Broken Ear or Hyperacusis (Distortion)? Most External Noises Sound Distorted

[Orions Pain]

So is there anything we can actually do for relief? Anything? I'm losing hope.

 

[Bill Bauer]

My distortions started after pink noise and sound therapy.

How long ago was that?

 

[Capstan]

How long ago was that?

This month. I am having extreme hearing sensitivity right now. Everything sounds metallic. Im freaking trying to get my ent on call

 

[Bill Bauer]

This month. I am having extreme hearing sensitivity right now. Everything sounds metallic. Im freaking trying to get my ent on call

There's a good chance that within 3-6-12 months you will get better.

 

[Capstan]

There's a good chance that within 3-6-12 months you will get better.

Sensitivity is doing better today. Two days of hell. Still sensitive to certain sounds. My hyperacusis is on acid.

 

[Dja]

My thing is that my ear reacts and changes in hearing from particular sounds. It just changes as if it lost its calibration.

 

[Phat Tuna]

I'm still seeing slow but noticeable improvement. What has been helping me is working on my posture. I do lots of excersizes for this. Switching to a firmer mattress. Also keeping neck and jaw loose, which is easier said than done. I am also looking into TMJ treatment with a specialists. I believe my symptoms are coming from my neck or jaw or some combination of both.

 

[Jaysterk]

I'm still seeing slow but noticeable improvement. What has been helping me is working on my posture. I do lots of excersizes for this. Switching to a firmer mattress. Also keeping neck and jaw loose, which is easier said than done. I am also looking into TMJ treatment with a specialists. I believe my symptoms are coming from my neck or jaw or some combination of both.

I feel like TMJ/neck and jaw is causing my symptoms to get worse.

 

[Phat Tuna]

I feel like TMJ/neck and jaw is causing my symptoms to get worse.

In that case I would suggest doing something similar. Work on your posture, loosen up your neck, see a TMJ specialist (dentist), and also possibly an Upper Cervical Chiropractor.

 

[Jaysterk]

In that case I would suggest doing something similar. Work on your posture, loosen up your neck, see a TMJ specialist (dentist), and also possibly an Upper Cervical Chiropractor.

I'll definitely do that and get back to you guys!

 

[Luisa_P]

Hi Guys, I had this distortions from a month ago I'd say... I recently had a hearing test which came back normal. This is very distressing for me... How are you doing?

 

[Gordon Steinberg]

Hi,

Also jumping on the bandwagon here. I had an acoustic trauma about 2 weeks ago and since have had distortions/dysacusis with white noise like air conditioners/fans/generators. It has actually changed - at first when I heard these things there was a soothing low tone accompanying them. Now I hear a whistle/tea kettle with any white noise. It sucks because it means I obviously can't mask my tinnitus because the distortion makes a very similar noise.

Has anyone had this abate/improve over time?

 

[Gordon Steinberg]

Yes I did experience distortions in sound and many other things. For around 6 months I experienced complete numbness of my whole head. I could hear but everything sounded as if I was listening under water and it was very frightening! I went to see a Herbalist and she knew about tinnitus caused by "noise trauma". I was advised to start taking magnesium tablets and Gingko biloba in Tincture form. I took the magnesium for 2 years.

When I saw my ENT doctor late 1996 he said I have very good hearing and asked if I was taking anything. I told him about the magnesium and Gingko Biloba. He said these probably helped my hearing and the noise trauma and said, he advises his tinnitus patients to take these minerals too.

After 2 months in with tinnitus, I awoke 2am at night frightened out of my life. Both my ears were screaming loudly. It sounded like a very high pitched whistle coming out both my ears. I was so scared I quickly got dressed and went to my local hospital for help.

The things you are experiencing are all part of what happens when a person has acoustic trauma. It will settle down in time.

Michael

Hi Michael,

May I ask if your distortion passed, as a new sufferer of distortion myself?

Thanks! I know you have responded to separate questions I have posed, and often minister to new members here.

I deeply appreciate that.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi Michael,

May I ask if your distortion passed, as a new sufferer of distortion myself?

Thanks! I know you have responded to separate questions I have posed, and often minister to new members here.

I deeply appreciate that.

HI @Gordon Steinberg

The sound distortion did pass and the other symptoms mentioned in my post which you have quoted. Tinnitus caused by exposure to loud noise can take 12 to 18 months sometimes longer to fully recover from. This may or may not require treatment with an Audiologist. Hyperacusis (oversensitivity to sound) often accompanies noise induced tinnitus. You need to be patient so my advice is not to keep going to ENT doctors trying to get a quick fix as some people do because there isn't one. As long as you have straight forward tinnitus without additional symptoms such as: deafness, impaired hearing, dizziness, balance problems or acute pain in the ears, then the best treatment is to leave your ears alone.

Follow my advice in the links below. They are written mostly for people with noise induced tinnitus. I advise you not to use any form of headphones to listen to audio even at low volume and be careful of overly loud sounds. Use low level sound enrichment during the day and especially at night, more is explained in the links.

All the best
Michael

PS: I think it would be a good idea for you to start taking Gingko biloba and magnesium tablets as mentioned in my previous posts. Follow dosage instructions on the bottles.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

 

[GBB]

This is interesting. It seems for a lucky few sound distortion does resolve after 3-6 months, whereas for others it is permanent. I myself have a whistling noise which comes over white noise and fans, and am at 7 weeks. I'm glad to hear yours resolved. Hoping I am on a similar path.

