Biljana

[Biljana]

Hi, I am Biljana. I am 51. I have been suffering from tinnitus since 2001. I also have sensorineural hearing loss which was moderate till September 2014 and the doctor told me I didn't need a hearing aid. But no one had told me before that I was more susceptible to acoustic trauma because of my tinnitus, so on September 28, 2014 I went to a concert (loud of course, and not the first one I had attended) and I got acoustic trauma that further worsened my hearing.

I was given a corticosteroid therapy which was ineffective, so I started to use hearing aids.

But my audiologist scared me a lot when she told me I had to be extremely careful about exposing myself to loud noise in future because I could get another acoustic trauma.

And then I developed hyperacusis. I wear protection muffs in loud environment, I no longer go to concerts, weddings and parties and my life has changed a lot. I even started to avoid going to cafes and restaurants and I feel best when I am at home.

Actually, in the last 2,5 years since the concert I do not live but avoid sounds as much as I can. I no longer wish to live like this, so I started a psychotherapy and I hope it will help.

The reason for my tinnitus and hearing loss remains unknown.

My doctor says that it is a combination of predisposition and use of ototoxic medications.

 

[billie48]

Welcome to the forum. I have empathy for your struggle with both T & H as I had both of them too years ago. To take on both of them has been a nightmare for me initially, but my H faded over time. Make sure you protect from loud venues and noises but don't over protect for normal ambient sounds. You need that to help the ears to harden to hearing normal sounds to avoid developing sound sensitivity. We do have a hyperacusis support forum too. Try to post there to get some support for your H. I post the link to my success story so you can feel hopeful even with the current struggle with both T & H. It can get better. Good luck. Take care. God bless.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...w-i-recovered-from-tinnitus-hyperacusis.3148/

 

[Biljana]

Thank you for your reply and support. I am going to read your story and join the H forum right now. It is very encouraging to know that these horrible bores can become better and hopefully go away.