Are Tinnitus Sufferers More Susceptible to Tinnitus Getting Worse from Things Like Ototoxicity?

[aot]

Hello Dr. Nagler.

First, I'd look to both thank for you for answering my previous question, and to offer my condolences for your loss. I know how hard it is to lose a loved one.

I know that tinnitus can be caused by many things: Head Trauma, Hearing Loss, Ototoxic Medicine, etc..

Am I, and by extension, other members of this forum, more likely to suffer tinnitus spikes from these things?

For example, I have noise induced tinnitus. Am I more likely to have a spike due to Ototoxicity than a person without tinnitus is to develop it in the first place?

If I suffer head trauma, what are my odds of having a tinnitus spike in comparison to someone else acquiring tinnitus in the first place from head trauma?

So on and so forth.

I hope my question makes sense. Thank you for your time.

 

[Dr. Nagler]

Hello @aot. Thank you for your question.

Having tinnitus does not make an individual any more susceptible to auditory damage than the general population.

Specifically regarding tinnitus spikes, that issue is a bit trickier because the vast majority of tinnitus spikes are not related to auditory damage. Tinnitus spikes are highly individualized phenomena, and I don't think anybody really knows what causes them or what you can do to prevent them.

Stephen M. Nagler, M.D.