Can you be near the refrigerator? That gives me a nice spike. So does the shower even with earmuffs.
Almost Every Noise Spikes My Tinnitus
- Thread starter AnthonyMcDonald
- Start date
@Stacken77, I have a problem with pressure which means I can't wear ear defenders or earplugs for a long period of time. If I wear either for too long I get intense pain in my ears when I inhale. I've only just started looking into it (the inhalation pain only started a few weeks ago) and everything I've found points to Eustachian tube problems. But I really have no idea. So if I don't protect, the hyperacusis gets me and if I do protect, I get pressure pain. Which both lead to new/louder noises. Basically I'm fucked.
Member- Oct 30, 2020
- 598
- Tinnitus Since
- 10/2020
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Noise (likely headphones & cars), Acoustic trauma did me in
As far as I can tell pretty much everything makes me spike. If the tinnitus was stable I think I could maybe live a fairly normal life but the hyperacusis makes everything so hard. Especially with a 7 year old. My goal is to stay sane enough to not completely ruin her life but it's not looking good.
- Jul 8, 2019
- 1,160
- Tinnitus Since
- 1991
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Loud Music / family history
For about six months now I've also been experiencing exactly these things you describe. The spiking sounds, which typically last less than .5 second, tend to be glassy/metallic in nature (sometimes like the sound of knives sharpening), as is a large component of my overall tinnitus now. A mild generalised hyperacusis has also set in, which is a real game changer (I think the hyperacusis underpins this overall change in character of my own sounds).
Earlier this year when I visited the audiology clinic at my local hospital and described the sensation of transient spiking sounds that often make me wince, the audiologist mused that my condition "sounds like recruitment". I have to say that further research on the subject of recruitment actually just left me with more questions than answers.
I went on to purchase Neil Bauman's Hypersensitive To Sound book (the inexpensive download version) to see if there might be any answers there. I also corresponded with Neil by email. It was his view (and mine too to some extent) that my situation cannot be categorised as recruitment because it isn't accompanied by any severe hearing loss (I have noise induced hearing loss down to 35 dB @ 4 kHz in one ear and between 4 kHz-8 kHz in the other ear). What Neil believed I'm affected by is, reactive tinnitus.
I'd like to say something about reactive tinnitus. I don't believe reactive tinnitus is a condition all on its own. Instead I believe reactive tinnitus describes a symptomatic intersect between tinnitus and hyperacusis that may occur in some people affected by both of these conditions. Reactive tinnitus is something that's discussed quite at length in Neil's book, and from what I can now understand, in terms of management approach, the general consensus of opinion between the audiologists he quoted (and if I remember rightly Neil Bauman too) is that when hyperacusis and tinnitus co-exist, treatment for hyperacusis must be carried out first.
It's apparent from reading this forum that treatment for hyperacusis divides people. Some have had success, others state there is no treatment available for hyperacusis. I honestly don't know. I suppose it depends on the type of hyperacusis one has. It seems there may be a distinction between loudness hyperacusis and pain hyperacusis, with the latter potentially being more difficult to treat/manage, but not impossible. @Damocles who's a good ten years into this, did say it is possible to habituate to our kind of malady. A comment for which I'm grateful. Go well, man.
Your auditory system needs desensitization to treat the hyperacusis and any oversensitivity to sound that you have. The best way to do this is with white noise generators. Try and get your audiologist to issue them. If you can get counselling with it so much the better. This treatment takes time, around 18 months or longer so you need to be patient.
- Jul 8, 2019
- 1,160
- Tinnitus Since
- 1991
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Loud Music / family history
Thanks for the heads up. When I got the appointment at the NHS tinnitus clinic, I was hoping for a solution like you've described. Rather than explicitly ask for it, I decided to let the audiologist do the talking instead (in the hope that any advice she gave would be as objective as possible).
She did mention TRT but very clearly stated that, "You can't get that on the NHS" (which actually contradicts what the NHS info. itself states, so perhaps her comment only applies to my local hospital).
I'd be happy to try WNGs, counselling etc, and even pay privately. My main concern at this point alludes to points you yourself have made in various posts: to get the right audiologist to administer the treatment. I didn't find my local clinic to be very empathetic.
