I developed tinnitus and hyperacusis 4 weeks ago after noise trauma. I have no hearing loss, although I feel that I hear less well in noisy environments.
Is HBOT something that could still be considered? Talking to my ENT, they said that they would only consider it if you have hearing loss, not just tinnitus and hyperacusis.
I want to get further opinions. Thanks!
Let's put this in perspective:
Oxygen = free radicals.
Pressure = barotrauma.
Together = potential for mechanical impaction / fistula, and even MORE free radicals.
Oh and oxygen is a stimulant, so nerves will fire even more (more radical formation).
HBOT makes a lot of sense if you're having a stroke, or sudden hearing loss. Tinnitus is highly unlikely to be a stroke or hemorrhage because you'd absolutely lose hearing too. The opposite, you making it a LOT worse is more likely (free radicals are the main source of damage in noise trauma, and you want to add more!!??)
If you woke up and couldn't hear, possibly after COVID-19, I'd agree 100% - do what you must. This isn't that.
I'm biased because HBOT for me was a horror show. 100% oxygen at 2.5 ATM, wearing earplugs (snug fitting).
If you do it, use VENTED (for the love of God) earplugs at least, and only do 3, MAYBE 4 sessions; if there's no improvement, it's likely a dead end. Don't do longer than 1.5 hours and not deeper than 2ish atmospheres.
I think HBOT has no place in tinnitus treatments and I wish I never found the journal even suggesting it in the slightest.
And that tank during decompression is definitely not quiet. Oh and prepare to spend a small fortune on a guess. All that money on AMC calls would've been better spent for me.
Steroids worked better for me (and even that was a dice roll).
Risk:benefit is dogshit when it comes to HBOT.
No, every time when there is damage in the cochlea (organ of Corti), HBOT can work. But be quick. Every hour counts!
I think this is dangerous garbage advice that only applies if you're at least moderately convinced a stroke in the ear is a possibility or the bends. Your advice also fails to consider it is quite LOUD in there and snug unvented earplugs are a no-no under pressure (regardless of how well you can equalize) unless you want to toy with going deaf.
Given how loud HBOT is, I'm not surprised if your improvement is residual inhibition that would be no different than listening to white noise!
There's no evidence suggesting a
lack of O2 occurs as the problem in sound exposure. More so over production of free radicals from excessive O2 (a backup in the electron transport chain) in the IHC nerves or mechanical damage to the hair cells. That's why NAC (glutathione production, free radical scavenger) and steroids, even Lasix, have been a suggestion for noise rescue. Even Betahistine is a safer suggestion for tinnitus w/o hearing loss when compared to a previous audiogram.
If you had an ear stroke, it'd likely be one-sided sudden loss; you won't just have some tinnitus, I'd imagine you'd lose a good chunk of hearing completely (it's why sudden hearing loss guidelines of 30 dB exists; even losing 10 dB is at least evidence for it) and have pure tone / ringing screeching tinnitus and it wouldn't get better with any time until HBOT and anti-clot meds. In that case your window of opportunity for treatment would be a couple of days at most.
A clot that is
so small that it only hits enough cells to cause some minor single sided tinnitus (single sided is more likely) will probably dissolve on its own.
Using HBOT for no hearing loss at all, just bilateral tinnitus, after a metabolic insult, is frankly insane.
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