A 24-Year-Old with Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

[Serouj]

Hello everyone.

I was introduced to hearing loss and tinnitus when I was 19 years old after I went to a shooting range and did some target practice. The tinnitus never went away and I got diagnosed with moderately severe hearing loss at a peak of 65 dB in my left ear (6000 Hz), and a peak of 55 dB in my right ear (4000 Hz). You can find my test results attached to this post. I used to only notice the tinnitus when in a quiet room.

In 2019 I went to a nightclub for 3 hours, after which I felt that my hearing again declined for a second time in my life and the tinnitus got worse. I can no longer cover up my tinnitus with sounds as in the past I used to cover it with earphones or background music.

I believe that my hearing loss is sensorineural caused by the death of hair cells.

Any tips from you guys on how to get some relief from tinnitus?

 

[FGG]

Hi @Serouj, I don't know if this is something you would be interested in, but with your hearing loss you would likely qualify for a hearing regeneration trial as long as it has been stable for at least 6 months. Look up Frequency Therapeutics on clinicaltrials.gov.

Tinnitus as well as hearing loss is being assessed in their phase 2 trial, which is still recruiting.

 

[Tweedleman]

Hey there, welcome I'm fairly new as well. Sorry this has happened to you. I'm 26 and dealing with hearing issues, I feel your pain.

The first and obvious thing you can do is rest your ears as much as possible. Avoid loud events, clubs, concerts, and loud activities for good. I carry earplugs on my keychain at all times now and have a dB measuring app on my phone. Be vigilant and protect what ya got left.

I'm taking magnesium and b12 to try and help my ears heal. Also taking melatonin for sleep and valerian root for anxiety/calming. My doc has me on 10mg amitriptyline to help me sleep. The vol. of my T has gone down a hair but I'm not sure what to attribute it to if not just passage of time.

I read and take alot of hot baths, it's the most soothing thing and kills time.

 

[Serouj]

Hi @Serouj, I don't know if this is something you would be interested in, but with your hearing loss you would likely qualify for a hearing regeneration trial as long as it has been stable for at least 6 months. Look up Frequency Therapeutics on clinicaltrials.gov.

Tinnitus as well as hearing loss is being assessed in their phase 2 trial, which is still recruiting.

Thank you for your time in replying to my post. Unfortunately I live in Lebanon (the middle east), so I don't know if I can participate in any clinical trials since frequency TX is based in the US. I've been following up with their clinical trials for a long time. I'm just hoping that FX-322 is a success so that we sufferers can get our hearing back.

 

[Serouj]

Hey there, welcome I'm fairly new as well. Sorry this has happened to you. I'm 26 and dealing with hearing issues, I feel your pain.

The first and obvious thing you can do is rest your ears as much as possible. Avoid loud events, clubs, concerts, and loud activities for good. I carry earplugs on my keychain at all times now and have a dB measuring app on my phone. Be vigilant and protect what ya got left.

I'm taking magnesium and b12 to try and help my ears heal. Also taking melatonin for sleep and valerian root for anxiety/calming. My doc has me on 10mg amitriptyline to help me sleep. The vol. of my T has gone down a hair but I'm not sure what to attribute it to if not just passage of time.

I read and take alot of hot baths, it's the most soothing thing and kills time.

Yes I totally agree with taking hot baths! It really lowers down my tinnitus for some time. I have found slight relief taking magnesium B6. Doctors recommended me taking Ginko products but i found no benefits.
Thank you for your time in replying to my post. Hope someday we get a cure for this.

 

[Contrast]

The vast majority of people get no hellp from Gingko, the few that do are zealots about it.

 

[Tweedleman]

Yes I totally agree with taking hot baths! It really lowers down my tinnitus for some time. I have found slight relief taking magnesium B6. Doctors recommended me taking Ginko products but i found no benefits.
Thank you for your time in replying to my post. Hope someday we get a cure for this.

No problem. Banding together is what gives me strength. I'm praying the cure comes soon.

 

[Serouj]

Hi @Serouj, I don't know if this is something you would be interested in, but with your hearing loss you would likely qualify for a hearing regeneration trial as long as it has been stable for at least 6 months. Look up Frequency Therapeutics on clinicaltrials.gov.

Tinnitus as well as hearing loss is being assessed in their phase 2 trial, which is still recruiting.

By the way, do you have any idea if they would accept non-US citizens to take part in the clinical trials?

 

[Serouj]

The vast majority of people get no hellp from Gingko, the few that do are zealots about it.

Yeah totally right, I guess accepting tinnitus as part of your daily life is the best way to getting used to it over time.

 

[FGG]

By the way, do you have any idea if they would accept non-US citizens to take part in the clinical trials?

No idea. It's possible that would be an exclusion because of the worry of meeting frequent appointments with long distance travel among other things. It's a long shot but maybe it would be possible if you were able to rent a place and stay in the US during the trial, especially. I would call one of the testing centers listed on clinicaltrials.gov and ask.

