Being in Silent Environments Reduces My Tinnitus

[Voy]

Hi everyone,

Here's what I've noticed: silence tends to reduce my tinnitus, while noise seems to make it worse. Often, when I wake up in the morning, my tinnitus is almost non-existent, but as the day goes on, it intensifies to the point that nothing can drown it out. It becomes a very strong hissing with a squeak, mainly in my left ear.

I've also observed that movements in my neck and jaw modulate the sound.

I experience a lot of stress, which makes me wonder if that could be a cause. Will the tinnitus eventually return to its previous state, when I had no hypersensitivity or reaction to noise? It feels like ambient sounds and general noise are contributing to the increase in my tinnitus.

Additionally, I drink a lot of coffee and smoke heavily, so perhaps that's having an effect too.

A recent blood test showed a slight vitamin D3 deficiency.

Clenching my teeth temporarily increases the tinnitus. I'm also missing four teeth on my right side—specifically, numbers 6 and 7—which were removed in June, after which my tinnitus intensified.

I've dealt with anxiety disorders for years, but I've decided to slowly wean off my medication and approach things more consciously through therapy. I only wish I had realized sooner that anxiety itself can't actually harm me. I was taking the SSRI paroxetine, and it's been challenging to taper off, but I'm doing it with awareness. Anxiety is supposed to protect us, yet it often perceives a "paper tiger" rather than a real threat. That's why I'm working on teaching my brain new patterns.

Wishing everyone peace and quiet.

 

[Nick47]

Hi @Voy, I see you're new here. Welcome!

What you're experiencing is a form of tinnitus called "reactive tinnitus," which is common after noise-induced tinnitus. Tinnitus can develop gradually from repeated noise exposure or suddenly from a single event. Medically, it remains a bit of a mystery. Some professionals categorize it as hyperacusis, but many people experience it without having hyperacusis.

You also have what's known as somatic tinnitus; about 70% of us do. This is also common with noise-induced tinnitus. After a temporary or permanent change in hearing thresholds, other cranial nerves, like the trigeminal and dorsal column nerves, can become overstimulated. It's rarely related to the spine, muscles, or neck injuries and is very common.

I recommend reading the Research News thread "New University of Michigan Tinnitus Discovery — Signal Timing" since there's a lot of discussion and scientific information on somatosensory influences in tinnitus.

Avoid spending money on chiropractors, acupuncture, or massages, as this is primarily a nerve-related issue.

Supplements can sometimes make the condition worse, especially with overdoses of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. Occasionally, Magnesium can help, but it's rare.

 

[Tinniger]

I am surprised by the low response to your post.

My tinnitus usually calms down at night as well. If it is very quiet during the day, the tinnitus tends to remain moderate. However, in an environment with constant noise, even something as normal as driving a car, it often becomes unbearable by evening.

My tinnitus is also unilateral on the left side, and it is more of a hissing than a beeping sound. It is unclear whether noise exposure was the cause.

In any case, my tinnitus is extremely somatically modifiable and can be intensified by various actions. For example, clenching my teeth, shifting my lower jaw laterally, applying light pressure to certain areas of my head, or creating negative pressure in my mouth by sucking all increase its intensity.

I regret that so little attention is given to the phenomenon of somatic modulation in tinnitus.