How to Cope with Loud, Unmaskable Tinnitus? And How Loud Can Tinnitus Get?

[Rami]

Been mostly lurking, but now my tinnitus is just getting much worse.

Just wondering if people with loud tinnitus (unmaskable) are coping?

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated.

Also am wondering how loud can this BS get? Is there a limit?

 

[Mr.GoodTimes]

I'm wondering the same thing

 

[Contrast]

if humans can hear up to 140db max, and about 30,000hz starting from birth.

I wonder if it would be hypothetically possible to have total deafness at birth resulting in mega horrifying 140db tinnitus with 50hz-30,000hz all in between blaring unimaginably loud.

I have not heard of anyone who has tinnitus above 85db. (yet) and that's horrifying initself.

 

[Rami]

I have not heard of anyone who has tinnitus above 85db. (yet) and that's horrifying initself.

Have you heard somebody with 85dB tinnitus? How can they tell?

 

[PortalNaut]

I have not heard of anyone who has tinnitus above 85db. (yet) and that's horrifying initself.

I've seen people mention db for T and always wonderered...How is that measured or calculated? I've certainly been in 85db environments and heard my T. Same for 95.

 

[fishbone]

Been mostly lurking, but now my tinnitus is just getting much worse.

Just wondering if people with loud tinnitus (unmaskable) are coping?

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated.

Also am wondering how loud can this BS get? Is there a limit?

Yes, people with unmasked tinnitus can still cope. Tinnitus is an odd ordeal. It relates to the brain and can be impacted by noise trauma and stress trauma(most popular cases). No one knows, what limits there are with tinnitus. It can possibly get louder as we age, have more stress and damage our ears. Meds/Illnesses can also possibly annoy the tinnitus.

I cope by:

1.Being positive, when I have every reason to be negative
2.I am a dedicated athlete and go to the gym 6 days a week and do my martial arts (not recommending for people to do this.
This is what I do to escape the madness of the hell that rings in my head).

You folks can do yoga, anything that takes your mind away from scanning the noise...

3.I firmly believe that I can still live a life and enjoy it, even with this intrusive hell that afflicts me every second of my life.

Coping/adapting/habituation can take some time. Being negative about the noise and constant emotions makes it much harder to reach habituation. I been on both sides of the fence and know just how hard it can be.

I have had to adjust my life 100%. I have cut out the BS that use to parade around me. I cut out negative people that didn't add any value to my life. it's all about learning and growing. It's all about knowing yourself better. It takes work, but it is very much worth it.

 

[Ed209]

I have not heard of anyone who has tinnitus above 85db. (yet) and that's horrifying initself.

There is no accurate way of measuring it, so all anecdotal forum entries from people comparing their tinnitus to outside noise - as a way to measure their T - is largely meaningless.

The closest we can get to an objective measurement is to find out a person's sensation level by pitch and volume matching. This number is nearly always 10dB SL or less. The average is likely around 6dB SL or 7dB SL. However, this test doesn't account for recruitment or how each individual brain perceives the noise. Perception is everything, as the same noise can have a marked difference depending on one's state of mind. Important factors here can include tiredness, depression, anxiety, fear, etc.

When we analyse real sounds, our perceptibility is fluid. Who hasn't watched TV at night, on a super low volume, and yet it seems pretty loud in that moment. And conversely, who hasn't had the radio on in their car - on a relatively relaxed volume - only to get in the following morning and have their head blown off? Those creaks in the night sound incredibly loud, but they're not are they? Our brain focuses on these sounds like a spotlight because they represent a potential threat. In other words, our awareness is heightened.

Sound is a sensory stimuli, so how one perceives volume is indefinite and is at the discretion of the brain. This means there's no such thing as a person having 85dB tinnitus; it just doesn't make any sense at all.

This is why so many people cope better when they learn to relax their CNS. One's perception can change quite dramatically, even though the tinnitus is the same.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Just wondering if people with loud tinnitus (unmaskable) are coping?

HI @Rami

@fishbone has given you some very good advice so I will try not to repeat it. You have had tinnitus for quite a while and normally, one would have habituated fully by now. Since the tinnitus was originally caused by "noise trauma" there could be a reason as to why it is getting worse which you may not be aware of.

Noise induced tinnitus will usually (but not always) get worse for two specific reasons. Either stress is responsible or more likely the cause is due to "sound". This comes in the form of using Headphones/earbuds/headset etc. If you have been using these devices even at low volume, they can make tinnitus worse for some people with "noise induced" tinnitus. If you have been going to places or venues where loud music is being played, particularly clubs and concerts, these environments can make your tinnitus spike and frequent attendance will make it worse.

Wearing the best noise reducing or moulded earplugs will not protect your auditory system from being irritated by external sound. If the sound is loud enough then it will pass through your head/skull and be transferred to your inner ear by bone conduction. No earplugs can prevent this from happening if external sound is too loud. Low bass frequencies can also spike tinnitus so one needs to be careful of this too.

If there is no underlying medical problem making your tinnitus worse, then I believe the cause is due to headphone use or other types of sound. If you have hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound) and this hasn't been treated then this can make tinnitus more problematic.