You are right to let the audiologist do the talking and not request anything. This was a slip up on my part. Today I attended my hospital in London. They will be upgrading my white noise generators in the new year. The audiologist was extremely helpful, saying they can help with counselling if I want it.
Wish you the best of luck.
Michael
- Jul 8, 2019
- 1,160
- Tinnitus Since
- 1991
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Loud Music / family history
Yes. Left my home at 7 am in pitch darkness and travelled by car to London for my appointment at 9.45. Audiologist said she could transfer me to the Royal Sussex hospital, here in Brighton but I didn't want that.
My tinnitus has been getting progressively worse and accelerating in worsening daily. It's so loud right now that my entire body is shaking and I'm crying 24/7. It doesn't matter if I wear earplugs or earmuffs because it's so loud that wearing them changes nothing.
It gets worse from every noise. From my breathing. From swallowing saliva.
Please tell me there's something I can do to at least stop the progression? I've never seen anyone with tinnitus this bad. I am about to commit suicide because of this.
It gets worse from every noise. From my breathing. From swallowing saliva.
Please tell me there's something I can do to at least stop the progression? I've never seen anyone with tinnitus this bad. I am about to commit suicide because of this.
- Oct 30, 2020
- 598
- Tinnitus Since
- 10/2020
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Noise (likely headphones & cars), Acoustic trauma did me in
Words cannot describe how awful it sounds. I'm so damn sorry to hear that, @AnthonyMcDonald.
I don't know if I've ever read of such a rapid progression. Maybe there are some kind of inflammation going on? Could there be any medications to try? Like Prednisone? Sorry for the ping, but do @Matchbox have any suggestions? It seems all other strategies are exhausted and proven ineffective in this case.
I have the same thing. Swallowing makes the tinnitus react. It's insanity. I have no idea what to do either.
- Feb 11, 2019
- 801
- Tinnitus Since
- 01/2014
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Headcold/Flu
To Brian P:
Thanks very much for inquiring about me.
I had to take a break from the virulently gaslighting idiocies and the amateurish, empirically disprovable commentary promulgated by (especially but not limited to) Michael Leigh and Julian Cowan Hill.
They were adding another layer of (fortunately) avoidable stress to the (unfortunately) nearly unbearable, unavoidable level already caused by the tinnitus alone.
I am curious, though, about why such irritating cranks seem to come from the UK; I haven't encountered such noxious types quite like this who have posted from the USA.
I was thinking about developing a Performance Piece to demonstrate the real nature of this condition; I was going to rent a large SUV, put it in Neutral, and attempt to push it for two miles down a nearby busy street. When asked why I was doing this, I would reply that this was a metaphor for trying to get through a single day with a tinnitus spike.
I am in a state of PTSD paralysis; two years ago when I had to go over to my In-Laws for Xmas Eve, I had (and to this day I have no idea why) the worst tinnitus spike in the entire eight years that I have had this.
I will bluntly not have the fortitude the endure this tomorrow if Fate decides to exhibit the Satanic Cruelty of an SS Officer and have this happen again.
Thanks very much for inquiring about me.
I had to take a break from the virulently gaslighting idiocies and the amateurish, empirically disprovable commentary promulgated by (especially but not limited to) Michael Leigh and Julian Cowan Hill.
They were adding another layer of (fortunately) avoidable stress to the (unfortunately) nearly unbearable, unavoidable level already caused by the tinnitus alone.
I am curious, though, about why such irritating cranks seem to come from the UK; I haven't encountered such noxious types quite like this who have posted from the USA.
I was thinking about developing a Performance Piece to demonstrate the real nature of this condition; I was going to rent a large SUV, put it in Neutral, and attempt to push it for two miles down a nearby busy street. When asked why I was doing this, I would reply that this was a metaphor for trying to get through a single day with a tinnitus spike.
I am in a state of PTSD paralysis; two years ago when I had to go over to my In-Laws for Xmas Eve, I had (and to this day I have no idea why) the worst tinnitus spike in the entire eight years that I have had this.
I will bluntly not have the fortitude the endure this tomorrow if Fate decides to exhibit the Satanic Cruelty of an SS Officer and have this happen again.
