5 Months with Unilateral High-Pitched Tinnitus — Related to Ear Wax or COVID-19 Infection?

[Stuart-T]

Hello fellow ear ringers.

I am a 57-year-old male. I have had unilateral tinnitus since February 25, 2022. It varies from a light hiss to an ultra high pitched monotone. I would rate it at 3/4 out of 10, and 5 out of 10 at its worse. It is not affecting my life much as after some initial panic and suicidal thoughts I seem to have habituated.

So how did I get to this?

Well - the ringing started on February 25, 2022. I was ill testing positive with COVID-19 from January 10 until about January 20. It was quite mild - no sore throat or cough - just a blocked nose for a couple of days and flu like symptoms. I also had a strong head cold in February which lasted a few days. I was sneezing so hard I thought I would blow my head off (indoors alone). I am unvaccinated.

I saw the doctor on February 28 and was told my ears are clogged with ear wax and I was advised to use olive oil until it comes out. The olive oil did not work so I tried Otex drops - still no luck. After 3 weeks of continual tinnitus I went to a private audiologist and had microsuction. He cleared the quiet ear but could not get out the compacted wax in my left ringing ear. He advised to continue with the olive oil.

I began to get impatient and went back to the Otex using it twice a day. I remembered that I had an oral irrigator and decided to use that on a medium setting. It produces a finer jet of water than ear irrigators but thought it might work. I got some wax out with this and noticed the tinnitus seemed to stop when I went to bed that night. Sadly in the morning it returned. I went back to the ear drops assuming there was still wax inside. I had another go with the irrigator and this time a lot of wax came out. But the ringing was still there. I went on 2 more days with the irrigator and no more wax appeared so went to the audiologist who confirmed the ear was now clear. He said the tinnitus would probably clear out.

Well - it has not cleared out. Whether I did any harm with that irrigator I don't know - it did not seem that powerful to me and caused me no discomfort while using it. The nature of the tinnitus is more or less the same from the day I first had it though is maybe 20% better compared with when I had the wax in my ear.

So I don't know - COVID-19 related? Badly compacted ear wax left some damage behind? Irrigator misuse? Or maybe something else.

I had a hearing test and they found some impairment - I missed some of the high pitched beeps - but was not recommended a hearing aid as it was not significant enough. My hearing seems to me to be OK. Though I did listen to a series of high pitched tones on a tinnitus Hz estimator and one or two of the tones, like 12,000 Hz, I could not hear at all - even though I could hear tones beyond that. The audiologist said my ear drum looks healthy.

Somebody recommended me to take anti-virals - olive leaf etc - and I even used Aciclovir for 7 days hoping to clear any viral problem in my inner ear. But no improvements with any of that.

I am maintaining a low sugar, low sodium healthy diet, though not sure if this is having any impact - but I will keep it up anyway. I use a neuromodulation YouTube video before I go to bed and when I wake up - as I have found it can temporarily remove the sharp high pitched tone and leave me with a bearable hiss.

I have my first ENT appointment on Monday, July 25 so will provide some feedback on that. I live in Scotland.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi @Stuart-T.

Many things can cause tinnitus, exposure to loud noise being the most common. Typically it's listening to audio at too high a volume through headphones that brings it on or using them too much without giving the ear sufficient time to rest. Exposure to other types of loud noise can cause it too. If you haven't been a regular user headphones including earbuds, headsets, AirPods, noise cancelling or bone conduction headphones, and you haven't been exposed to other types of loud noise or work in a noisy environment, then your tinnitus is unlikely to be noise induced.

Tinnitus can also be caused by stress which will usually reduce and go way once stress is brought under control. The build-up of earwax can also be responsible particularly when it is impacted as you've mentioned. Once the wax is removed the tinnitus usually goes away with time. Since you were applying olive oil and Otex drops into your ears prior to having Microsuction, which is the right thing to do, I don't think this procedure would have caused the tinnitus to linger, nor the use of the oral irrigator which is very similar to an ear irrigator that an audiologist would use to remove wax from the ear.

Using an oral irrigator is not recommend but I doubt it would have caused any harm, since the wax was easily removed from your ear and I'll assume you kept the water-flow low.