Please click on the links below and read my posts which you might find helpful.
All the best

Michael


https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/

 

[PatrizX]

Fishbone...thank you for your post. I have the loud chronic metallic non-stop tinnitus in my ears/head and it seems unbearable at times. Thanks for re-grounding me.

 

[RSV]

Trust me you do not want to know how loud it gets. Mine would scare you green.

 

[Contrast]

Have you heard somebody with 85dB tinnitus? How can they tell?

fishbone and 80dbT (on the forum) have tinnitus in the over 80db range. Or atleast they claim too.

 

[Harley]

Been mostly lurking, but now my tinnitus is just getting much worse.

Just wondering if people with loud tinnitus (unmaskable) are coping?

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated.

Also am wondering how loud can this BS get? Is there a limit?

Unfortunately, there is no limit to how bad tinnitus can get.

 

[all to gain]

Unfortunately, there is no limit to how bad tinnitus can get.

That's the scary thing. To know that it can all get worse.

 

[Digital Doc]

It is a bit of a guess, but I think my tinnitus peaked out in the high 70s or even a little higher, as I heard it all the time, and it was waking me up every few minutes when I was trying to sleep.

All one can do is avoid further noise exposure, and give this some months to improve. I found masking made mine worse. Melatonin at night did help get me over the hump of the worst when I could not sleep. Ear plugs at night also improved it, and stopped me from waking up from every little noise as I had a mild hyperacusis as well, which was even worse than the tinnitus to me. I also tried Omega-3 daily, which helped this improve also.

 

[ajc]

That's the scary thing. To know that it can all get worse.

A cancer could also be growing inside you as we speak.

Life is not guaranteed. We have to be ready for the tinnitus to be 10x louder tomorrow and enjoy today as if it were our last.

 

[all to gain]

A cancer could also be growing inside you as we speak.

Life is not guaranteed. We have to be ready for the tinnitus to be 10x louder tomorrow and enjoy today as if it were our last.

Yes, it could be. And life is not guaranteed.

Death itself does not scare me as I know it is part of the life cycle. But the thought of living in constant turmoil does, and the thought that it could all get much more worse does too.

Actually, what am I saying, of course death scares me... I would love to keep living, but only if I were healthy.

 

[JasonP]

Yes, people with unmasked tinnitus can still cope. Tinnitus is an odd ordeal. It relates to the brain and can be impacted by noise trauma and stress trauma(most popular cases). No one knows, what limits there are with tinnitus. It can possibly get louder as we age, have more stress and damage our ears. Meds/Illnesses can also possibly annoy the tinnitus.

I cope by:

1.Being positive, when I have every reason to be negative
2.I am a dedicated athlete and go to the gym 6 days a week and do my martial arts (not recommending for people to do this.
This is what I do to escape the madness of the hell that rings in my head).

You folks can do yoga, anything that takes your mind away from scanning the noise...

3.I firmly believe that I can still live a life and enjoy it, even with this intrusive hell that afflicts me every second of my life.

Coping/adapting/habituation can take some time. Being negative about the noise and constant emotions makes it much harder to reach habituation. I been on both sides of the fence and know just how hard it can be.

I have had to adjust my life 100%. I have cut out the BS that use to parade around me. I cut out negative people that didn't add any value to my life. it's all about learning and growing. It's all about knowing yourself better. It takes work, but it is very much worth it.

Since you have unmaskable tinnitus (I'm sorry to hear that you have to deal with that), how often do you notice your tinnitus throughout the day on average? Are you ever able to tune it out?

 

[Lilah]

My audiologist who is a tinnitus specialist does not know anyone with over 50ish dB volume.

 

[Harley]

My audiologist who is a tinnitus specialist does not know anyone with over 50ish dB volume.

I can hear mine over road traffic including heavy trucks, which has to be at least in the 70+ dB range I would think?

 

[fishbone]

Since you have unmaskable tinnitus (I'm sorry to hear that you have to deal with that), how often do you notice your tinnitus throughout the day on average? Are you ever able to tune it out?

I notice my tinnitus all the time. It's very loud/aggressive. The thing is this, I treat this noise like it's a part of me and not stress that it's so loud. It does make things harder when it's this aggressive (especially my hearing since it covers a lot of it). I have no emotions towards this tinnitus, it's just something that is a part of my life and I make peace with it.

In my earlier years, i'd be annoyed with half the volume. It takes lots of patience and emotional control, to live with such an aggressive form of tinnitus.

 

[JasonP]

I notice my tinnitus all the time. It's very loud/aggressive. The thing is this, I treat this noise like it's a part of me and not stress that it's so loud. It does make things harder when it's this aggressive (especially my hearing since it covers a lot of it). I have no emotions towards this tinnitus, it's just something that is a part of my life and I make peace with it.

In my earlier years, i'd be annoyed with half the volume. It takes lots of patience and emotional control, to live with such an aggressive form of tinnitus.

Thank you so much for answering my question. How long did it take for you to get that way to where you have no emotional reaction to it?