G
Guest5401
Guest
I'm not sure but maybe I am on the same boat, I mean I've been protecting my hearing and still getting worse for not really apparent reason. At the moment I'm taking Prednisone (tapering off) and I am much worse (still worsening each day). Maybe it's just a spike, but believe me when I mean my body is starting to react to the sound, when normally I do not...
I'm not sure what to do either, it's a nightmare...
I'm not sure what to do either, it's a nightmare...
I spike after every phone call, musician's earplugs help.I also experienced a nasty spike after a long phone conversation. I avoid them now... among lots of other normal activities.
This is strange. It's just a phone call after all. At the lowest volume. On the speaker. Are we that sensitive?!
I am going to try some very low level white or pink noise enrichment this week from speakers and see what happens.
George
Hey @UKBloke,
Reactive tinnitus and hyperacusis are most definitely linked. I can attest to this, as when my hyperacusis began to abate, so did my reactivity.
I had this discussion once with @Stacken77, here, and we both share the same hypothesis (which would easily incorporate yours and Neil Bauman's).
Unfortunately I cannot give any input beyond my own anecdotal experience. I'm not even particularly sure of the differences between "pain" and "loudness" hyperacusis. If I were to walk around in London without earplugs, I would eventually encounter an ambulance or police siren (as happened to me often in the early days, when I stupidly took the advice of people who insisted "wearing earplugs everywhere" would "make things worse". Much appreciation to those idiots; my tinnitus may actually have subsided in my first year had I adhered to my own instincts on that matter), which would from memory of what sirens once sounded like, be 10x louder in volume than they actually are, cause my ears a great amount of pain, and give me a nice 2 week long (if not permanent) spike.
So do I suffer "pain" and "loudness" hyperacusis? I don't know.
Pushing 13 years this coming April, and while those years have been a complete nightmare, somehow (with the support of my Mum, two good doctors, and my own subconscious note taking during said nightmare) I've made massive improvements concerning my tolerance to noise and ability to focus/concentrate despite (not mild/moderate) tinnitus.
So yes, I absolutely believe (practically) everyone can achieve a reduction in reactive tinnitus and hyperacusis.
Standard (noise induced) tinnitus (and it's relentless climbing in volume) on the other hand, I do not believe there is any real remedy (or method of treatment) for (yet).
I also experienced a nasty spike after a long phone conversation. I avoid them now... among lots of other normal activities.
I also avoid phone calls and conversations, as much as is possible; although it's hard when your manager doesn't think it's possible to go a single day without "checking in, over the phone" despite insisting they "understand about the tinnitus".
It also makes any customer services dispute twice as difficult, because the truth is companies just don't read their damn emails. Sometimes I wonder if the contact email address for some of them isn't just a black hole somewhere outside our galaxy.
So in order to tackle the occasional unavoidable phone call, I employ the use of the lightest version of Peltor ear defender (X1A):
and these seem to make a couple minutes on speakerphone bearable.
Yes @aura, because as I've said before, volume is a poor indicator of what will cause our (already compromised) hearing, damage.
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/posts/621808/
I think this falls into the same category of thinking as: "well a laser shouldn't be able to cause the eye any damage, because it's such a small amount of light".
Look: Weaponizing Sound: How a 'Silent' Sonic Weapon Might Work - Seeker
Ultrasonic weapons are not only possible, they already exist. And their basis in fact, proves that our ears are susceptible to damage from sounds we can't even hear. So let's just throw this volume rule out the window.
- Jul 8, 2019
- 1,160
- Tinnitus Since
- 1991
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Loud Music / family history
I always enjoy reading your posts. You've done well after 13 years; made life work for you, which can be bloody tough in our game. Your mum's a gem. My mum's been a big help for me along the way too. She also has tinnitus so we sometimes give each other a leg up and rant about it. I often think, If she's in her seventies and managed to accommodate this unwelcome visitor, so can I. Have a good xmas, man.
Anthony, so sorry for your situation & thought I'd give my 2 cents (hopefully more).
Are you consuming a lot of sugar & carbs? For some people that can be a big contributor to tinnitus.
