop the case. Someone I knew tried to sue his dentist for making his...

Since 2010. I only take it when the tinnitus is severe. If Clonazepam is taken too often, one can build up a resilience to it. Fortunately, this hasn't happened to me. I wish you well, Michael

I said in my opening post to this thread that I am not a connoisseur of reel-to-reel technology, but I am someone who takes listening to music extremely seriously. To get the best out of your Hi-Fi system, it is vitally important that the whole system produces synergy. This is the reason I have...

On the contrary, @Stuart-T, I think you are serious about listening to music. The fact that you have a history in audio equipment and recently bought a Rega P2 turntable demonstrates this. I explained my interest in reel-to-reel tape recorders merely to answer your questions on the subject...

Just type reel-to-reel tape recorders on YouTube, @stuart. You can watch and listen to audiophiles talk about the benefits of reel-to-reel tape recorders. Google R2R tape recorders and read about how good they are. Revered tape recorder manufacturer Revox, has recently released their brand new...

If you are happy with LPs, then continue using them. You can use the forward or rewind switch on a reel-to-reel to find tracks. Most have a cueing lever that allows the tape to be heard as it passes over the playback head at high speed. Personally, I just load a spool of tape and let it play...

I have had tinnitus for 28 years. I have counselled and corresponded with many people that have contacted me for help with their tinnitus and hyperacusis. My area of interest is noise-induced tinnitus, with or without hyperacusis. The positive feedback that I have received from people spurs me...

My advice is to have the MRI scan, @SugarMagnolia. I recently had to have one because my tinnitus has changed considerably. I was also concerned about the noise of the MRI machine, but realized it was necessary to find out whether there was an underlying medical problem within my auditory system...

Hi Stuart, If one chooses to venture into reel-to-reel tape recorders, they need to be aware that it can be seriously addictive and expensive. However, the rewards aren't subtle. Once you hear your music replayed on reel-to-reel tape, you will gradually lose interest in hearing music played...

HI @Sparklecat, I advise you to give your ears a rest, avoid loud noise, and refrain from using any type of headphones, even at low volume. It seems likely that you have noise-induced tinnitus. This type of tinnitus usually remains stable and does not worsen for most people, provided they...

Hi @SimonP, I had raised cholesterol, so my GP advised me to take medication to help keep it under control. I took three types, including the two that you have mentioned. Unfortunately, they all increased my tinnitus. I had other unpleasant side effects with Ezetimbe and the third medication...

You make an interesting point @Jupiterman. I recently counseled someone with this problem. I suggested they take their time and introduce sound enrichment slowly and at the lowest level possible. One has to experiment to see what is best for them because we are all different. One thing is...

You can use whatever type of sound enrichment you like at night as long as it's not music. Keep the volume low so it's not drawing attention to itself. The brain and auditory system never turn off until we die. People who have intrusive tinnitus should play sound enrichment throughout the night...

If by "successful treatment" you mean addressing tinnitus, please note that ENT doctors do not directly treat tinnitus itself. Instead, they often treat underlying medical conditions within the auditory system that may cause tinnitus. This does not mean they can "cure" tinnitus. However, if it's...

I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing so much difficulty with ear pain, @PeteJ. ENT doctors are highly skilled physicians who treat medical conditions affecting the ear, nose, and throat. I think you should see an ENT so that your ears and auditory system can be examined. Accept whatever...

Hi @MiaVIL. I have had TRT twice with good results. This treatment must be administered correctly for it to work. Some people claim to have had TRT but have had nothing of the sought. The treatment can last up to two years. Regular counseling with a TRT specialist is required, and wearing white...

I am doing fine @Tim Moore, thank you for asking. I advise you to use a proper sound machine to enrich sound instead of your iPhone. The iPhone will not be as good as a sound machine unless it is attached to a docking station with speakers fitted or connected to an external speaker by...

You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine. Michael

Quite a startling shift from the old design which will take me a while to get used to. On the whole, I think it's an improvement, so well done. Personally, I would rather you didn't include the Tinnitus Quest banner, as I find it quite annoying. Just my opinion.

Hi @EmLeo, I have never taken Prednisone. I am aware that some people find it helpful while others don't. Please print the posts that I have mentioned and others that you find of interest, then place them in a folder. Refer to them often. They are a form of counseling and will help to...

Hi @EmLeo, Headphones are one of the most common causes of tinnitus. Please read the following posts on my started threads: New to Tinnitus, What to Do? Tinnitus, A Personal View Hyperacusis, As I See It Will My Tinnitus Get Worse? How to Habituate to Tinnitus The Habituation Process There...

You are welcome Matt. Take care, Michael

Hi Matt, I’m sorry to hear that you’re going through a difficult time with tinnitus right now. Your username is familiar to me. You’ve had tinnitus since 2016 and managed to habituate for quite some time. I remember you mentioning that you listened to audio through headphones without any...

