Hyperacusis and Tinnitus Caused by Performing on the Organ with a Choir — The Hyperacusis Is Gone!

[Falconbach]

I thought it would be good to share my story here because I remember when I started my hyperacusis journey it was good and helpful to read success stories.

My story starts in May 2020 when I first noticed sensitive hearing, I had been playing on a new pipe organ and when I went home I found something strange with my hearing. That got better over the next week so I didn't thought much about it.

Then because of COVID-19 I had some audio recording projects in December and needed to perform on the organ with a choir and record it. I was very excited but also at that time stressed out because of much workload.

Now, the recording session went great and I got into my car and drove home. I was halfway home when I noticed that I had tinnitus and not some soft or little volume but at blasting level. I started to panic and got home and even turning door handles sounded strange or distorted. I went into shower and it only made the tinnitus and hyperacusis worse. Now I started to feel like my life as musician was over. I didn't know what the hell was going on.

Next day I scheduled a visit to ear doctor. I didn't get lot of answers from him other than just wait and try to relax.

When I was watching TV I needed to have it on level 1-10 (of 100) at first and it sounded "boxy".

Next what I did was to talk to my psychiatrist about this because I was a nervous wreck at that time, I got on drug called Fluanxol Mite and it had some relaxing effect on me.

During that time I was also in physiotherapy because I had hurt my shoulder badly in November 2020.

I needed to do some physio exercises at home every day and because I had heard that ears needed stimulation. Even though I had hyperacusis ,I turned music on while I was exercising for background "noise." Over time I increased the volume on the TV. It was very slow process though.

I got an appointment with another ear specialist and my hearing was within normal range except for the sensitivity. So I could relax some more knowing that I hadn't damaged my hearing much at that recording session in December 2020 which I was afraid of.

I listened classical music a lot through my stereo system, first at very low volume and increased it little by little over time. I think that had best effect really.

I also used earplugs only when I expected sound over 80 dB so I used earplugs even on choir practices. Now I don't need them!

It took about 18 months for my hyperacusis to settle down and now it's completely gone. I can go to concerts (classical) without using earplugs and I can do my work without using earplugs, however when I'm playing on extra loud organs I now do use earplugs or play them only with soft (not loud) stops. I also won't go to cinema without using earplugs because the sound level is so high (over 100 dB often). I can go to restaurants without all the environmental noise hurting me.

So I got my life back!

Unfortunately, the tinnitus is still there but I've stopped noticing it as much as in the beginning. I'm hoping that it will eventually also settle down some more and in the best case go away completely.

I hope that my story gives someone some hope that hyperacusis can go away with time.

 

[OnlyUP]

Thank you so much for sharing! I love reading success stories. I am 5 months in with tinnitus that reacts to sound/ hyperacusis. I have made some improvement already. I am so glad you healed. Bravo!

 

[Brian Newman]

I'm glad you got better, I had a similar story for my first bout with hyperacusis and tinnitus. I kinda just laid low and it improved in around the same time frame as you said. I got my life back for a while. It was awesome. I don't think you had any crazy hearing damage like an acoustic trauma so that's definitely good.

Go out and live your life and never look back! Just be cautious with your ears like you were mentioning.

 

[Athens]

I thought it would be good to share my story here because I remember when I started my hyperacusis journey it was good and helpful to read success stories.

My story starts in May 2020 when I first noticed sensitive hearing, I had been playing on a new pipe organ and when I went home I found something strange with my hearing. That got better over the next week so I didn't thought much about it.

Then because of COVID-19 I had some audio recording projects in December and needed to perform on the organ with a choir and record it. I was very excited but also at that time stressed out because of much workload.

Now, the recording session went great and I got into my car and drove home. I was halfway home when I noticed that I had tinnitus and not some soft or little volume but at blasting level. I started to panic and got home and even turning door handles sounded strange or distorted. I went into shower and it only made the tinnitus and hyperacusis worse. Now I started to feel like my life as musician was over. I didn't know what the hell was going on.

Next day I scheduled a visit to ear doctor. I didn't get lot of answers from him other than just wait and try to relax.

When I was watching TV I needed to have it on level 1-10 (of 100) at first and it sounded "boxy".

Next what I did was to talk to my psychiatrist about this because I was a nervous wreck at that time, I got on drug called Fluanxol Mite and it had some relaxing effect on me.