If your tinnitus isn't caused by exposure to loud noise, a build-up of earwax and is not stress induced, the next thing to investigate is an underlying medical problem within your auditory system. Hearing loss can cause tinnitus but since you have had a hearing test which revealed some hearing impairment but not enough to warrant the hearing aid(s) it's unlikely hearing loss is the cause of the tinnitus.

When you are seen at ENT you will probably have another hearing test. In addition to this you are likely to have an MRI scan. This will give your ENT doctor more information about your auditory system and highlight any problems if present that could be causing the tinnitus.

Tinnitus can also be caused by TMJ (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction). It is to do with the jaw joint, which I have covered in my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View, in the link below. Please read it as you may find it helpful. I explain in more detail some of the things mentioned above.

COVID-19 can affect people in many ways. It is still present and constantly changing into different variants, so there's no telling how an individual will be affected because we are all different. Therefore, COVID-19 could have something to do with the onset of your tinnitus.

I advise you not to listen to audio through headphones even at low volume, as there is a risk of making the tinnitus worse. More about this is explained in the links below. Try to avoid being in quiet rooms and surroundings especially at night by using low level sound enrichment. More is explained in the links.

All the best,
Michael

New to Tinnitus, What to Do? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Tinnitus, A Personal View | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

[Stuart-T]

Thanks for your reply Michael.

The pitch of my tinnitus changes when I clench down on my left jaw - so maybe that is significant.

I saw the audiologist today at the hospital.

Hearing test result - same on both side - no significant impairment. He had to boost some of the higher frequencies for me to hear them but it was same both side. My tinnitus is on the left ear.

I have now been referred to the ENT people.

 

[Michael Leigh]

The pitch of my tinnitus changes when I clench down on my left jaw - so maybe that is significant.

Clenching down on the jaw can change the pitch of tinnitus @Stuart-T and my advise is not to deliberately do this as you could make your tinnitus worse. The reason being, some nerves that enter into the ear and auditory system also surround the jaw joint and hence the condition known as TMJ.

Michael

 

[Stuart-T]

Clenching down on the jaw can change the pitch of tinnitus @Stuart-T and my advise is not to deliberately do this as you could make your tinnitus worse. The reason being, some nerves that enter into the ear and auditory system also surround the jaw joint and hence the condition known as TMJ.

Michael

Thanks - will accept your advice.

 

[Joe Cuber]

Hey there @Stuart-T, welcome to the forum. I wanted to tell you that there are a number of similarities between what you're experiencing and what I'm experiencing.

I'm a 51-year-old male. Though I didn't catch covid prior to my onset on March 27 of this year, I did have a lot of wax build up that I used an oral irrigator to remove. I primarily have unilateral tinnitus in my right ear only (I have some mild reactivity in both ears). And I can modulate the pitch and volume of my tinnitus when I clench my jaw. I can also modulate if I move my neck about. I also went through a series of panic attacks and suicidal ideation before I stabilized.

I've been following @Michael Leigh's advice with avoiding quiet rooms. I've chosen nature sounds like rain, rivers, crickets.

Also, I have mild/moderate hearing loss in the high pitches. The audiologist told me that I can get hearing aids if I want to, but I can also get by without.

My tinnitus, when I hear it, sounds like a high-pitched hiss in my right ear. It varies in strength day by day, from completely quiet to a volume that competes with my shower.

I don't think my tinnitus was caused by the irrigation or a virus. And I don't think it's due to diet (though I think a healthy diet helps). I think I've had hearing loss for years, and I know I've had low-level tinnitus for years too--just a very soft hum I could only hear in the dead of night (I always thought that was normal). I do think that a major factor that caused my tinnitus to onset in March was extreme stress at work in the months just prior. So, for me: hearing loss/mild tinnitus + stress.

Anyway, hope the comparison helps, pleasure to meet you.

 

[makeyourownluck]

I have now been referred to the ENT people

Hi Stuart,

Hope your ENT appointment goes well, but I would try manage expectations. I am also from Scotland, and after waiting 10 months, the ENT department discharged me without being seen, saying, "ENT have no treatments for tinnitus". Very frustrating as I'm sure you can imagine. You may have better luck in your area though. Waiting list where I am are over 2 years.

