10 Hz Amplitude Modulated Sounds Induce Short-Term Tinnitus Suppression

http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00130/full

Found this to be very interesting.

Conclusion: Taken together, these results imply that AM sounds, especially in or around the tinnitus frequency, may induce larger suppression than unmodulated sounds. Future studies should thus evaluate this approach in longitudinal studies and real life settings. Furthermore, the putative neural relation of these sound stimuli with a modulation rate in the EEG α band to the observed tinnitus suppression should be probed with respective neurophysiological methods.​

 

Yeah, I have noticed before that if I play sounds around the same frequency as my tinnitus, it is actually surpressed for a few seconds up to a minute.

 

Could this be replicated using domestic computing sound programmes?

 

It's called residual habituation and many of us experience brief moments of silence after listening to sound therapies.

 

Most likely yes.

 

Could you please explain to me how residual habition works?

 

For me, after listening to my sounds, white noise, or notched or even nature sounds, after stopping I have brief moments of silence. I believe this is the basis of successful use of sounds, where over time these brief moments of silence provide the relief you need to habituate. I still hear my tinnitus but it's no longer controlling my life and I'm functioning 100% as my old self before tinnitus and believe me, like most of us here, I perceive mine as being particularly loud. I know it's not but I think it is but the trick is to just go with the flow and get busy living life.

 

The only time I have had seconds of relief of my tinnitus is straight after a shower, it lasts maybe 10-20 seconds. My main (and loudest) tinnitus tone is 12.5khz. Nothing masks it, not even close. If anyone has any ideas I'm really keen to listen, I hear the noise CONSTANTLY

 

Have you tried notch sounds? I've seen some post here about that topic. Don't know if there good above 8kHz though. I can't hear above 11.5kHz on my right ear. If I try to play that tone on my phone I have to increase the volume almost half way to hear it on my right ear.

 

residual inhibition!

 

Have you tried hearing aids @Blue28? In particular, ones that extend up to those higher frequencies, such as the Seimens Primax or other frequency lowering models. Some people report success with masking these upper frequencies.

 

If these modulated sounds could be created into a notch sound protocol, it would be interesting to see if they could produce longer term suppression with continuous exposure over time.

 

I tought it was called Residual inhibition.

 

Yes. Try to find your T tone;
http://www.szynalski.com/tone-generator/

 

Thanks @Paul10! I will check it out.

 

@Paul10 Thank you, I am checking this out as well.

 

Thanks for you input @EatMoTacos, I havent tried notch sounds, I have heard of them but know little about how they work etc. Maybe I should look more into this. Has anyone had success with notch sounds?

@Fabrikat I haven't tried hearing aids (because I was told by numerous ENT/Audiologists that they wouldn't help as my tinnitus/major hearing loss in the very high frequency range...I don't know if they're right). I read that the siemens Primax can go to 12kHz so that would cover my worst hearing loss. Has anyone had experience using hearing aids for very high frequency tinnitus/hearing loss?

 

@Blue28, perhaps there may be folk on the hearing aid threads that speak of their experiences with high frequency masking. But I know of a member called carlover, who in his earlier posts, speaks of his hearing aids reducing his tinnitus by 80% when he wears them. Also there's a bit of research on the benefits of frequency lowering hearing aids on long term tinnitus suppression, that makes interesting reading:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...ng-term-tinnitus-suppression-hearing-aid.894/

 

Thank you @Fabrikat, I'll check out the link and the hearing aid thread.

 

I just got hearing aids because of my high frequency hearing loss and it helps they adjust them to your frequency loss

 

Haven't got to play with them much just got them friday was told just to wear them 4 hrs a day for a week then a couple more hours the next week until I get use to them it got a setting for T relief white noise and ocean sounds but can't use them yet

 

Snap

 

@EatMoTacos How's your spike doing? I actually took Allegra last Thursday because of hives from poison ivy and my T has been louder again ever since. Hoping it will go back down soon.

 

I'm pretty sure it's called residual inhibition.

 

I just tried this tone generator . . . and now I'm a bit stunned.

I have severe hearing loss for 6k to 12k. Playing tones in those levels really does nothing for my tinnitus. At a recent appointment the audiologist did an acoustic emissions test and found it showed loss at 4k despite hearing tests showing no loss at that frequency. The doctor thought that suggested my loss is more cochlear than nerve based.

I tried this tone generator at 4k. Weirdest thing ever. It creates an echo. Does that happen for anyone else? I hear the 4k and when I mute it, I hear a higher pitch ring back. At first I thought the tone generator was broken because ever time I stopped the sound, I heard the same high pitch beep.

That did not happen with other frequencies, only those in 4k.

 

@Kayla L

My spike is still there after 5 weeks

I don't think it will go back down to what it was before. I'm starting to get worried.

 

Spikes sometimes takes months (or longer) to settle back down.

 

For me, I get at least a T reduction after running the vacuum. But I don't get a break often because I hate to vacuum.

 

When I really struggle with my T I play a similar sound on AudioNotch, but at a bit lower frequency.

It takes the claustrophobic feeling of the tinnitus being inside you away....hearing a similar sound from an actual external source.

After I turn it off (after half an hour tops) I hear something similar to silence for about 2 seconds before the awareness of my T returns.

 

I'm sure you know, but don't get worried. It will only make you notice it more and make it louder. Ignore it as much as possible and just get on with your life.