For me personally sugar is like devil. I'm planning to make a post here one day with my whole story. Right now I'm weaning off of all processed carbs (again) and like before, it initially makes things worse. Like a withdrawal symptom. But I should start seeing lots of improvements in about a month, if history repeats itself.
My tinnitus is actually 'noise induced', but I believe I first destroyed my ears & brain (and many other body parts) with my eating disorder. It was sounds that would not cause problems when I was eating right and had strong ears. Chopping wood the first time, second time playing maraca. And then a blender gave me hyperacusis on top.
Are you consuming a lot of sugar & carbs? For some people that can be a big contributor to tinnitus.
For me personally sugar is like devil. I'm planning to make a post here one day with my whole story. Right now I'm weaning off of all processed carbs (again) and like before, it initially makes things worse. Like a withdrawal symptom. But I should start seeing lots of improvements in about a month, if history repeats itself.
My tinnitus is actually 'noise induced', but I believe I first destroyed my ears & brain (and many other body parts) with my eating disorder. It was sounds that would not cause problems when I was eating right and had strong ears. Chopping wood the first time, second time playing maraca. And then a blender gave me hyperacusis on top.
MindOverMatter
Member
- Jun 29, 2020
- 603
- Tinnitus Since
- 2004
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Unknown (possibly stress related, and later sound induced)
I'm also going through the same thing. My baseline increases to most sounds. Every day or week I have to adjust to new levels of tinnitus. Unfortunately for me, wearing hearing protection does little to none especially in moderately loud environments. I get long lasting spike or increase in baseline from simply going to grocery/clothing store. But this wasn't the case a year ago when my tinnitus was mild, now I'm dealing with a more severe/catastrophic type that just won't stop getting worse.
I wish the best for you and hope you find some form of relief. Just know that I'm going through what you're going through or maybe even worse.
- Oct 30, 2020
- 598
- Tinnitus Since
- 10/2020
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Noise (likely headphones & cars), Acoustic trauma did me in
So sorry to hear that @Kenilworth. Mine's pretty similar. How's your hyperacusis?
- Apr 28, 2021
- 1,881
- Tinnitus Since
- 1999
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Trauma
So when do the reactivity and hyperacusis go away?
Going on 9 months and I feel like there's no progress lol. I don't even protect as much as most here.
Going on 9 months and I feel like there's no progress lol. I don't even protect as much as most here.
Well, my hyperacusis is present and at times bothersome. But it's not as debilitating as my tinnitus. Even after setbacks, my hyperacusis improves overtime but never dissipates. I still do tolerate some sounds better than others.
I recovered once from tinnitus and once from pulsatile tinnitus.
I believe a lot of the problem lies with an overactive nervous system. Whenever I took a holiday my tinnitus would subside dramatically. I also started a plant based diet cutting down on dairy. No processed foods. Coffee and tea were ok for me. Alcohol in moderation was good for sleeping (red wine). Promethazine also aided sleep. Walking especially by the sea and in forests. Omega-3, Turmeric, Magnesium and Arnica may help but not sure.
I believe a lot of the problem lies with an overactive nervous system. Whenever I took a holiday my tinnitus would subside dramatically. I also started a plant based diet cutting down on dairy. No processed foods. Coffee and tea were ok for me. Alcohol in moderation was good for sleeping (red wine). Promethazine also aided sleep. Walking especially by the sea and in forests. Omega-3, Turmeric, Magnesium and Arnica may help but not sure.
Man if only my tinnitus didn't permanently spike and get more tones from opening a door, so that I could get out into the forest.
I agree.
At first, I experienced headaches. I still have them, but not on a daily basis.
I remember that the only way I could escape from the pain for a few seconds/minutes was staying in bed, in silence, with my eyes closed. So I spent most of the time (for a month or two) staying in bed.
The very first moment somebody was opening the door or trying to talk to me I felt INSTANT pain (headache, not ear pain). A normal stimulus did that to me. I think this was because of the hyperreactivity of the brain and something similar is happening when you have tinnitus and hyperacusis.
I am in that position now aura. My brain seems to be fizzing. Quite hard to concentrate. It can take months if not years to subside. I thought I had left this all behind years ago. Thanks a bunch Pfizer jab.
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