Seems like the irrigation didn't do much damage if the tinnitus has stayed stable, so I wouldn't beat yourself up about it. COVID-19 has been causing high frequency hearing loss though, and could potentially cause tinnitus.

If the tinnitus is not effecting you during the day, then you are doing really well, and better than most of us here. Just be careful around loud noise and you should be alright.

 

[Stuart-T]

Hey guys. Thanks for your replies.

I have copied in my audiogram at the bottom of my post. As you can see, I do have some impairment above 3 kHz.

I am amazed frankly that my hearing is not A1 - as I never worked in a high noise environment. The only thing I can think of is that in the late 80s I bought some serious HIFI and went a bit mad with it - listening way too loud. I eased off but it is possible the damage was done at that time and I was simply never aware of it. I never used headphones. I went to nightclubs rarely - in fact after one visit I came out with my ears ringing for 2 hours and I vowed never to go again. Those places should have decibel limits.

I know I took some risks with the irrigator but I was desperate - the tinnitus was causing me issues - sleeping etc - as it was more intense at that time. But since I already had tinnitus I felt it was a risk worth taking. The level did drop in any case and is more or less the same since that time.

@makeyourownluck - I am not too bothered about the ENT people - I thought I would like them to do a few tests. 12 months is a long time. I was previously living in Stoke in England - and had an appointment with the ENT people just 3 weeks after my doctor visit. But 2 weeks before that appointment I had to move and so cancelled. I am in Kilmarnock - so will be interesting to see how long I have to wait for the ENT experts.

@Joe Cuber - I never had tinnitus, low level hum, or anything like that. Occasionally I would get a sudden sound like the BBC2 after shutdown high pitch tone that would last 2-3 seconds and then vanish. But I think that is common.

The audiologist told me that in the days when scarlet fever and measles were common - many who had been infected would come in with tinnitus. I do have a suspicion that mine is viral related - the earwax just made it a bit worse while it was in there. I had previous heavy build ups of ear wax and even had irrigation 10 years ago at the doctors. But I can't prove any of this. Somebody was saying their ENT specialist said to them that viral inflammation in the middle year takes 12 months minimum to clear. Just hearsay of course. And if mine clears after 12 months I will obviously be delighted - but I am not relying on that. The video I am using to soften my tinnitus is here in case you want to try it. I listen for 15 minutes at a comfortable level and so far it works every time.



Well - that's all for now. Can't believe tinnitus forums and groups is occupying so much of my time!

Here is the audiogram:

 

[Joe Cuber]

Your audiogram's shape is similar to mine. Mine starts to dip at 3 kHz but it drops to almost 60 dB at 8 kHz. I tried the video you listen to. I'm glad it works for you. It doesn't work so well for me, somewhat triggering since it reminds me of the videos I listened to when my tinnitus first onset. These days I stick to nature sounds.

So do you think you currently have a virus or that you once had a virus?

 

[Stuart-T]

Your audiogram's shape is similar to mine. Mine starts to dip at 3 kHz but it drops to almost 60 dB at 8 kHz. I tried the video you listen to. I'm glad it works for you. It doesn't work so well for me, somewhat triggering since it reminds me of the videos I listened to when my tinnitus first onset. These days I stick to nature sounds.

So do you think you currently have a virus or that you once had a virus?

Sorry the video did not work for you - yes I can imagine it triggering a spike in some people - it has piercing notes and it is mysterious why it smooths mine off. I think you need to keep trying to find something that works for you.

I had COVID-19 in January followed by a big head cold - others are reporting either getting tinnitus while they have COVID-19 or several weeks after like me. I really don't know what is causing mine. Fortunately it is not significantly impacting my life - I think it is really level 4-5/10 based on a tinnitus chart I have seen and on good days it is lower. If it was 6-7/10 - I think it would be a problem.

 

[Stuart-T]

I am going to use my own thread to update any news on my tinnitus.

So I am doing OK on the whole - still have 24/7 tinnitus but most of the time it is a manageable hiss which I seem to have habituated to.

