Have an Appointment with an ENT Specialized in Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

[Owen]

7 months? I hope so but I don't think so. I have ringing in my other ear now and now a low one in that same ear. I don't know if I had all of this before and never noticed or if there is something I am doing to make it worse.

Also you don't think the soft headphones are on? Like the wrap around headband ones? I've been using that

I have never stopped believing that mine will improve with time and so far, slowly, but surely it has. I'm not saying that the end result is zero tinnitus, as I have no way of knowing. I am even aware that all of a sudden, it could totally drown out the world around me once again. I am now 2 years and 3 months since onset. I have had new sounds come and go (11 at least), ranging from hissing, to crickets, to Morse code, to piercing screams - as though someone was screaming at their loudest just inches from my ear. Noises move between ears and into the centre of my head. I'm not saying mine will go completely, but it has definitely become less chaotic and significantly less intrusive and I can no longer hear it over the sound of a shower.

Often sufferers and doctors seem to become bogged down in the idea that if you have had it for more than a few weeks, that's it. This is absolutely not true. Mine continued to get worse for months before it started to improve. In fact, I would say that for me, the 7 month point was still really bad. It was not until around 2 years from onset that it had appreciably improved.

 

[Sam Bridge]

Thanks for your reply @Michael Leigh. The thing that annoys me is that i don't know what level my t is at. I can play masking sounds if i want but i get tired of those and nowadays i can listen to my t and work, I guess i lost the anxiety and stress it used to bring just by hearing it. Nowadays its just there but i can get on with work/whatever. If you can hear it doesn't that mean its intrusive by definition?

 

[Michael Leigh]

If you can hear it doesn't that mean its intrusive by definition?

Some people believe that habituating to tinnitus means they will no longer hear their tinnitus but this is incorrect. You have habituated to your tinnitus because your brain has learnt to ignore it and that's fine. When my tinnitus is mild or moderate I hear it but it doesn't bother me in the slightest because I have habituated to it. However, when it's severe or very severe it so loud it can impact on my ability to do things.

Even when my tinnitus is silent, mild or moderate I still have sounds around me playing quietly in the background and this is known as sound enrichment. If I were working in an office as you are doing, I'd have a sound machine playing nature sounds at a very low level so as not to draw my attention and be able to focus from my work.

When a sound machine is used correctly it works subtly in the background of the subconscious mind and must not draw attention to itself like a radio. In other words it can easily be ignored. In my opinion, there is a risk of your tinnitus becoming more intrusive by staying in a quiet almost silent environment and listening to your tinnitus even though your working. Using a sound machine (not a radio) playing in the background at a very low level is the prudent thing to do.
Michael

 

[Sam Bridge]

Some people believe that habituating to tinnitus means they will no longer hear their tinnitus but this is incorrect. You have habituated to your tinnitus because your brain has learnt to ignore it and that's fine. When my tinnitus is mild or moderate I hear it but it doesn't bother me in the slightest because I have habituated to it. However, when it's severe or very severe it so loud it can impact on my ability to do things.

Even when my tinnitus is silent, mild or moderate I still have sounds around me playing quietly in the background and this is known as sound enrichment. If I were working in an office as you are doing, I'd have a sound machine playing nature sounds at a very low level so as not to draw my attention and be able to focus from my work.

When a sound machine is used correctly it works subtly in the background of the subconscious mind and must not draw attention to itself like a radio. In other words it can easily be ignored. In my opinion, there is a risk of your tinnitus becoming more intrusive by staying in a quiet almost silent environment and listening to your tinnitus even though your working. Using a sound machine (not a radio) playing in the background at a very low level is the prudent thing to do.
Michael

If you are constantly masking it doesn't that just reinforce the negative feelings for tinnitus? As you say, each person experiences t differently. My T whilst not exactly soothing, is not an awful sound really, more of a mid pitch buzz/hum so I can stand listening to it for long periods of time unmasked. I guess it really does come down to what the individual experiences with there T.

 

[Tom Cnyc]

I don't understand why not using sound machines would make it harder to habituate. Some CBTs, including Dr. Hubbard on this site - suggest the exact opposite of this, even comparing sitting and listening to your tinnitus as "going to the gym" metaphorically to build a tolerance to it.

Furthermore - I call shenanigans on low volume music being worse than low volume white noise in regards to headphones. It's a question of FORCE, not rhythm. In fact - one can argue constant sound is significantly worse for the cochlea as the hairs don't get a break at all.

Don't blast the latest death metal album into your ears with headphones and you'll probably be fine. I use headphones EVERY DAY at work on low volume and my tinnitus has improved significantly since onset.

