Help! My Hearing Is Deteriorating Fast, Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Getting Worse Every Second

[bill 112]

Guys I don't know what to do,my hearing is deteriorating fast and my T and H are getting worse every second.

Everything sounds distorted,my breathing sounds crazy and everything is starting to distort more and more.Even my dogs breathing sounds like a robot,it has me completely freaked out.

I went to my ENT and was given steroids but it hasn't done anything,they done a hearing test which turned up fine and just shrugged it off and said its hearing damage.My Eustachian tubes aren't blocked and I don't have any sinus issues either.

I'm screwed,after my H and T got worse this year I noticed distortion that would come and go but now it's staying and getting worse.

 

[VRZ78]

Fuck man the distortions are the worst, my breathing distorts too it's really annoying... The doctors were clueless.
The only place where I notice that people were having distortions was in the case of Meniere Disease and endolymphatic hydrops. Main cause of this is viral or bacteria so I started a course of antivirals and antifungals last Tuesday. No luck so far.

Also some guy here said that his distortions went away after he took SAMe

Did you have a cold lately ?

 

[VRZ78]

I don't have hearing loss either. I think we have some nerve damage......

 

[Michael Leigh]

I'm screwed,after my H and T got worse this year I noticed distortion that would come and go but now it's staying and getting worse.

I don't know your tinnitus and hyperacusis history or what caused the onset. If your tinnitus and hyperacusis was caused by "loud noise exposure" which is the most common cause of tinnitus and hyperacusis. If the condition is getting worse. Usually (but not in every case) the reason is exposure to loud sounds that you may not be aware of. Or, your hyperacusis wasn't fully cured.

I would suggest using sound enrichment at night using a sound machine. If you listen to music through headphones I advise not to. If you go to venues where loud music is being played, give it a rest for a while. When you visit such places use noise reducing earplugs. Please be aware: if sound is loud enough it can still pass through the Mastoid bone. This is the hard piece of bone behind each ear. It has honeycombed with air pockets. Sound can pass through this and enter the inner ear and irritate the cochlea so be careful.
Michael

 

[Rings-a-Bell]

Use a hearing app on your phone/tablet to test your ears every couple of days, that way you can tell if your thresholds are really changing or if it is something that is more being created by your mood/attention.

 

[bill 112]

I don't know your tinnitus and hyperacusis history or what caused the onset. If your tinnitus and hyperacusis was caused by "loud noise exposure" which is the most common cause of tinnitus and hyperacusis. If the condition is getting worse. Usually (but not in every case) the reason is exposure to loud sounds that you may not be aware of. Or, your hyperacusis wasn't fully cured.

I would suggest using sound enrichment at night using a sound machine. If you listen to music through headphones I advise not to. If you go to venues where loud music is being played, give it a rest for a while. When you visit such places use noise reducing earplugs. Please be aware: if sound is loud enough it can still pass through the Mastoid bone. This is the hard piece of bone behind each ear. It has honeycombed with air pockets. Sound can pass through this and enter the inner ear and irritate the cochlea so be careful.
Michael

Mine started after a noise exposure in January 2014 Michael,it got basically cured after two years.

I like you started going out more but always protecting and never overprotecting.I'd go bowling or to family gatherings in the pub(no music)and if there was music I wore earplugs,kept my distance and limited my time there.I was careful and smart

Use a hearing app on your phone/tablet to test your ears every couple of days, that way you can tell if your thresholds are really changing or if it is something that is more being created by your mood/attention.

Thats exactly what I've been doing lol,still the exact same as it always was from what I can tell.I am absolutely certain my damage is auditory nerve based,it has to be.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Mine started after a noise exposure in January 2014 Michael,it got basically cured after two years.

Hi Bill,
I also believe the increase in your tinnitus and hyperacusis was caused by noise exposure. When tinnitus and hyperacusis were originally caused by noise exposure a person has got to be very careful but it's so easy to forget. It happened to me. Things will improve for you but it will take time. Use sound enrichment and try and go out every day or every other day so your auditory system gets used to everyday sounds.
Michael

 

[Sam Bridge]

How comes i have some mild hearing loss at 2 frequencies in one ear but have none of these additional symptoms people have here like hyperacusis and distortions? I would think having some actual hearing loss would come with additional symptoms that alot here experience.

 

[VRZ78]

How comes i have some mild hearing loss at 2 frequencies in one ear but have none of these additional symptoms people have here like hyperacusis and distortions? I would think having some actual hearing loss would come with additional symptoms that alot here experience.

Because you're lucky haha
My guess would be that the damage to your nerves and synapses are minimal or only located at the place where you have tour hearing loss. Or maybe it's more your outer hair cell that are damage compared T nerves

 

[PaulBe]

It seems to me that the standard hearing test (the one they use to tell us we're all just fine) doesn't address anything in relation to quality of hearing.

 

[Capricornus]

@VRZ78 Do you experience sounds as distorted, or do you experience "reverb ringing" (additional sounds on top of a sound)?

@bill 112 I ask you this aswell.

 

[SilverSpiral]

@bill 112 Have you had an audiogram lately? Do you test "normal range"? Yet are dealing with this horrible condition? Hang in there man.

 

[Jason C]

Yup I have reverb ringing. In silence my T is almost gone but if I watch tv for 5 mins or listen too music I hear it all over what I'm listening too and it stays there for minutes after.

 

[SilverSpiral]

How comes i have some mild hearing loss at 2 frequencies in one ear but have none of these additional symptoms people have here like hyperacusis and distortions? I would think having some actual hearing loss would come with additional symptoms that alot here experience.

