Hyperacusis and Tinnitus Following Acoustic Shock: How Can I Continue My Life?

[Utdmad89]

Thank you for your message.

As the days go by, my condition is getting worse. I now have a new form of tinnitus that mimics the digital voice I heard on the train. The voice says, "Next stop is..." Have you ever experienced something like this?

Thank you.

Musical ear syndrome. I also have it. I hear chainsaws and people talking like the TV is on.

 

[Hyperacusis]

I think I have palinacousis. I read that some people with hyperacusis had this symptom as well.

 

[Utdmad89]

There is no evidence to support this claim.

What is so funny, @Pixelito?

 

[Utdmad89]

I mean this sincerely, and it may be related in some way, but you might need to consult a psychiatrist. It's possible you're experiencing something beyond tinnitus or hyperacusis.

Tinnitus and hyperacusis typically don't cause that kind of sound recall, so you could be having auditory hallucinations.

Also, consider reviewing your diet and sleep habits.

Best wishes.

Just stop. You don't know what you are talking about.

Gaslighting OP is shitty. Musical ear syndrome is a subtype of tinnitus. It shows how much you actually know.

 

[Hyperacusis]

Do you think my palinacousis will go away with time? I am freaking out. Thanks

 

[Utdmad89]

Do you think my palinacousis will go away with time? I am freaking out. Thanks

It certainly can go away. Mine sadly has only gotten worse, but mine was induced by Clomipramine, which palinacousis is a known side effect of.

 

[MaxRabbit]

Do you think my palinacousis will go away with time? I am freaking out. Thanks

Hi there. Like @Utdmad89 said, @IYIiKe is busy posting bullshit just to read it back to himself. Don't give it any thought. The best you can do is figure out the users on here who state unfounded opinions and simply brush them off or place on ignore.

The reality is yes, there is a condition where we hear exact mimics of sounds. I swore when I first got my first two tones, one was exactly my refrigerator's low-hum and the other my computer's sleep cycle noise.

My only advice is to be cautious of all loud noise and get as much sleep as possible. The quality of sleep I get greatly impacts both the noise and my ability to deal with it.

I hope you are feeling a little better!

 

[Sebastians]

I'm just chiming in here after years of absence on Tinnitus Talk to offer some positive feedback and advice.

I experienced similar issues to yours back in 2015 after an acoustic incident (gunshot). My hearing was severely affected—I couldn't stand certain loud or high-pitched noises. My tinnitus was in the 4-5/10 range, fluctuating in intensity. New tones would pop up and disappear, sometimes mimicking external sounds. I also dealt with Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS) that would occur randomly or be triggered by certain sounds, including my own voice. Needless to say, I went off the deep end for a while (and who wouldn't?).

The good news is that all my symptoms faded, and I'm very confident yours will too.

From what I'm reading, you're doing all the right things: you're being cautious around noise, allowing your ears to rest, and, most importantly, you're young, which gives you a very good chance of healing.

It took about a year of non-linear progress for my tinnitus to stabilize and diminish over time (it's at a 1/10 now, and it rarely bothers me anymore). My hyperacusis took about 12-18 months to gradually improve. Now, I'm still careful around noise and wear earplugs when necessary in loud environments like the metro or on airplanes. I can enjoy acoustic concerts or live classical music occasionally, with earplugs. Depending on the type of movie and theater, I might use earplugs or not. I now produce electronic music in my home studio at reasonable volumes, with breaks, and with no problems. I sometimes listen to podcasts with good open-back earphones without issues. These are all activities I couldn't do initially, but I gradually reintroduced them into my life as I became more comfortable.

I now live a decent life that's 90-95% of what it was before. It mostly takes time to get better. In the meantime, try to reevaluate your life and find meaning in new, cool things (walking in nature, new hobbies, maybe a new career, etc.) while living healthily with good food and exercise.

 

[Utdmad89]

It mostly takes time to get better. In the meantime, try to reevaluate your life and find meaning in new, cool things (walking in nature, new hobbies, maybe a new career, etc.) while living healthily with good food and exercise.

Or they might get worse. You can't be confident about anyone's issues other than yours. You are very lucky to get better; a lot of people here don't and just get worse.

OP should have hope but only listen to their body and symptoms.

 

[RunningMan]

Over 25 years, mine just has continued to get worse. I have protected my hearing better in more recent years, but I still experience worsening.

 

[ShaunR]

Just like tinnitus, most people improve in that time frame.

Honestly, don't waste your breath. If you dare to suggest there might be an alternative to double protection or living in silence as a hermit, you'll be immediately shot down here.