 

[Digital Doc]

My audiologist who is a tinnitus specialist does not know anyone with over 50ish dB volume.

How are they measuring it? There are definitely folks with higher than that. I was hearing mine above a normal conversation.

 

[Lilah]

How are they measuring it? There are definitely folks with higher than that. I was hearing mine above a normal conversation.

It's done with headphones. First, they try to match the pitch/frequency of the tinnitus. This isn't too easy if you have a mix of sounds, tea kettle, etc. Then, the volume is raised to match the volume of the tinnitus. This can also be complicated as well if the sound isn't exactly the same. They also try to match the tinnitus sound with white noise. I couldn't tell exactly when the sound masked or was same level as the tinnitus. These tests are probably most accurate if you have a pure tone or pure white noise.

 

[Lilah]

It's done with headphones. First, they try to match the pitch/frequency of the tinnitus. This isn't too easy if you have a mix of sounds, tea kettle, etc. Then, the volume is raised to match the volume of the tinnitus. This can also be complicated as well if the sound isn't exactly the same. They also try to match the tinnitus sound with white noise. I couldn't tell exactly when the sound masked or was same level as the tinnitus. These tests are probably most accurate if you have a pure tone or pure white noise.

They spend more time testing one ear at a time which can be confusing, because you can hear the sound in the other ear, but they also test both.

 

[Digital Doc]

It's done with headphones. First, they try to match the pitch/frequency of the tinnitus. This isn't too easy if you have a mix of sounds, tea kettle, etc. Then, the volume is raised to match the volume of the tinnitus. This can also be complicated as well if the sound isn't exactly the same. They also try to match the tinnitus sound with white noise. I couldn't tell exactly when the sound masked or was same level as the tinnitus. These tests are probably most accurate if you have a pure tone or pure white noise.

Not sure about the accuracy of that method. My tinnitus was howling way louder than the ventilation system at work that I measured in the high 60's, and it was also louder than a normal conversation that was in the mid 70's. If tinnitus was at most in the 50 dB range, I don't think most would be that bothered by it.

 

[fishbone]

Thank you so much for answering my question. How long did it take for you to get that way to where you have no emotional reaction to it?

It has taken a long time. I have had every level of intensity, that tinnitus has had to offer me. Out of all of them being struck by tinnitus at it's early stages was most difficult. I say this because, I was so surprised that it even existed. I figured in the early years that I was just hearing my old tv, or a fridge. It was a pure shock to have ringing come out my head.

My mentality and attitude towards tinnitus got set from the early years. I had to adapt my thinking, ways, emotions from the very first mild encounter that I had with tinnitus. Years passed and new baselines came along, those early years and my dealings with tinnitus were instrumental to how I live today.

These days I live with a very nasty/loud/aggressive tinnitus and very bad hearing as well. I don't get down on myself or get filled with negativity. Life is not easy at all, but I never expected it to be either.

My philosophy on life is very different from most. Affliction is here and it's a 24/7 ordeal, but my rise to it is 90% non-existent.

PS- I am the type of guy that will find a WAY, to manage and live with an affliction/obstacle. I may not have an answer right away, but I keep looking and trying things to make my situation a little better. I just have that drive and motivation.

I come here to give these people motivation and a drive to help them live a little better with their tinnitus.

 

[all to gain]

It has taken a long time. I have had every level of intensity, that tinnitus has had to offer me. Out of all of them being struck by tinnitus at it's early stages was most difficult. I say this because, I was so surprised that it even existed. I figured in the early years that I was just hearing my old tv, or a fridge. It was a pure shock to have ringing come out my head.

My mentality and attitude towards tinnitus got set from the early years. I had to adapt my thinking, ways, emotions from the very first mild encounter that I had with tinnitus. Years passed and new baselines came along, those early years and my dealings with tinnitus were instrumental to how I live today.

These days I live with a very nasty/loud/aggressive tinnitus and very bad hearing as well. I don't get down on myself or get filled with negativity. Life is not easy at all, but I never expected it to be either.

My philosophy on life is very different from most. Affliction is here and it's a 24/7 ordeal, but my rise to it is 90% non-existent.

PS- I am the type of guy that will find a WAY, to manage and live with an affliction/obstacle. I may not have an answer right away, but I keep looking and trying things to make my situation a little better. I just have that drive and motivation.

I come here to give these people motivation and a drive to help them live a little better with their tinnitus.

I wish I could have some of what you have Fishbone. I'm all doom and gloom.

 

[bobvann]

He's just like someone I know... Easier said than done...

 

[CMIH]

Mine is extremely loud. I can hear it over everything. I drive a 2007 Honda Civic. It's not a well-insulated car sound-wise, so you can hear a lot of road noise when driving on the freeway. I can hear the tinnitus over the road noise. I can hear it over everything. I know I'm repeating myself but... It's just bad.

 

[astaff14]

I hear mine all the time, against every noise. But it's not reactive so it feels like a fairly soft volume (most of the time) yet I still hear it, even in the shower though that does seem to soothe it a bit.