Emotional Roller Coaster

[Juan]

did your not read Liberman's paper on how hidden hearing loss can hide on an audiogram?


https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0162726

I know what Liberman means, but he is assessing the risk of developing hearing problems at a later stage, and for this he is using a more comprehensive way to measure hearing ability than just performing an audiometric test. Liberman is trying to assess the ability to hear and discriminate speech with background noise. Liberman is using these tests to warn about early signs that may point to an increased risk of hearing deterioration.

However, the OP's audiogram is within normal parameters, it is just normal hearing as of today. It is quite difficult (I would say impossible) to predict accurately how an audiogram or hearing ability may evolve in the distant future.

 

[Aegyo]

I don't know what is going on. Today the tinnitus was so far away, I hadn't experienced that before.

Right now I have an electrostorm, but it's almost like it's outside of my head... It keeps fading in and out of my awareness for seconds.

@Michael Leigh Is there any objection to starting TRT before 6 months? Other than financial? Because I can start January 14th if I want. Real TRT, so with the in ear sound generators.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Aegyo
If I were you, I would leave starting TRT for at least 6 months for the reasons that I've mentioned in my post in the link below. If and when you start TRT, I advise you not to mention it in any tinnitus forums. It would be a good idea to keep away from tinnitus forums completely when you start this treatment or any other.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-is-trt-and-when-should-it-be-started.19024/

 

[Aegyo]

@Aegyo
If I were you, I would leave starting TRT for at least 6 months for the reasons that I've mentioned in my post in the link below. If and when you start TRT, I advise you not to mention it in any tinnitus forums. It would be a good idea to keep away from tinnitus forums completely when you start this treatment or any other.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-is-trt-and-when-should-it-be-started.19024/

I personally support TRT, so I don't care what others think

I had a long phone conversation with the TRT therapist and her view was that the in ear generators can be started to combat the reactiveness/sensitivity. And to alleviate the burden a bit.

My concern is more...can it do any physical harm to start before 6 months? The therapist said no, but as you are a veteran, I would like your opinion.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Aegyo

In theory your TRT therapist is correct, it shouldn't cause any harm starting to wear white noise generators now. However, tinnitus is complex especially in the early stages which you are in. I have read a few of your posts to this forum. Based on them I still advise that you leave TRT alone for a while and start it at 6 months in.

The fact that you support TRT is good and you may believe adverse comments about it from forum members will not affect you but I beg to differ; not just on this but other reasons as to why I strongly suggest you do not visit tinnitus forums when you start TRT or any other tinnitus treatment.

Quite a few members that have started TRT or CBT have contacted me to say: reading posts and comments from other members, seriously affects their belief that the treatment they are having will be effective for them. A lot of people visiting this forum for help are in distress with tinnitus. The last thing a person needs to read is distressing posts and negative comments particularly those on Tinnitus Chat which is a live stream - this will do you no good at all.

You have asked for my advice and I have given it based on having TRT twice. On both occasions treatment last two years.

Just to recap: TRT requires the wearing of two white noise generators that should be worn for up to 10hrs a day. When first starting wearing them I suggest gradually building up the wearing time until 10hrs is achieved or whatever your therapist advises.

Regular counselling with your therapist should also be provided otherwise it is not TRT. You should be using a sound machine at night by your bedside for sound enrichment.

TRT needs to be backed up with "positive reinforcement" from the patient. This means trying to engage as much as possible in the things that you like to do and to "stay away" from tinnitus forums. Professor Jastreboff, developer of TRT and tinnitus therapists, also recommend staying away from tinnitus forums when undergoing treatment.

All the best
Michael