If they allow it, let me know, I can try to help you find a place to stay.

 

[Contrast]

Yeah totally right, I guess accepting tinnitus as part of your daily life is the best way to getting used to it over time.

nah bro, just do some homework on quantum physics and you'll have it all figured out.

 

[JohnFox]

Any tips from you guys on how to get some relief from tinnitus?

Hey there Serouj,.... welcome to the forum, but sorry all the same. As far as "tips" to deal with your Tinnitus, you will find a multitude of people with advice on how to improve/cope in this forum. One thing to remember is that Tinnitus is unique to each individual. There are all sorts of things you can try to "help" you cope with your T so you can live your life without the T overwhelming everything. The Tinnitus itself may indeed become better with time, however it may not. If I were you, I would move forward with the thought that what you are expeiencing today (the noise in your head) is what it will remain as.

Some Tinnitus sufferers get a lot of help with "masking devices" that help with sleeping. Some get relief by using ear plugs to block outside sound that with people like me helps reduce the Tinnitus noise. My T is noise reactive, so I do much better in very quiet environments. Then there are those where it is very hard to be in a quiet place where their T is much more noticeable. You need to try some different approaches and maybe find some things that work for you personally. There is no end to advice in this forum, so do some research and maybe something will fit for you. Like I said, its different for everybody. One persons (for sure cure) may be of little help to yourself.

There are a few things that you can do that I would say to do because they are generally good for your overall health, and just may help you to cope with your T. Some things like getting proper sleep, eating healthy, doing things to lower anxiety like meditation, exercise etc.. For me, one thing that helped me to move on in a positive way was to completely come to grips with my Tinnitus. Total acceptance. This is me, and it is what it is. The noise in my head is going to remain with me for the rest of my life. Feeling sorry for myself and complaining can only make it worse. I simply do not have any choice. If I'm going to live, I'm going to live with Tinnitus. No choice.

Having said all that, your Tinnitus just may improve over time. If it does, then bravo! I have total loss of hearing in my right ear, so I don't expect the T is going to get much better. Its been over a year now and people that know about it often will ask me how it is going and I usually reply that the noise in my head is the same but my coping with it has improved quite a bit. I'm hoping for the same for you. Be careful with supplements. You can spend a lot of money and sometimes make things worse. Good luck to you, and hope this is a little help and encouragement.

 

[Serouj]

Hey there Serouj,.... welcome to the forum, but sorry all the same. As far as "tips" to deal with your Tinnitus, you will find a multitude of people with advice on how to improve/cope in this forum. One thing to remember is that Tinnitus is unique to each individual. There are all sorts of things you can try to "help" you cope with your T so you can live your life without the T overwhelming everything. The Tinnitus itself may indeed become better with time, however it may not. If I were you, I would move forward with the thought that what you are expeiencing today (the noise in your head) is what it will remain as.

Some Tinnitus sufferers get a lot of help with "masking devices" that help with sleeping. Some get relief by using ear plugs to block outside sound that with people like me helps reduce the Tinnitus noise. My T is noise reactive, so I do much better in very quiet environments. Then there are those where it is very hard to be in a quiet place where their T is much more noticeable. You need to try some different approaches and maybe find some things that work for you personally. There is no end to advice in this forum, so do some research and maybe something will fit for you. Like I said, its different for everybody. One persons (for sure cure) may be of little help to yourself.

There are a few things that you can do that I would say to do because they are generally good for your overall health, and just may help you to cope with your T. Some things like getting proper sleep, eating healthy, doing things to lower anxiety like meditation, exercise etc.. For me, one thing that helped me to move on in a positive way was to completely come to grips with my Tinnitus. Total acceptance. This is me, and it is what it is. The noise in my head is going to remain with me for the rest of my life. Feeling sorry for myself and complaining can only make it worse. I simply do not have any choice. If I'm going to live, I'm going to live with Tinnitus. No choice.

Having said all that, your Tinnitus just may improve over time. If it does, then bravo! I have total loss of hearing in my right ear, so I don't expect the T is going to get much better. Its been over a year now and people that know about it often will ask me how it is going and I usually reply that the noise in my head is the same but my coping with it has improved quite a bit. I'm hoping for the same for you. Be careful with supplements. You can spend a lot of money and sometimes make things worse. Good luck to you, and hope this is a little help and encouragement.

Thank you for replying to my post. With my experience over the past years, coping is the best thing a sufferer can do. I'm not giving up anytime on this. But the one thing that keeps me going is the hope that someday I will get my hearing back. The sooner the better.

 

[Tweedleman]

But the one thing that keeps me going is the hope that someday I will get my hearing back. The sooner the better.

Same here brother. And with any luck when we get our hearing back it will eradicate the Tinnitus. Stay strong, the day will come.