 

[weab00]

If anything this thread has made me lose more hope. Looks like the distortions don't go away for 75% of people that get them. I experience it with traffic, running water, music/speakers, certain voices, etc. Anything over 75dB sounds like a cacophony of whistling. We are deprived of such a simple joy as music. I really hope FX-322 puts an end to this.

 

[GBB]

If anything this thread has made me lose more hope. Looks like the distortions don't go away for 75% of people that get them. I experience it with traffic, running water, music/speakers, certain voices, etc. Anything over 75dB sounds like a cacophony of whistling. We are deprived of such a simple joy as music. I really hope FX-322 puts an end to this.

I get a squeaky sound from the wind, or really any rush of air e.g. computer fan, air conditioning, house fan etc... I'd trade just about anything to make it stop. Sitting outside right now and basically wincing every 30 seconds from the wind blowing through the trees - this used to be my favorite noise on earth.

 

[sophia1688]

@HootOwl, did your distortions get better?

 

[PebblesForNow]

Dear guys do not stress a lot about this, because it can progress. I got this issue at 08.2019, stressed a lot and from 12.2019 these fucking distortions progressed / converted to music. I feel now like crazy, all sounds from ac, traffic are not just distorted with whistling, but playing music. Mentally I'm still ok, but this is horrible

Hi Vukis. I am having this same issue now with these background sounds converting to music. Did yours subside?

 

[mylesm]

Hey, how are you guys all doing?

For me the distortions seem to come and go. I have had periods where they disappear for a while and then return like there is a higher power tormenting me. Like a kid with magnifying glass by an ants nest.

But after after 2 years I can say that they have subsided in volume.

What a journey. I would love to hear some updates, as I'm sure some of the other members would.

 

[TheCapybara]

Hey, how are you guys all doing?

I've had it for a month now. Morse code/metallic beeping from wind, TV, shower, even a sizzling soda drink. I feel like it's gotten worse since onset but I'm still very early into this so I'm holding out some hope. I'm still really worried but I'm trying to hang in there and just live it day by day.

 

[mylesm]

I've had it for a month now. Morse code/metallic beeping from wind, TV, shower, even a sizzling soda drink. I feel like it's gotten worse since onset but I'm still very early into this so I'm holding out some hope. I'm still really worried but I'm trying to hang in there and just live it day by day.

Can I ask, do you have any hearing sensitivity?

Are you and anxious person, have you been under stress recently?

 

[TheCapybara]

Can I ask, do you have any hearing sensitivity?

Are you and anxious person, have you been under stress recently?

I do, and before this happened I've always been pretty sensitive to sounds. I never gave it much thought before but it makes sense now how it affects me with this condition.

And yes, I've always been very anxious and stressed over a lot of things in life (social anxiety, work, worries about the future, etc).

 

[NewLionel]

How are you guys all doing?

My left ear distorts.

If I move my jaw awkwardly/if it is pulled on with any force, it irritates my TMJ and my left ear starts distorting for a few weeks.

I do, and before this happened I've always been pretty sensitive to sounds. I never gave it much thought before but it makes sense now how it affects me with this condition.

And yes, I've always been very anxious and stressed over a lot of things in life (social anxiety, work, worries about the future, etc).

It seems anxiety is closely linked to hyperacusis. Have you tried any anxiety medication?

 

[TheCapybara]

My left ear distorts.

If I move my jaw awkwardly/if it is pulled on with any force, it irritates my TMJ and my left ear starts distorting for a few weeks.

It seems anxiety is closely linked to hyperacusis. Have you tried any anxiety medication?

Hi Lionel. I'm not on any anxiety meds, no. I tried some years ago but it gave me all sorts of weird side effects so I stopped at the time and havent been on any since. Probably worth considering at this point since I'm having a lot of trouble staying calm and stress free with these distortions from all the daily things.

 

[NewLionel]

Hi Lionel. I'm not on any anxiety meds, no. I tried some years ago but it gave me all sorts of weird side effects so I stopped at the time and havent been on any since. Probably worth considering at this point since I'm having a lot of trouble staying calm and stress free with these distortions from all the daily things.

I take Amitriptyline and it helped it a little. I am interested about Clomipramine after reading the thread about it. What medication gave you side effects?

I do sometimes wonder if being an anxious person results in being hypervigilant, which causes part of the sound sensitivity. But I guess it's a chicken and egg situation.

 

[TheCapybara]

I take Amitriptyline and it helped it a little. I am interested about Clomipramine after reading the thread about it. What medication gave you side effects?

I do sometimes wonder if being an anxious person results in being hypervigilant, which causes part of the sound sensitivity. But I guess it's a chicken and egg situation.

Sorry to say, I really don't remember which one it was since it was many years ago. The only thing I remember from that time is that I would wake up in the middle of the night (much like now ever since I developed tinnitus and distortions) while seeing swirling pictures on the wall.

I guess anxiety really does play a role in the severity of this condition. If it were regular tinnitus I could live with it, but being hyper sensitive to sounds and hearing distorted high frequencies is taking a toll.