I noticed a thread on here where someone claimed to almost eliminate his 30 year tinnitus with vitamin B1. This got me thinking and I realise I am probably low on B1 thiamine. Well I don't tend to go for supplements so looked up what is rich in B1 and seems pork steaks and wholewheat bread are. I ate 2 days in a row generous pork steaks, plenty of bread, and made sure I had enough B1. I thought my tinnitus level was down a bit after the first day but not sure. And today I took a drive out - put a CD on and opened the window to keep cool - and my tinnitus ramped up - the light hiss suddenly had this high pitched razer sharp tone iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii cutting through. My tinnitus is not generally reactive but something happened there. I had to turn the music off. By the time I got home it had settled down a bit but I had to have a lie down and switch on my neuromodulation video I use to smooth down my tinnitus. 15 minutes of that and it was back to normal. I'm going to listen to some music tomorrow in my flat and lowish level to see what happens.

Somebody wondered if 40 years ago tinnitus was so common - she thought not as nobody told her - hey I have tinnitus! That few had it. I checked some stats and found studies from the 80s. Yes! 10% of adult UK population in the 80s had tinnitus and over age 45 it was like 15%. People just never spoke about it much and of course there was no internet.

I have stopped taking the Magnesium supplements. I got hold of some pistachios - unsalted roasted - and am eating 50g of those a day plus with the oats and wholewheat bread I think I am getting enough Magnesium now. One thing I have not tried is a 0 free sugars day. I have about 20g of sugar a day. I wonder if that will reduce it.

Well that's my weekly update. Until next time.

May your tinnitus go quiet or not be too unbearable!

 

[gwux]

Hey guys. Thanks for your replies.

I have copied in my audiogram at the bottom of my post. As you can see, I do have some impairment above 3 kHz.

I am amazed frankly that my hearing is not A1 - as I never worked in a high noise environment. The only thing I can think of is that in the late 80s I bought some serious HIFI and went a bit mad with it - listening way too loud. I eased off but it is possible the damage was done at that time and I was simply never aware of it. I never used headphones. I went to nightclubs rarely - in fact after one visit I came out with my ears ringing for 2 hours and I vowed never to go again. Those places should have decibel limits.

I know I took some risks with the irrigator but I was desperate - the tinnitus was causing me issues - sleeping etc - as it was more intense at that time. But since I already had tinnitus I felt it was a risk worth taking. The level did drop in any case and is more or less the same since that time.

@makeyourownluck - I am not too bothered about the ENT people - I thought I would like them to do a few tests. 12 months is a long time. I was previously living in Stoke in England - and had an appointment with the ENT people just 3 weeks after my doctor visit. But 2 weeks before that appointment I had to move and so cancelled. I am in Kilmarnock - so will be interesting to see how long I have to wait for the ENT experts.

@Joe Cuber - I never had tinnitus, low level hum, or anything like that. Occasionally I would get a sudden sound like the BBC2 after shutdown high pitch tone that would last 2-3 seconds and then vanish. But I think that is common.

The audiologist told me that in the days when scarlet fever and measles were common - many who had been infected would come in with tinnitus. I do have a suspicion that mine is viral related - the earwax just made it a bit worse while it was in there. I had previous heavy build ups of ear wax and even had irrigation 10 years ago at the doctors. But I can't prove any of this. Somebody was saying their ENT specialist said to them that viral inflammation in the middle year takes 12 months minimum to clear. Just hearsay of course. And if mine clears after 12 months I will obviously be delighted - but I am not relying on that. The video I am using to soften my tinnitus is here in case you want to try it. I listen for 15 minutes at a comfortable level and so far it works every time.

Well - that's all for now. Can't believe tinnitus forums and groups is occupying so much of my time!

Here is the audiogram:

View attachment 51113

Hey mate, my audiogram for the right ear looks very similar and I believe I started noticing my unilateral hiss/ring on a similar timeline this year after getting COVID-19 in February. I also haven't been exposed to a great deal of loud noise, can't detect the loss day to day, and am healthy and fit.

Here's the thing too, I didn't have a baseline test to compare it to so I don't know for certain if the loss is connected to the COVID-19/tinnitus or not, but there are reports of COVID-19 giving people hearing loss so the timeline theoretically adds up.