Lastly, how does TRT take TWO YEARS? And what special magic is covered in these "counseling sessions" that total to be like - 4 hours - and why is it not FREE information on ATA.com. Thousands of dollars for a few hours time and literally an ipod that plays fuzz is a bigger scam that buying a tinnitool direct from Dr Shamash the more I hear about it.

 

[Michael Leigh]

If you are constantly masking it doesn't that just reinforce the negative feelings for tinnitus?

Hi Sam,
I hope that you don't mind but I would like to bring this subject to a close. I agree with you, that it's up to the individual and their experiences how they choose to manage their tinnitus.

I would just like to mention a few things that might be of help to others reading this thread.

The term "masking" is no longer used today when treating tinnitus, as it refers to using sound to completely cover it up so that it can't be heard. The problem with this is, once the masking sound is removed (turned off) the brain immediately focuses back on the tinnitus and it can appear to be louder and more intrusive and thus offering no benefit at all.

The modern way of treating tinnitus is to use "sound enrichment". Playing low-level non-intrusive sounds such as: white noise or nature sounds from a sound machine set just below the tinnitus – this is because the brain cannot habituate to tinnitus if it's unable hear it. My article "The sound machine" in my post: Introduction to tinnitus, further up this thread goes into more detail and the benefits of using sound enrichment.

I have corresponded with many people over the years that have habituated to their tinnitus and stopped using sound enrichment during the day and at night, believing they no longer have to. Unfortunately, many of them have noticed their tinnitus gradually becoming more intrusive and they wonder why? When I've asked have they stopped using their sound machine at night, I'm often told yes and this is usually the cause of the problem.

For someone that has intrusive tinnitus and habituated, and stopped using sound enrichment and chooses to sleep in a quiet room, runs the risk of allowing their brain to increase it's background activity and at the same time increases the level of the tinnitus, which can make it louder and more intrusive during the night and day.

In my opinion, anyone that has tinnitus even if it's low should use some form of low-level sound enrichment during the day and night. So to be clear on this: using sound enrichment is not masking tinnitus, for the sound source should ideally be set just below the tinnitus.

Michael

 

[Sam Bridge]

Hi Sam,

In my opinion, anyone that has tinnitus even if it's low should use some form of low-level sound enrichment during the day and night. So to be clear on this: using sound enrichment is not masking tinnitus, for the sound source should ideally be set just below the tinnitus.

Michael

Ah okay i misunderstood. I agree with what you say there .

 

[Telis]

Furthermore - I call shenanigans on low volume music being worse than low volume white noise in regards to headphones. It's a question of FORCE, not rhythm. In fact - one can argue constant sound is significantly worse for the cochlea as the hairs don't get a break at all.

Definitely agree with this.

 

[Marie79]

Definitely agree with this.

What does this mean?

 

[Marie79]

Some people believe that habituating to tinnitus means they will no longer hear their tinnitus but this is incorrect.

Actually for me I actually could not hear it when I habituated it and I brought it back by finding it. I honestly 100% could not hear it for 10 minutes in a silent car and then realized OMG there it is and it was there all along. This is why I think people should know that habituation is different for everyone. I keep bringing it back because I think it is better so I listen and listen and listen for it. Among other problems.

 

[just1morething]

I'm still not sure about using sound therapy to help with ear/head noise, but it seems Robaxin helps calm mine down. Maybe due to muscle spasms in neck? It seems deep fried cauliflower and cheese curds really ramped up my noise fast right now, like a piercing ringing. I hope OTO-311 calms down the damaged ear hair cells, but that could be years away, if it even works. In the meantime maybe TRT?

 

[Alue]

Hi Aulue,
Tinnitus comes in many forms and intensities no two people experience it the same. When tinnitus is severe and intrusive, it can be very debilitating and can affect a person's quality of life considerably and their ability to work. I had an understanding employer.

I went off sick from work due to my tinnitus and was seen by more than one of their occupational Doctors over a period of time. They eventually recommended that I be medically retired. Medical reports wore also submitted by my ENT consultant and GP about my condition.

Some people think that employers or government health organisations don't take tinnitus seriously, but I don't believe this is always the case. I have corresponded with people that go off sick from work with tinnitus and say their employers are not sympathetic and show no understanding. When I ask them if they are having treatment at ENT I'm often told: they've only been seen a couple of times. A hearing test MRI etc.

A person must persist and try to get treatment for their tinnitus. This comes in the forms: TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy) CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) counselling. The wearing of white noise generators or, taking anti-depressants etc.

