ENT Got It from Being in a Soundproof Room!?

[Kris J]

Hi all,

Recently had an ENT appointment with the NHS. It turns out the ENT specialist also had T! Simply by noticing it after years of being in a sound proof room.

I've always been of the opinion that T is always present, but unfortunately some of us are more attuned to it. From an early age 8-10 I remember vaguely hearing a noise at night that was internal, since then it has gradually became more noticeable (mainly due to headphone usage and many, many festival and club nights over the years, I'm 28)

My ENT appointment seems to have cofirmed that more than anything it is more our awareness that causes the anxiety towards it as it is a naturally occurring condition. This gives me hope that once I accept and draw my attention away from this horrendous noise it will reduce. I have concentrated on my reaction to this condition and since seen huge improvements. Sometimes it's overwhelmingly loud, others I am totally unaware of it, strange old thing!

Funny thing is I sensed relief from hearing this from an ENT specialist who picked up on the noise, at least I know I fucked my hearing up at a festival as opposed as simply becoming aware of it in a silent environment!

I think the condition is 90% mental and 10% hearing loss. Once we come to terms with it, the sooner we can reduce its impact on our lives.

Good luck all with this condition, I have been through suicidal thoughts, end game visions etc. I know that we can all overcome this and day by day (I'm 3 months in) we can improve even if ever so slightly.

Much love,

Kris

 

[MidnightOilAudio]

Yes, loads of people have T. Some are lucky enough to only hear it in soundproof rooms. That is good enough as to basically not even have it though. When you can hear it above pretty much everything else, it's just a bit more difficult to deal with.

 

[Sam Bridge]

Hi Kris

Well yes awareness is the problem because the fact is the louder it is the more problematic it is and hence we end up on forums like this.

 

[Bobbie7]

I've always been of the opinion that T is always present, but unfortunately some of us are more attuned to it

Recently when I went to see a doctor for a routine matter, I mentioned to him I had tinnitus and to my surprise he made a statement to the effect that "all people have it". Well... I disagreed and we went back and forth and he seemed firm in his opinion. It may be that he had tinnitus for most, if not all, of his life and felt it was a natural occurrence. I can not speak for everyone, of course, but I know I most certainly never had it before I noticed it one day back in 2015 thinking it was the very noisy steam in my apartment. Before tinnitus, I thoroughly relished my absolute quiet and it helped to clear my mind from anxiety.

My husband, who always likes some noise (sound), whether it is the tv, radio or cd player on.... only realized he had tinnitus one day after I kept mentioning I had it. Oddly, in prior times when he went to sleep in the quietude of the bedroom.. he never realized it then.... only when he was in a quiet room after I discussed it.

When I am occupied by something it places the T on the backburner so to speak although when I listen for it, the loud tinnitus is always there keeping me company!

Best wishes Kris j.

 

[Pleasure_Paulie]

Watch this and it will explain all.

 

[PaulBe]

There is physiological tinnitus and there is pathological tinnitus. They are the same thing, but at the same time different.

 

[Kris J]

He actually has it to the point it causes him trouble sleeping, flairs up after noise exposure like bars, gigs etc. Was interesting speaking to an ENT Dr that understands the condition. He wasn't much more help than any other Dr I've seen however, but it was re-assuring that someone can get so used to it that they can be in a sound-proof room and still deal with it easily. I was nervous as hell just being in silence for the duration of the appointment, never mind being sat there for 9 hours a day!

I've heard that the majority of people who fully recover is around 6-8 month mark. I got a taxi a few weeks ago and the driver and I got onto the subject of tinnitus, I'd just been to see an ENT. And he went on to say his friend HAD it, it was caused by years of using headphones at a loud volume. He would wear earplugs where possible and after 6-8 months it completely went away! This story has given me hope, it probably won't go away but if this type of story can get me to at least accept it and move on that's also positive!