At the end of May, compacted earwax in that ear and a stressful month of little sleep trying to get onto an antidepressant (not ototoxic and zero tinnitus side effects listed) meant I finally realised hey, I have a problem here, and realised I could hear it in most rooms. (I also had an entirely maskable tinnitus previously.)

 

[Stuart-T]

Hey mate, my audiogram for the right ear looks very similar and I believe I started noticing my unilateral hiss/ring on a similar timeline this year after getting COVID-19 in February. I also haven't been exposed to a great deal of loud noise, can't detect the loss day to day, and am healthy and fit.

Here's the thing too, I didn't have a baseline test to compare it to so I don't know for certain if the loss is connected to the COVID-19/tinnitus or not, but there are reports of COVID-19 giving people hearing loss so the timeline theoretically adds up.

At the end of May, compacted earwax in that ear and a stressful month of little sleep trying to get onto an antidepressant (not ototoxic and zero tinnitus side effects listed) meant I finally realised hey, I have a problem here, and realised I could hear it in most rooms. (I also had an entirely maskable tinnitus previously.)

I was very surprised to see that I have some hearing impairment. It seems odd though that I have tinnitus in just one ear when both ears look pretty much equal on the audiogram. I hope it does not mean I am going to develop bi-lateral tinnitus.

 

[Joe Cuber]

Here's a data point. I have symmetric hearing loss in both ears but only have unilateral hissing in my right ear. My onset was 4 months ago.

 

[Stuart-T]

Here's a data point. I have symmetric hearing loss in both ears but only have unilateral hissing in my right ear. My onset was 4 months ago.

How serious is the loss?

 

[Joe Cuber]

How serious is the loss?

They tell me moderate, borderline needing hearing aids. My audiogram starts dropping at 3 kHz and goes down to 60 dB at the higher frequencies.

 

[Stuart-T]

They tell me moderate, borderline needing hearing aids. My audiogram starts dropping at 3 kHz and goes down to 60 dB at the higher frequencies.

Just hope it does not get worse. I'm going to do a hearing test every 6 months.

 

[Joe Cuber]

Hear hear, I'm planning on doing the same.

 

[Stuart-T]

OK guys, I am going 0 sugar today - never done it before. I have a sweet tooth so not sure how I will manage. I like a small square of chocolate with my tea during the day. So it is going to be a bit miserable. I will report tomorrow on whether there is any change. I intend to test 48 hours of no free sugars (some fruit I will be having).

 

[Michael Leigh]

OK guys, I am going 0 sugar today - never done it before. I have a sweet tooth so not sure how I will manage. I like a small square of chocolate with my tea during the day. So it is going to be a bit miserable. I will report tomorrow on whether there is any change. I intend to test 48 hours of no free sugars (some fruit I will be having).

I understand your reasons for omitting sugar or anything else from your diet @Stuart-T to see whether there is any improvement in the tinnitus. However, before doing this please click on the link below and read my post: Food, Drink and Tinnitus.

I wish you well,
Michael

Food, Drink and Tinnitus | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

[MindOverMatter]

Why are you so surprised about the hearing loss @Stuart-T?

A part of aging means, for many, also progression of hearing loss. I assume genetics and heritage plays a significant role in this too - no matter how careful you might have been around sound.

 

[Stuart-T]

Why are you so surprised about the hearing loss @Stuart-T?

A part of aging means, for many, also progression of hearing loss. I assume genetics and heritage plays a significant role in this too - no matter how careful you might have been around sound.

You are correct - denial of aging I suppose - it was also shock that I needed reading glasses in my late 40s.

 

[Stuart-T]

I understand your reasons for omitting sugar or anything else from your diet @Stuart-T to see whether there is any improvement in the tinnitus. However, before doing this please click on the link below and read my post: Food, Drink and Tinnitus.