Tinnitus can be mild, moderate, or severe. Some people with mild tinnitus have no idea it can reach severe levels until it happens to them. Take care, Michael

You will habituate in time, @KaiT81. Please follow my advice to @Furetto.

I have had TRT twice in the 28 years I’ve had tinnitus. It’s too soon for you to start TRT, CBT, or any other long-term treatment for tinnitus. I recommend waiting another 3 to 4 months before beginning TRT. Please click on the link below and read my thread: What Is TRT and When Should It Be...

Hi @Furetto. Thank you for your kind comments and for sharing additional information about your tinnitus. I agree that the noise trauma likely triggered a resurgence of your symptoms, and I hope that, in time, the tinnitus will subside. You are making a good choice by avoiding quiet rooms, but...

Hi @Furetto. I don't think what you're experiencing will significantly affect your tinnitus fading over time. As you go through the habituation process, the tinnitus should gradually recede into the background. You mentioned in a post from 2020 that this happened to you, where you were able to...

Tinnitus actually comes from the brain, although we also hear it through our ears.

Hi Michael, Although your profile states that the cause of your tinnitus is unknown, there is often an underlying reason. From your post, I suspect your tinnitus may be noise-induced, which is one of the most common causes. Since you've asked for help, my advice is to lower the volume of your...

You have clearly never experienced severe, debilitating tinnitus; otherwise, you wouldn’t be speaking such nonsense. Many people have taken their own lives because they couldn’t cope with the constant cacophony of noise in their heads and ears. Some of these individuals were members of Tinnitus...

Don't worry about writing frequently—Tinnitus Talk is a support forum, after all. Tinnitus can be incredibly debilitating when it's severe, and it can feel almost impossible to block out the noise and carry on with daily activities to distract yourself. I understand how you're feeling right now...

I was referring to Sound Oasis speakers. They connect to the main sound machine unit via a thin cable with a 3.5mm jack at the end, which plugs into the audio output of the sound machine. Michael

Please understand that the advice I offer at Tinnitus Talk is not absolute because everyone’s experience is different. What works for one person may not work for another. However, my advice is based on 28 years of experience living with noise-induced tinnitus. I have also counseled and...

I agree with you. This is why it's so important to maintain a positive mindset, even during tough times. There's no doubt that tinnitus can be very debilitating when it's severe, but we must try not to let negativity become overwhelming. My threads, Acquiring a Positive Mindset and Tinnitus and...

A sound machine is much smaller and more portable than a laptop. External Sound Oasis pillow speakers can be attached to the sound machine. These speakers are quite thin, around 12 mm, and can easily slip under your existing pillow, providing privacy without disturbing your sleeping partner...

Normally, I would agree with you, @Lipshitz, but as I’ve mentioned before, both my ENT consultant and hearing therapist have informed me that I have a rare and severe form of noise-induced tinnitus, which is not often seen in other tinnitus patients. This is why I was prescribed Clonazepam in...

If you're happy using your laptop for sound enrichment, then continue using it. Personally, I prefer to use a dedicated sound machine for sound enrichment at night. Sound enrichment is one of the best ways to treat oversensitivity to sound, hyperacusis, and to help a person habituate to...

I once believed this to be true, @Lipshitz, but let me assure you, this is not the case for me. If you look up unilateral tinnitus online, you'll find that it is considered more serious than bilateral tinnitus. ENT doctors believe it could indicate a more serious underlying issue within the...

Hi @kingsfan. The sound of running water is usually pleasant to listen to, and I think a tabletop fountain is a good idea for sound enrichment. My only concern is that the sound of the fountain shouldn’t mask or completely cover up your tinnitus. Since it doesn’t have a volume control, you may...

After my second noise trauma in 2008, it took me four years to habituate again. Please refer to my thread, "My Experience with Tinnitus," for more details. I have a very rare and severe form of noise-induced tinnitus, according to both my ENT consultant and hearing therapist. They rarely...

You are not using sound therapy correctly. The purpose of sound therapy at night is to provide low-level sound enrichment to the brain and auditory system, as they remain active even during sleep. The goal is not to mask the tinnitus or completely cover it up so it can't be heard. Instead, the...

Nothing is absolute. I merely make suggestions about how a person will respond to tinnitus because we are all different. However, I will say I am quite surprised that you're not a native English speaker. If I may say so, you're quite articulate and convey what you want to say rather well. The...

I advise you to take it one day at a time and not look for any expectations, as you will likely be disappointed if they do not come to fruition. Tinnitus can be very unpredictable in the early stages and beyond, so try to take things easy and relax. There is always hope. You are in the early...

I understand the difficulties that you are going through with tinnitus at the moment. Don't be too hard on yourself. Take each day at a time. Remember to use low-level sound enrichment, especially at night. Read my thread: The Habituation Process. It is understandable that on bad days, you lose...

Hi @Tim Moore. Thank you for your kind comments. I'm sorry to hear you're currently struggling with tinnitus. For those who are new to tinnitus, like yourself, I don't recommend starting any long-term treatments, such as CBT or TRT, too early on. This is just my personal opinion and not...