The quote above is accurate. Many people do improve over time, and once they do, they leave places like this. What remains is a forum full of chronic sufferers who refuse to consider any other opinion.

Three years ago, I was in constant, burning pain. No, I wasn't a mild case—I almost ended my life because of this problem. But three years later, I'm living life again. Yes, I'm careful, and yes, I still have pain, but I'm no longer in that dark place. So, yes, it really can be a matter of time—lots and lots of time.

I come back here occasionally to see if anything has changed, but it never does. The same old negative comments and commenters dominate.

Good luck,
IM

 

[Zigs]

Honestly, don't waste your breath. If you dare to suggest there might be an alternative to double protection or living in silence as a hermit, you'll be immediately shot down here.

The quote above is accurate. Many people do improve over time, and once they do, they leave places like this. What remains is a forum full of chronic sufferers who refuse to consider any other opinion.

Three years ago, I was in constant, burning pain. No, I wasn't a mild case—I almost ended my life because of this problem. But three years later, I'm living life again. Yes, I'm careful, and yes, I still have pain, but I'm no longer in that dark place. So, yes, it really can be a matter of time—lots and lots of time.

I come back here occasionally to see if anything has changed, but it never does. The same old negative comments and commenters dominate.

Good luck,
IM

I'm sorry to hear that you've been facing some abuse on the forums. I've been following all your posts because I've had tinnitus for years, but over the past few months—since a stressful hospital stay and the birth of my second baby—I've developed ear pain. It has steadily worsened and is now almost constant.

I'm feeling isolated from my kids and extremely depressed and anxious. Could you share what helped you to recover?

I hope you see this, and thank you in advance.

 

[Zigs]

@Utdmad89, how long were you on Clomipramine for? Did it help your pain hyperacusis at all?

 

[Heal82]

Do you think my palinacousis will go away with time? I am freaking out. Thanks

I developed palinacousis when my hyperacusis started in December 2023. It's now been almost 8.5 months. I have seen improvement, but I don't think the palinacousis has completely gone away. It sounds like your case is severe (at least to me), and I would advise you to take an indefinite leave from work unless you can work remotely. You need to give your auditory system complete rest. Calm down and accept that this is not a sprint but a marathon with an unknown end time. Only when you accept that no one knows when it will improve will you start to see progress.

It would be best if you remained in silence for at least the next 2-3 weeks to give your auditory system a proper rest. I would also advise against speaking. If you must speak, do so briefly and use earplugs. You will likely need to talk to set up appointments with a doctor.

 

[Hyperacusis]

Hi everyone

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. They have given me some hope. I am still struggling with palinacousis and hyperacusis, and I really hope this nightmare will end soon. I can't leave my job, so I'm going to see if it's possible to work remotely for two days a week.

@Sebastians, your story has given me some relief, as you had the same symptoms as I do. How did you cope with the situation during those 18 months? Were you able to continue working? How long did it take for your palinacousis to fade?

Any tips to help improve my condition are greatly appreciated.

Thank you all

 

[matt89]

I'm just chiming in here after years of absence on Tinnitus Talk to offer some positive feedback and advice.

I experienced similar issues to yours back in 2015 after an acoustic incident (gunshot). My hearing was severely affected—I couldn't stand certain loud or high-pitched noises. My tinnitus was in the 4-5/10 range, fluctuating in intensity. New tones would pop up and disappear, sometimes mimicking external sounds. I also dealt with Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS) that would occur randomly or be triggered by certain sounds, including my own voice. Needless to say, I went off the deep end for a while (and who wouldn't?).

The good news is that all my symptoms faded, and I'm very confident yours will too.

From what I'm reading, you're doing all the right things: you're being cautious around noise, allowing your ears to rest, and, most importantly, you're young, which gives you a very good chance of healing.

It took about a year of non-linear progress for my tinnitus to stabilize and diminish over time (it's at a 1/10 now, and it rarely bothers me anymore). My hyperacusis took about 12-18 months to gradually improve. Now, I'm still careful around noise and wear earplugs when necessary in loud environments like the metro or on airplanes. I can enjoy acoustic concerts or live classical music occasionally, with earplugs. Depending on the type of movie and theater, I might use earplugs or not. I now produce electronic music in my home studio at reasonable volumes, with breaks, and with no problems. I sometimes listen to podcasts with good open-back earphones without issues. These are all activities I couldn't do initially, but I gradually reintroduced them into my life as I became more comfortable.

I now live a decent life that's 90-95% of what it was before. It mostly takes time to get better. In the meantime, try to reevaluate your life and find meaning in new, cool things (walking in nature, new hobbies, maybe a new career, etc.) while living healthily with good food and exercise.

