Four-Part Harmony

[karentea]

Hi. I have tinnitus. I have had it for 45 years. I first noticed I had a sound in my head when I was 6. Of course, I had no idea it was tinnitus until I turned 20. I suspect an infection when I was a baby (my mom said my face was puffy??) or a couple ear infections may have started it all. I have learned to live with it. My tinnitus presents as high pitched tones in both ears and a low pitched tone in my right. Just this past year I have added two new sounds to my "repertoire": a clicking sound in my left ear, which, thankfully, is only sporadic; and in my right ear, a sound not unlike listening to the bathroom fan from down the hall.

To add "injury to insult", I have developed some hearing loss (moderate to severe) through no fault of my own. I have been wearing hearing aids for almost 9 years. I am at a stage now that enough is enough. The tinnitus is getting louder, and affecting what I hear, even with hearing aids. I have seen audiologists, and ENTs. Any other suggestions?

Anyone out there empathize? A little?

 

[fishbone]

Hi. I have tinnitus. I have had it for 45 years. I first noticed I had a sound in my head when I was 6. Of course, I had no idea it was tinnitus until I turned 20. I suspect an infection when I was a baby (my mom said my face was puffy??) or a couple ear infections may have started it all. I have learned to live with it. My tinnitus presents as high pitched tones in both ears and a low pitched tone in my right. Just this past year I have added two new sounds to my "repertoire": a clicking sound in my left ear, which, thankfully, is only sporadic; and in my right ear, a sound not unlike listening to the bathroom fan from down the hall.

To add "injury to insult", I have developed some hearing loss (moderate to severe) through no fault of my own. I have been wearing hearing aids for almost 9 years. I am at a stage now that enough is enough. The tinnitus is getting louder, and affecting what I hear, even with hearing aids. I have seen audiologists, and ENTs. Any other suggestions?

Anyone out there empathize? A little?

I understand your issue fully. It's a tough battle indeed and each day takes effort. My tinnitus is scary loud and I suffer from bad hearing loss as well. Try to get as much support as possible, there are no cures for this thing(as of right now).

 

[glynis]

@karentea ,
Well done for coping with tinnitus for such a long time.
It might be worth looking into having your hearing checked again and see if your aids need altering.
I know how you must be feeling as wear hearing aids also.
I know you can get lots of different hearing aids like Bluetooth ones that can play music so might me worth looking in to it.
Love glynis x

 

[Dan RVA]

Anyone out there empathize? A little?

Your post could have been written by me, so yes, I certainly empathize a lot. I just take each day one at a time. It sounds trite, but that is all we can do. Try to get rest, if you need medicine to do so, get some. Try to get in some aerobic exercise too. It really helps me.

Stay positive, stay strong.

Dan

 

[karentea]

Thank you!

 

[Maggie B]

Meditation has been the only thing that has helped me tolerate the high pitched screeching, sounds like a jet engine. On occasion will get a clicking, sometimes whooshing, heartbeat and ever so seldom it sounds like crumpling heavy cellophane in ones hands. I also have hearing loss. You and everyone else on this website have my utmost empathy, and awe at still being sane. I find that headphones while watching TV gives me some distraction relief. Meditation has really worked for me to be able to ignore it and sometimes suddenly realize that I have forgotten about it, at least for a while.