Unless a person is receiving ongoing treatment for their tinnitus at a clinic or hospital, it's unlikely their employer etc will take their condition seriously. If this were not so, anyone could say: "I have tinnitus and can't work". You need to be having treatment.
Michael

O I know it can be debilitating, mine is rather severe. Mine was also caused by a work accident that was negligence on my coworker/employer's part. When I told my employer the loud T and H was really affecting my sleep and work I was basically told tough shit and was even threatened to not talk about it with coworkers. I asked my ENT for back to work paperwork right away after the incident so that ended that. Since the symptoms are subjective they don't exist and I may as well be making it up. I have been involved in the AM101 trials getting 18 shots total into my middle ears so that precludes me from "having treatment" as you would put it.
This work injury has really wrecked my life, but there is no recourse to be had (believe me, I've explored all the options).

Just being on these forums has shown me how differently workers are treated in the US and the UK.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Actually for me I actually could not hear it when I habituated it and I brought it back by finding it.

Hi Marie. You are correct, habituation is different for everyone. However, with all due respect to you, what you are describing as habituating to tinnitus isn't in my opinion. Please read my article: Answers to hyperacusis and habituation, it is listed in my Introduction to Tinnitus post.

My tinnitus is variable: It can be completely silent, mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe. Saying all that, I have habituated to my tinnitus to a certain degree. When it is silent, mild or moderate I have no problems with it. Only when it ramps up to severe and extremely severe and these levels are sustained for two or more days does it start to make an impact on my well-being and my ability to do things. This when it's necessary for me to take my clonazepam to help calm the tinnitus down.
Michael

 

[just1morething]

I have been involved in the AM101 trials getting 18 shots total into my middle ears

Have they helped at all? 18 injections? Seems like a awful lot of injections.

 

[Alue]

Actually for me I actually could not hear it when I habituated it and I brought it back by finding it. I honestly 100% could not hear it for 10 minutes in a silent car and then realized OMG there it is and it was there all along. This is why I think people should know that habituation is different for everyone. I keep bringing it back because I think it is better so I listen and listen and listen for it. Among other problems.

From reading a lot of your other threads, you seem to have "mild T" That doesn't mean it's not very bothersome for you, but for you, habituation may well mean you do not hear it unless you are in silence and you are looking for it. If that is the case. STOP LOOKING FOR IT! Stop feeding it by trying to "cure" it by going to doctor after doctor and focusing on it. For severe intrusive T, this doesn't seem to work the same as it's just not something that goes away when you aren't paying attention to it. Maybe you could benefit from CBT.

 

[Path Maker]

STOP LOOKING FOR IT!

I'm working on this myself!

It's also true that by looking for it, dwelling on it, you are helping the brain to re-wire abnormally. And by ignoring it, you can help the brain to NOT do that.

 

[Telis]

What does this mean?

It means that I agree.

 

[Marie79]

i went to dr Harrison Lin today. Harvard educated and professor at UCI and otolaryngologist. He has T himself. Him and his team have done several studies on T already.

He answered all my questions for myself and I won't bother you with all that. I just asked him to Go over what I was doing to make sure I wouldn't make it worse blah blah blah. Nothing you haven't all heard before.

He said already well known in the medical community that it's well known that putting electricity in the ear (DONT DO THIS .. MY EXPLANATION IS TRANSLATING WHAT HE TOLD ME) makes T temporarily better.

Ok so I asked if there was any current promising research.

He said him and his team were in the process of researching electricity being put in the ear... He would be the one of the doctors doing this on research patients. They are going to do a clinical trial soon.

This temporarily reduces T but they want to create a surgical implant to keep up this electricity to get rid of T completely. He said this reality is 5-10 years out.

I personally wouldn't do that at this point but it's a HUGE relief to me that for this does get worse for me this could be an option. I hope this gives you guys some hope. He said they just got a big grant from NHS? I think that's what it was.

I asked him if he would do it and he said his T doesn't bother him at all. So I put that in there to give another little success story. He is another one of many I've met that can hear T almost anywhere IF THEY THINK ABOUT IT.

 

[Jomo]

All i try to do is keep the sound therapy stuff going as much as i can (residual inhibition). Im only a month in but if can get my brain to lessen the sound now i hope it can stay that way...probably have a slim chance in doing it but i did read a study saying using RI could be more effective in the beginning...i think sitting in silence when its roaring is a bad idea

 

[Emmi]

This temporarily reduces T but they want to create a surgical implant to keep up this electricity to get rid of T completely. He said this reality is 5-10 years out.

To me this is a huge relief too! Thank you for sharing that! It actually really seems like something is going on. Do you happen to know when they will start with the trial? Or do you have a name of the research institute? Gosh, that really gives me hope that we don't have to endure this forever

 

[Marie79]

To me this is a huge relief too! Thank you for sharing that! It actually really seems like something is going on. Do you happen to know when they will start with the trial? Or do you have a name of the research institute? Gosh, that really gives me hope that we don't have to endure this forever

You can call the office maybe?

http://www.ucirvinehealth.org/find-a-doctor/l/harrison-lin/