I’m So Upset

[Rob912]

Hi,
My names Rob and I'm 16

Last week I was trying to sleep when all of a sudden I heard a really annoying high pitch noise. I must've spent about 2 hours doing research and discovered it was tinnitus, so I started to panic thinking it wouldn't go away. Luckily I managed to fall asleep that night and I've only had the noise 3 nights since. I've went to my local gp and explained what was going on and I thought that it was either caused by excessive ear wax build up or prolonged exposure to loud music. Turns out there was nothing in my ears (even though I get a crackling sound in my ear every time I yawn). All they did was prescribe me some nasal spray to clear up my airways which they thought would help, but it hasn't. I find it strange how the sound comes every other night and it isn't background noise from a plug or anything else in my room.

What's even more annoying is right now I have exams which is the worst possible time in my life for this to come up and I'm struggling to sleep. Also the noise is only in my right ear and a few years ago I accidentally pushed a cotton bud too deep into my ear as a result of being jump scared by my little brother. It didn't bleed all over the place but the next day I cleaned my ear with a cotton bud and there was dry blood on it. I haven't had any problems with my right ear until now.

Any advice on what to do?

 

[Michael Leigh]

prolonged exposure to loud music

HI @Rob912

Exposure to loud noise is one of the most common causes of tinnitus. Typically, it is listening to music through headphones at high volume levels or going to places where loud music is played. Please read the post below and click on the links at the bottom of the page and read those posts, as you might find them helpful.

All the best
Michael


New to tinnitus what to do?

The onset of tinnitus can be difficult for a lot of people to cope with. It comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. When it is mild, moderate or occasionally heard in quiet surroundings it is usually not too bothersome and a person can go about their daily affairs quite happily and unperturbed by this anomaly. This type of tinnitus usually comes on gradually and in some cases it's associated with hearing loss, as we get older and the usual treatment is the wearing of hearing aid/s.

Tinnitus can be also be caused by an underlying medical problem, build up of ear wax (cerumen). Jaw problems. Some medications and even irregular blood flow through the body causing Pulsatile tinnitus. One of the most common causes is exposure to loud noise or music that has been played at high levels that can affect the cochlea in the ear. This type of tinnitus can be loud, intrusive and very debilitating. Often leaving a person at a loss and not knowing which way to turn to escape the noise. I fully understand how difficult it can be for someone new to this condition to take this in and believe it to be factual.

If you are having difficulty sleeping you might have been advised to try a nighttime sedation or an ant-depressant to help cope with the stress and anxiety that often accompanies tinnitus. These medications can be helpful especially in the early stages and they don't have to be taken long term, so it's something to consider. They can act as a safety net so you don't become too down.

A referral to ENT will usually be recommended. In the mean time try to keep occupied with something you like doing, as it helps to distract the brain from focusing on the tinnitus. Avoiding quiet rooms during the day by playing low-level non-intrusive music such as classical in the background can be helpful.

At night a sound machine placed by the bedside playing nature sounds or listening to favourite mp3 tracks or Cds are good. Keeping the volume just below the tinnitus is ideal and set to play throughout the night until morning. It takes time to get used to sound therapy so please stay with it. Whilst in a deep sleep it supplies the brain and auditory system with sound enrichment. Over time the tinnitus is pushed further into the background helping to make its perception less noticeable during waking hours.

In the early stages of tinnitus, if one chooses not to use sound enrichment sleeping can sometimes be difficult and there is also the chance of the tinnitus becoming more intrusive as sleeping in a quiet room can allow the brain to increase it's own background activity. In doing so it will also increase the tinnitus making it more intrusive during waking hours.

There is a tendency for newbies to try and cure their tinnitus which is quite understandable. There are many remedies, treatments and concoctions out there. Some affordable others quite expensive. I am not averse to trying to help myself but want to say, there are charlatans and con artists eager to relieve someone in distress of their money so please be careful. Even tried and tested treatments I wouldn't recommend a person try until they have been seen at ENT. Often a person after been seen at ENT is advised to wait a while.

Many people habituate to tinnitus within six months sometimes a little longer and it has been known to go away. The ear is a very delicate organ and many Doctors prefer to wait before investigating further and then suggesting a treatment. If other problems are experienced such as: pain in the ears, deafness, dizziness or balance problems this is of more concern and a person will usually been seen quicker.

It is best to have a word with your GP if you're feeling stressed or depressed in any way, as previously mentioned there are treatments available. Leaving things alone until your ENT advises you of the next step is the best thing to do in my opinion. Don't try to fix anything or throw large sums of money at treatments that you have no way of knowing whether you'll get any relief.

I advise not to listen to audio through headphones even at low volume especially if the tinnitus was "noise induced" and keep away from loud sounds. By all means go out but anywhere that plays loud music then wearing noise-reducing earplugs, the type that has attenuation filters would be a good idea. 18 to 30 decibels reduction should suffice. While reducing external sound they will not impair sound quality.

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/

 

[BobK544]

my niece said she started getting some ringing in her ears and i know she drinks a lot of red bull which has Taurine in it and i think i read somewhere they use Taurine to induce T in rats, but not sure about that, and i think Taurine is related to the sulfur family of compounds and that's how i first got T after taking a sulfur based antibiotic on a flight.