Thanks for sharing your story, @Sebastians. I've read all of your posts from the beginning, and your description of being in the wrong place at the wrong time perfectly sums up how many of us experienced the onset of tinnitus and hyperacusis.

I'm not sure if you're still active, but if you are, I would really appreciate it if you could answer some questions about your experience with TTTS (tonic tensor tympani syndrome):

You mentioned that it improved over time. If I understood correctly, the TTTS fluttering is still present for you, but due to habituation, your brain no longer interprets it as a threat, so it feels better overall. Is that correct, or has the fluttering disappeared completely?

When you said your ear flutters when you play certain tones on your guitar, I can totally relate. I've been playing the piano since childhood, and certain notes cause the spasm, while others don't. I wonder if the tones that initially caused the acoustic trauma are the ones that continue to trigger the spasm.

Also, did you experience any feelings of ear fullness or tickling sensations along with your TTTS? My TTTS tends to worsen in the evenings, causing an extreme sense of fullness and discomfort in my ears. I'm not sure if that's related to TTTS, but it makes me feel like I need to perform the Valsalva maneuver, though it doesn't provide any relief.

Occasionally, I also experience a tickling sensation in my ears during the day, but I'm not sure if that's connected to TTTS.

The only thing that helps with the fullness and TTTS is wearing earplugs 24/7. However, from everything I've read, wearing earplugs constantly is not recommended for TTTS, as the muscles need to be exposed to normal and louder sounds in order to calm down and stop reacting as if loud sounds are dangerous. In general, muscles need to be trained or desensitized to reduce spasms or pain.

Did you do anything specific to support the recovery of your TTTS symptoms, like listening to pink noise or something similar?

 

[Hyperacusis]

Hi everyone,

I am seeking your perspective on this situation. One month ago, after taking the bus, I started hearing a voice in my head saying, "Next stop is…". This repetitive sound has been playing in my head for a month now. Do you think this voice could be permanent?

Thanks ❤

 

[matt89]

Hi everyone,

I am seeking your perspective on this situation. One month ago, after taking the bus, I started hearing a voice in my head saying, "Next stop is…". This repetitive sound has been playing in my head for a month now. Do you think this voice could be permanent?

Thanks ❤

You should see a mental health professional (psychologist or psychiatrist) because it seems that this is an auditory hallucination. In my opinion, it's not permanent and can result from an underlying disorder like PTSD.

 

[yeezysqueezy]

Hi everyone,

I am seeking your perspective on this situation. One month ago, after taking the bus, I started hearing a voice in my head saying, "Next stop is…". This repetitive sound has been playing in my head for a month now. Do you think this voice could be permanent?

Thanks ❤

This is most likely palinacousis, quite common in patients with tinnitus and especially hyperacusis. I have had it myself. It usually improves over time. It is different from an auditory hallucination, as is sometimes seen with psychiatric illness.

 

[Hyperacusis]

Thanks for your replies.

This is most likely palinacousis, quite common in patients with tinnitus and especially hyperacusis. I have had it myself. It usually improves over time. It is different from an auditory hallucination, as is sometimes seen with psychiatric illness.

@yeezysqueezy, have you ever had a voice that lasted for months? Thank you very much

 

[yeezysqueezy]

Thanks for your replies.

@yeezysqueezy, have you ever had a voice that lasted for months? Thank you very much

I haven't had it continuously for months, but I have read that it is possible! I'm assuming it's the same voice you heard while you were on the bus, right?

 

[Hyperacusis]

I haven't had it continuously for months, but I have read that it is possible! I'm assuming it's the same voice you heard while you were on the bus, right?

Thank you so much for your reply . I really hope this will go away because I can't live with this voice in my head. How many months did it take for you to see some improvement with your palinacousis and hyperacusis? Are you able to live a normal life now? Can you listen to music, watch TV, or hang out with others without any issues?

Yes, it is exactly the same voice. Have you got any tips to make it go away, please?

Thanks

 

[Nick47]

Yes, it is exactly the same voice. Have you got any tips to make it go away, please?

Hearing voices is a symptom of schizophrenia. Dopamine antagonist medications should help.

 

[matt89]

Hearing voices is a symptom of schizophrenia. Dopamine antagonist medications should help.

I think hearing voices and the ongoing repetition of a voice you heard on a bus are two different things.

I hadn't heard of palinacousis before, but I agree now with @yeezysqueezy. It's more likely a sound repetition caused by an auditory disorder like palinacousis than by schizophrenia or a mental health issue.

 

[yeezysqueezy]

Hearing voices is a symptom of schizophrenia. Dopamine antagonist medications should help.