I wish you well,
Michael

Food, Drink and Tinnitus | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

I already previously read your comments on food and I agree with what you say. Tinnitus is a big enough deal without the hassle and deprivation of your favourite foods etc. I previously tested caffeine and gluten and could find no difference so now eat the bread I want drink tea etc. I do drink decaf coffee as I was surprised it tastes pretty much like standard coffee - though decaf tea is horrible. Sugar is the last one I was meaning to test. If there is no difference I will be delighted frankly, as a sweet little snack with a tea helps me to relax during the day. I really doubt there will be any difference. I will report back.

 

[Stuart-T]

Saw the nurse today. Swollen lymph nodes - the two your mum used to feel for at front of neck when you were not feeling well. The nurse confirmed they do seem a bit enlarged. She did a full body check for other swollen nodes but could not find any issues. She advises a trip to the dentist. My oral hygiene and teeth gums etc are A1 so doubt if it is that. She did say my recent blood test showed normal white count. I suggested maybe inner ear infection and she seemed to rule that out though I have an urgent referral to the ENT people on the go so maybe they will have something to say when the time comes.

 

[Stuart-T]

OK - well, I didn't last long with 0 sugar. I did 24 hours sugar free. I think there is some reduction - the piercing zing I usually wake up to was absent. But the high pitched hiss still there. I also had a large steak last night - first time in ages - which was dumb - as the B12 from the steak may have caused some reduction. Anyway, I am back on sugar today and see what happens. Though frankly the improvement was not sufficient for me to live life without sugar even if there was a causal connection in the reduction.

 

[Stuart-T]

Well - I started back on sugar yesterday and I can't say that my tinnitus has ramped up at all. I think the net impact is 0.

I also wonder if salt plays such a big role. I rarely eat processed meat but bought some German pork frikadeller yesterday - quite salty - had two of them which is 3.5g salt. I also had a small glass of wheat beer in the evening. Nothing to report one way or the other. I have not had the piercing zing which cuts through the centre of my hissing tinnitus in at least 2 days which is good. But means nothing. And my overall level is acceptable.

I guess I will continue to be sensible but relax a bit on diet.

I am taking 1 olive leaf extract capsule a day - a supplement I was trying back in April at a rate of 5 a day. Just to use up the bottle - but I doubt if that is having any impact.

Oops - I can sense my tinnitus ramping up as I am writing this.

 

[Stuart-T]

Well - don't know if this is a false dawn - but it's been 3 days since I had the piercing zing which cuts through my hissing tinnitus for at least 1-2 hours per day. I normally use a neuromodulation video on YouTube to smooth it off if it becomes too sharp and I have not had to do this. I do not connect it with me going 24 hours without sugar - think it is just a coincidence.

Also last night I woke at 4 am and only heard a very light hiss, like 1-2/10. I went back to sleep though and woke up to a 3/10. So I don't know - I know many of you have had false dawns - quiet periods and then - bam - it's back big time.

I am also feeling like my lethargy problem is less of an issue.

Will have to wait and see.

 

[Stuart-T]

I feel like there is some movement in the right direction. I have woken in the middle of the night to a very low level hiss, like 1 or 2 rating. And my levels during the day have been like 3 - down from 4-5 that was the norm 2 months ago. I am on low sugar - about 10 grams a day and otherwise not doing anything in particular. I still suffer from some tiredness though which is a bigger problem than my tinnitus.

 

[Stuart-T]

Just an update from me.

I read a thread on here about someone who claimed a B12 supplement made his tinnitus go away. Somebody on that thread said he ate liver and it certainly reduced the level. I decided to put that to the test so bought 400g of lamb's liver - cooked it with onions and mushrooms and had it over 2 days. I can certainly say that for the 2 days which followed after I ate this liver - my tinnitus was at a lower level - just a very low level hiss. On the 4th day after finishing with the liver it is starting to get back to the pre liver level. So I am going to test this again and see whether the improvement is repeated. I don't really much like liver. It gives me a heavy feeling. Maybe the trick is to eat smaller portions as 200g I suppose is quite a lot to eat at one sitting.

I am still waking in the night and experiencing barely audible tinnitus - but it returns to baseline in the morning.

 

[Stuart-T]

I bought a B complex vitamin pill x 90 for hardly anything. 1 a day. I have been taking them for 3 days now and feel that my tinnitus is down about 30% - it is certainly less piercing.