I have these horrible "reactive tinnitus" or "reverb ringing" that people describe, where Sounds at certain frequencies are not heard properly, an instead produce a sine wave/resonance/feedback/pure toneish sound. White noise like things like fans, running water, fridges, distant traffic, all produce really annoying sounds. Music is the worst of course, because I know what it should sound like, and the sounds music make you feel bad instead of good.

I as well as other people have theorized that this is due to there being some sort of partial nerve/haircell damage, so that the damaged areas basically produce false positives or distorted tones. Whereas you have more of a full loss, so you simply do not hear where your loss is, or have a constant tone T where your loss is. I also have constant tones, so I don't know... Hyperacusis may also relate to this partial damage, in that there is something biologically raw, which is sensitive to sound, and produces discomfort at sound. I really feel hyperacusis can have a biological basis after sound damage, because it produces such physical sensations, it literally feels like an injury being prodded by sound.

 

[VRZ78]

@VRZ78 Do you experience sounds as distorted, or do you experience "reverb ringing" (additional sounds on top of a sound)?

@bill 112 I ask you this aswell.

Both but reverb ringing way more than distortions

 

[Jason C]

I have these horrible "reactive tinnitus" or "reverb ringing" that people describe, where Sounds at certain frequencies are not heard properly, an instead produce a sine wave/resonance/feedback/pure toneish sound. White noise like things like fans, running water, fridges, distant traffic, all produce really annoying sounds. Music is the worst of course, because I know what it should sound like, and the sounds music make you feel bad instead of good.

I as well as other people have theorized that this is due to there being some sort of partial nerve/haircell damage, so that the damaged areas basically produce false positives or distorted tones. Whereas you have more of a full loss, so you simply do not hear where your loss is, or have a constant tone T where your loss is. I also have constant tones, so I don't know... Hyperacusis may also relate to this partial damage, in that there is something biologically raw, which is sensitive to sound, and produces discomfort at sound. I really feel hyperacusis can have a biological basis after sound damage, because it produces such physical sensations, it literally feels like an injury being prodded by sound.

Totally agree. I see hyperacusis more like a bruise too the auditory system and therefore it is a lot more sensitive too sound, as the bruise heals this sensitivity dies down.
For me after my noise trauma everything sounded like the treble was turned up and I couldn't hear base. Music sounded like it had a rattle too it like a broken speaker and sounds like plates banging together actually hurt, this lasted for a good 4-5 months. Thankfully that has died down a lot, the ringing has eased off but reacts too sound so when I listen too music it dosent sound like a broken speaker but it does have tinnitus all over the higher notes.
Before the noise trauma I could hear up to 18k but not I can't hear past 13.5k and a dip at 4K.

 

[Sam Bridge]

@SilverSpiral yeah i think you may be right. I just have one constant t tone which is mild. Music sounds the same.

 

[bill 112]

@SilverSpiral
Yes I had a recent audiogram done,see picture below.Both ears are pretty much the exact same as one another.

 

[bill 112]

@VRZ78 Do you experience sounds as distorted, or do you experience "reverb ringing" (additional sounds on top of a sound)?

@bill 112 I ask you this aswell.

Just distortion,sometimes my own breathing sounds robotic and unnatural.
Like today,I woke up and my dog was on my bed fast asleep,his breathing sounded all distorted and robotic,it's hard to explain.
My T starts off mild and then grows twists and changes throughout the day until it's either screaming or it's not there at all.My own voice causes it to go up and it hurts my ears too.

 

[SilverSpiral]

Just distortion,sometimes my own breathing sounds robotic and unnatural.
Like today,I woke up and my dog was on my bed fast asleep,his breathing sounded all distorted and robotic,it's hard to explain.
My T starts off mild and then grows twists and changes throughout the day until it's either screaming or it's not there at all.My own voice causes it to go up and it hurts my ears too.

has ETD been ruled out?

 

[Sam Bridge]

I have these horrible "reactive tinnitus" or "reverb ringing" that people describe, where Sounds at certain frequencies are not heard properly, an instead produce a sine wave/resonance/feedback/pure toneish sound. White noise like things like fans, running water, fridges, distant traffic, all produce really annoying sounds. Music is the worst of course, because I know what it should sound like, and the sounds music make you feel bad instead of good.

I as well as other people have theorized that this is due to there being some sort of partial nerve/haircell damage, so that the damaged areas basically produce false positives or distorted tones. Whereas you have more of a full loss, so you simply do not hear where your loss is, or have a constant tone T where your loss is. I also have constant tones, so I don't know... Hyperacusis may also relate to this partial damage, in that there is something biologically raw, which is sensitive to sound, and produces discomfort at sound. I really feel hyperacusis can have a biological basis after sound damage, because it produces such physical sensations, it literally feels like an injury being prodded by sound.

But its not like i can't hear those frequencies, they just need to be at 30db or more.

Edit: Misread you, read it as full loss doh!

 

[Cal18]

@bill 112 Instead of holding out for the more expensive Stem Cell treatment (I know you're still researching it since it's a big decision with a huge price tag) but maybe you should just consider one of the US options even though it might not be as potent. I think they're less expensive and time is of the essence if you feel like things are getting worse. Or the 6K for Dr. Shim's clinic doesn't seem that bad. The only thing is that since it's in Korea I'm not sure how much they would worry about liability. The US clinics will most likely be more careful.

I'm also going to post something under "Alternative Treatments", please check that out too.

 

[Nonna]

You can get better again, just don't bowl, even in plugs that would be a loud room.