17 Year Old with Possible Tinnitus.

[aot]

Hi.
I've had hearing damage for almost all my life, but nothing really bad. Some problems with high frequencies, and stuff like that. I've always tried my best to care for my hearing. I listen to music at low volumes, I don't stick any random foreign objects in them, and I have the radio low whenever I'm in a car.
I unfortunately never got into the habit of using ear plugs, but I rarely ever hang out with anyone, or go anywhere loud. I've started using them now, (better late than never) and I would like recommendations from you all about which brands to buy and such.

It all started a couple days back. I was using a walkie talkie at work, and I mistakenly put the volume much higher than necessary. Someone spoke, and I damn blew my ear off. It was seriously the loudest thing I have ever heard.

At home, I kept hearing a low humming in my left ear, like a refrigerator or A.C. At first I thought it was my new ceiling fan, but I kept hearing the humming after turning the fan off. I had serious trouble sleeping, and I was scared that I was gonna go deaf or something. I told my mom, and tried my best to ignore it the next day.

I didn't hear it all the next day, but I always paid attention to see if it would ever comeback, and it did that night.
I was more calm this time, and I again ignored it, though I did advise my dad that perhaps I needed a doctor to check it out. (Oddly, the humming was in my left ear, but I hurt my right ear at work.)

Last night was when this all came to head. I kept hearing a high pitched ringing in my right ear, the one separate from the one where I heard the low pitched humming.
It was very faint. So faint in fact, that I wasn't even sure if I was really hearing it or not. It took me turning on all the fans to fall asleep. Again, it wasn't even that loud, but it was so annoying I just couldn't stand it.

It was gone when I woke up, but I heard it on and off again throughout the day. (At least, I think I did.)

My dad made an appointment with my doctor, so I'll be having this checked out soon. I hope it's the product of some coincidental ear infection, (I've had it before.) but I think it could also be Tinnitus.

Again, I haven't been diagnosed with Tinnitus, but those sounds, along with the occasional ear ache, makes me think that it might be the case.

So....Hi.

 

[rzhang]

Ask about prednisone

 

[aot]

I went to the doctor today. I told him what was going on, he said that it's possibly Tinnitus. However, he said that it might not be permanent. I'm seeing an ear specialist next month to have it checked out.

So, tell me, beautiful people: Is non permanent Tinnitus a thing?

 

[aot]

Oh god. I just woke up, and it's louder than ever. WTF do I do? It's so loud.

 

[glynis]

Tinnitus can be short lived and a rough guide is under six months it has every chance in going and over six months could be more permanent but still with good spells and flair ups.
You have done well looking after your ears and carry on doing that.
Stress and anxiety can make your tinnitus more noticable so best to keep a laid back approach.
Try downloading a free natural sound app to help you if your tinnitus keeps you awake at night so the sound enrichment will help mask your tinnitus.
Keep the sound at mixing point or lower as it will help your brain focus hard to listen to the natural sound and push your tinnitus sound into the background...lots of love glynis

 

[aot]

Thank you. It's a lot softer now, but I can still hear it. It's like being stabbed in the ears over and over.

I'll download that app, and I'm sorry about your Meniere's Disease. My mom has the same thing.

 

[aot]

I keep finding myself using that audio player more and more often. I don't want to have to deal with this for the rest of my life.

I have to sleep near the air conditioner, with all the fans running just to sleep.