During that time I was also in physiotherapy because I had hurt my shoulder badly in November 2020.

I needed to do some physio exercises at home every day and because I had heard that ears needed stimulation. Even though I had hyperacusis ,I turned music on while I was exercising for background "noise." Over time I increased the volume on the TV. It was very slow process though.

I got an appointment with another ear specialist and my hearing was within normal range except for the sensitivity. So I could relax some more knowing that I hadn't damaged my hearing much at that recording session in December 2020 which I was afraid of.

I listened classical music a lot through my stereo system, first at very low volume and increased it little by little over time. I think that had best effect really.

I also used earplugs only when I expected sound over 80 dB so I used earplugs even on choir practices. Now I don't need them!

It took about 18 months for my hyperacusis to settle down and now it's completely gone. I can go to concerts (classical) without using earplugs and I can do my work without using earplugs, however when I'm playing on extra loud organs I now do use earplugs or play them only with soft (not loud) stops. I also won't go to cinema without using earplugs because the sound level is so high (over 100 dB often). I can go to restaurants without all the environmental noise hurting me.

So I got my life back!

Unfortunately, the tinnitus is still there but I've stopped noticing it as much as in the beginning. I'm hoping that it will eventually also settle down some more and in the best case go away completely.

I hope that my story gives someone some hope that hyperacusis can go away with time.

Thank you for your post. I have had hyperacusis and tinnitus for twenty-one (21) months. The hyperacusis is still an issue, but I can now go to restaurants and cocktail parties (unless very loud). I no longer use earplugs when in the shower. I hope that I am training the brain in a positive direction. I may never be able to go to a loud concert or sporting event again which is fine. I am also 57 which might mean that progress is very slow.

 

[Diego LR]

HI @Falconbach,

Thanks for sharing your story. It sounds encouraging.

Have you had any sudden loud noises during your recovery (like dogs barking, things being dropped to the floor, children screaming) and how did you respond to these?

In my case, I have had a few of these loud noises which mean a set back for me which hinders my recovery.

 

[Falconbach]

Have you had any sudden loud noises during your recovery (like dogs barking, things being dropped to the floor, children screaming) and how did you respond to these?

In my case, I have had a few of these loud noises which mean a set back for me which hinders my recovery.

My dog barks sometimes in my car and when we play ball and in the beginning it was terrible, it was so bad that it almost triggered violent response when she barked close to my ear. Never had such feeling before, it was like some filters where turned off in my brain. Thankfully I of course never hurt my dog, my love for her was stronger.

Hopefully I will never experience such strange thoughts again.

The effects of barking close to ear did take some hours to wear off in the beginning but it always did and now I can walk around with barking dogs all I like but of course try to avoid barking close to ear but sometimes it just happens. It doesn't trigger other response/thoughts than "this was annoying" now, it rarely increases my tinnitus which I notice when I go to sleep but settles down with good night sleep.

I don't like things dropped to the floor but I had some sensitive about that before my hyperacusis but it doesn't hurt now.

I tried to calm myself down and relax when I had loud noise experience and I think that helps. This is process and setbacks are bound to happen but over time it gets better and better. At least in my experience.

P.S. I also take Magnesium tablets which I think has helped.

 

[Athens]

My dog barks sometimes in my car and when we play ball and in the beginning it was terrible, it was so bad that it almost triggered violent response when she barked close to my ear. Never had such feeling before, it was like some filters where turned off in my brain. Thankfully I of course never hurt my dog, my love for her was stronger.

Hopefully I will never experience such strange thoughts again.

The effects of barking close to ear did take some hours to wear off in the beginning but it always did and now I can walk around with barking dogs all I like but of course try to avoid barking close to ear but sometimes it just happens. It doesn't trigger other response/thoughts than "this was annoying" now, it rarely increases my tinnitus which I notice when I go to sleep but settles down with good night sleep.

I don't like things dropped to the floor but I had some sensitive about that before my hyperacusis but it doesn't hurt now.

I tried to calm myself down and relax when I had loud noise experience and I think that helps. This is process and setbacks are bound to happen but over time it gets better and better. At least in my experience.

P.S. I also take Magnesium tablets which I think has helped.

How much Magnesium do you take each day?

 

[Falconbach]

How much Magnesium do you take each day?

Just the recommendation on the label. I think it's about 500 mg per day.

 

[Athens]

Just the recommendation on the label. I think it's about 500 mg per day.

