Can You Habituate to Ultra-High Frequency Tinnitus (> 15 kHz)?

[ohnooo]

Hi,

I'm new here. I experienced an acoustic trauma with painful tinnitus around two weeks ago. I worry I may have made it worse by trying to match the tone of my tinnitus on some websites, as it seems the frequency and intensity of the pain have increased. Last night, I ended up in the ER due to the pain, and I even fainted from how intense the sound was. After some sleep, the pain has lessened, but the tinnitus is still very intrusive.

My question is: is there any hope for me to live with this condition? If the tinnitus eventually settles into a 16 kHz hiss rather than a shrill tone, is it possible for my brain to adapt and learn to ignore it? I'd appreciate hearing from anyone whose situation—especially with ultra-high-frequency tinnitus that can cause physical pain—has improved over time.

I can't believe I'm in this situation, and I'm struggling to see how living with it is possible. I'm only 21...

 

[Martin69]

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear that you're dealing with tinnitus. From what I've learned, tinnitus caused by acoustic trauma often resolves on its own, especially since you're still very young.

Although this is a difficult time for you, try to find ways to distract yourself. When my tinnitus is really bad, I usually mask it with cricket sounds, but I'm not sure if that's recommended when an acoustic trauma has recently occurred.

Still, it's a good idea to avoid being in a completely silent environment.

For reference, my tinnitus is also very high-pitched, but it was triggered by stress and panic. As I mentioned, I'm confident that your tinnitus will either resolve or significantly improve with time.

Take care and stay strong.

 

[RunningMan]

Can you at least partially mask it? If it's stable and not too loud, you should be able to habituate with time. Also, if it's only been 2 weeks, it could get better with time. Have you been tested for hearing loss? In the meantime, try to use sound enrichment and rescue protocol supplements.

Did you get Prednisone early on?

 

[ohnooo]

Thank you for your replies! However, I'm growing increasingly desperate because the pitch of my tinnitus is extremely high (definitely above 16 kHz). I believe it may have worsened after trying a pure tone generator, and I'm really worried that this might be permanent.

 

[tuning_spork]

I developed tinnitus (a high-pitched sound around 14 kHz) a little over three months ago because my ear protection wasn't properly sealed at the range. It's been absolute hell (and still is), but I've started to adjust somewhat. Every now and then, though, you sink and feel emotionally overwhelmed. The piercing, high-pitched "jet engine" noise in my head can feel unbearable at times.

But don't give up. See your doctor if you need help with sleeping or anything else. Over time, you'll either get used to it, or, if you're lucky, it may go away. I've heard that acute tinnitus caused by loud noise exposure has a pretty good chance of resolving itself on its own.

In the meantime, save your strength for the sleepless nights, the utter exhaustion, and the moments when you just want it all to stop. It can feel like torture, but remember, there is hope. There's always hope.