Do you have professional medical training? This is dangerous advice. Look up the difference between palinacousis and auditory hallucinations. You, along with many psychiatrists, could end up giving her antipsychotics when she doesn't have psychosis. These drugs can cause permanent side effects like tardive dyskinesia. Palinacousis is even a known withdrawal symptom from antipsychotics, which could make things worse.

This is a tricky situation because, as we know, most physicians have a very poor understanding of symptoms related to the auditory system. A psychiatric evaluation could be considered, but specific information about palinacousis should be presented to the psychiatrist. It's not uncommon for patients to be misdiagnosed and mistreated due to this symptom.

A neurology consultation would be more appropriate. Palinacousis can be associated with conditions like temporal lobe epilepsy, but it's most likely related to the patient's tinnitus and hyperacusis ("tinnitus and hyperacusis syndrome"), which we all know is still not fully understood.

 

[Hyperacusis]

Thank you so much for your reply, @yeezysqueezy. I really hope this will go away because I can't live with this voice in my head. How long did it take for you to see some improvement with your palinacousis and hyperacusis? Are you able to live a normal life now? Can you listen to music, watch TV, or hang out with others without any issues?

Yes, it's exactly the same voice. Do you have any tips on how to make it go away? I'm going to book an appointment with a neurologist

Thanks!

 

[Hyperacusis]

Hi everyone,

I just saw an ENT this morning, and he didn't find anything wrong with my ears. He thinks I might be experiencing auditory hallucinations, specifically hearing a voice saying, "next stop is," and recommended that I see a psychiatrist. He didn't mention the term palinacousis, which makes me feel a bit uncertain about his assessment. He prescribed Lexomil, saying it's a mild benzodiazepine, but I don't feel stressed or anxious.

What do you think about this?

Thank you all

 

[yeezysqueezy]

Hi everyone,

I just saw an ENT this morning, and he didn't find anything wrong with my ears. He thinks I might be experiencing auditory hallucinations, specifically hearing a voice saying, "next stop is," and recommended that I see a psychiatrist. He didn't mention the term palinacousis, which makes me feel a bit uncertain about his assessment. He prescribed Lexomil, saying it's a mild benzodiazepine, but I don't feel stressed or anxious.

What do you think about this?

Thank you all

Did he advise you to take the benzo daily? Daily use of benzodiazepines can cause more problems than you might imagine and often worsens tinnitus and hyperacusis in the long run. They're usually fine to take occasionally, but I definitely wouldn't recommend daily use.

I'm currently trying to taper off a daily benzodiazepine that was prescribed before I developed hyperacusis, and it may have actually caused my condition. It's been a living nightmare. I'm not surprised the doctor didn't mention palinacousis. You'll probably need to bring information on it, as it's an under-recognized auditory symptom.

 

[Hyperacusis]

Thanks for your reply, @yeezysqueezy How are you managing today? Are you able to do some activities? Can you watch TV and listen to music without any issues?

My doctor prescribed this benzo for daily use, and I'm supposed to take it three times a day—in the morning, in the evening, and before bed. However, I don't think I'll take it, as I'm afraid it might make things worse, just as you mentioned.

I still don't know how I'll make the "next stop is" voice disappear.

Thank you for everything

 

[IYIiKe]

I mean this sincerely, and it may be related in some way, but you might need to consult a psychiatrist. It's possible you're experiencing something beyond tinnitus or hyperacusis.

Tinnitus and hyperacusis typically don't cause that kind of sound recall, so you could be having auditory hallucinations.

Also, consider reviewing your diet and sleep habits.

Best wishes.

Just stop. You don't know what you are talking about.

Gaslighting OP is shitty. Musical ear syndrome is a subtype of tinnitus. It shows how much you actually know.

Hi there. Like @Utdmad89 said, @IYIiKe is busy posting bullshit just to read it back to himself. Don't give it any thought. The best you can do is figure out the users on here who state unfounded opinions and simply brush them off or place on ignore.

The reality is yes, there is a condition where we hear exact mimics of sounds. I swore when I first got my first two tones, one was exactly my refrigerator's low-hum and the other my computer's sleep cycle noise.

My only advice is to be cautious of all loud noise and get as much sleep as possible. The quality of sleep I get greatly impacts both the noise and my ability to deal with it.

I hope you are feeling a little better!

It's amazing that posts like these weren't moderated.

It turns out that my suggestion from two months ago almost exactly mirrors the ENT's recommendation.

Seeing a psychiatrist isn't necessarily a bad thing; they may be able to provide a clearer diagnosis, whether positive or negative, for the symptoms you've experienced.