Thank you. I think that mine is 450 mg.

 

[Eleanor89]

Hello @Athens and @Falconbach.

I find Magnesium doesn't agree with me. Does anyone else find this?

 

[CB7x]

Interesting recovery. I have a similar timeframe of trauma around April 2020 with tinnitus increasing immediately and hyperacusis following shortly after as I figured out what was happening to me. I initially over protected and avoided sound too much which made it worse. It has been two years of weening off protection for "normal" sounds under 85 dB but I have improved dramatically. I try to push myself, using protection when appropriate.

I wonder if I push too far at times, I've been doing a metal working project the past couple days and try to minimize noise but some grinding is unavoidable. I double up and grind outside though it's still uncomfortably loud (not painful, a remarkable improvement from two years ago!), but tolerable for brief times. Other than a temporary tinnitus spike it has been fine. Two years ago I thought my life was over, but I'm more optimistic these days and still very careful about unprotected exposure, always have both filter plugs and full plugs in my pocket at all times. There is hope. Some of my best improvements have been after pushing through uncomfortable but not painful events like restaurants and road trips, always moderating my exposure as much as I'm able.

 

[Athens]

Hello @Athens and @Falconbach.

I find Magnesium doesn't agree with me. Does anyone else find this?

I stopped taking Magnesium because I had a few bad nights of sleep when taking it. I thought that it might not be related so I have started taking it again. I have generally been tolerating it well. What issues do you have when taking Magnesium?

 

[Joe Cuber]

Certain kinds of Magnesium like Magnesium Citrate gives me an upset stomach and/or diarrhea. My wife wants me to try Magnesium Bisglycinate, but we haven't picked any up yet.

 

[Athens]

Interesting recovery. I have a similar timeframe of trauma around April 2020 with tinnitus increasing immediately and hyperacusis following shortly after as I figured out what was happening to me. I initially over protected and avoided sound too much which made it worse. It has been two years of weening off protection for "normal" sounds under 85 dB but I have improved dramatically. I try to push myself, using protection when appropriate.

I wonder if I push too far at times, I've been doing a metal working project the past couple days and try to minimize noise but some grinding is unavoidable. I double up and grind outside though it's still uncomfortably loud (not painful, a remarkable improvement from two years ago!), but tolerable for brief times. Other than a temporary tinnitus spike it has been fine. Two years ago I thought my life was over, but I'm more optimistic these days and still very careful about unprotected exposure, always have both filter plugs and full plugs in my pocket at all times. There is hope. Some of my best improvements have been after pushing through uncomfortable but not painful events like restaurants and road trips, always moderating my exposure as much as I'm able.

When you pushed yourself through uncomfortable situations, did you feel that you might be worsening for a period of time but later noticed improvement?

I have lately been able to go to restaurants (as long it is not very loud) and have gotten along fine but worry that I might be aggravating the hyperacusis and tinnitus by exposing myself to a lot of normal levels of sound on a daily basis.

 

[NewLionel]

Certain kinds of Magnesium like Magnesium Citrate gives me an upset stomach and/or diarrhea. My wife wants me to try Magnesium Bisglycinate, but we haven't picked any up yet.

Yeap get the right Magnesium or you will spend the next 100 years on the toilet.

 

[Falconbach]

Just wanted to give an update on my status after having my first flight abroad and a lot of traveling and eating in loud restaurants (music wasn't loud, just people) since I got my hyperacusis.

I'm happy to report that all is well and nothing happened with my hyperacusis, I got a little spike in my tinnitus one night but it's thankfully gone down to base level again.
I only used my earplugs (Alpine MusicSafe Pro, about 20 dB protection) during the flight and I think that was wise to do because cabin can be loud. I used my musician earplugs, not foam ones, and it was enough for me. Of course you can get foam ones which would protect even more but then you probably can't hear the cabin crew. No pressure problems or anything like that either.

I would probably have used earplugs with small protection (around 10 dB) in loud restaurants if I had been alone but I was with a group and no one was using earplugs so I didn't either. If there had been blasting loud music then I would have used my earplugs without worrying about other people's opinions.

So it's definitely possible to get better and live a rather normal life after hyperacusis. Hopefully my tinnitus will go even further down with time and care.

Good luck to you all.

 

[Sydney13]

Love this success story! Thank you so much for sharing. Happy for you. This gives me hope!