I Invented a Sound That Knocked Out My Tinnitus

[Stuart-T]

So here's my 4 night update. Since Sunday I've been using the 1More earbuds to listen to the sound all night. The results so far are concerning. I've found that if I wake up in the middle of the night, the tinnitus sound seems louder. Also, every morning when I've woken up the tinnitus sounds louder than normal.

If anything, this thing seems to be making it worse. It does settle down a little after being awake an hour or two but it's just going back to its regular baseline and not getting any lower. Today it's actually louder than usual and hasn't settled down after 5 hours. So, the "3" part of the 3 to 21 days is definitely not happening for me. I'd say that after 3 days it has made it worse. This is surprising since when I initially listened to it during the day for a few minutes I experienced some residual inhibition but that hasn't been the case when I listen to it for 7 or 8 hours while I sleep.

Also, some of the sounds from this file, especially the sounds on the right channel, sound like something out of a horror movie. When I'm half-asleep it sounds like screaming and odd whispering and other stuff you might hear in a horror movie. Definitely not calming or good for sleeping. Good thing I like horror movies.

If I wake up in the middle of the night, those sounds combined with the louder tinnitus tone make it very difficult to get back to sleep.

I suppose I can give it another 3 nights to do a full week but if I don't start to see any improvement by then I'm going back to my nighttime crickets and daytime notched-audio therapy and the occasional Clonazepam.

That's a shame. You have gone to a lot of trouble over this. I suppose that as Mr Case has stipulated many times - you need to follow his exact directions and use the correct headphones. Personally - I would follow his regime to the letter all the way - IF my levels were significantly higher - for sure. But like you - I would be concerned if the trend after a week or so was up rather than down.

I listened to Tinnitus Mix on my laptop with external speakers for 10 minutes or so and found it worked to a similar fashion as the YouTube video I go to when my 10 kHz hiss goes to a piercing whine - it helps to smooth it off. Just as you found listening during the day could help a bit.

Hope it starts to pay back for you in a few days but if it seems to be getting worse maybe you should throw in the towel.

 

[R. David Case]

So here's my 4 night update. Since Sunday I've been using the 1More earbuds to listen to the sound all night. The results so far are concerning. I've found that if I wake up in the middle of the night, the tinnitus sound seems louder. Also, every morning when I've woken up the tinnitus sounds louder than normal.

If anything, this thing seems to be making it worse. It does settle down a little after being awake an hour or two but it's just going back to its regular baseline and not getting any lower. Today it's actually louder than usual and hasn't settled down after 5 hours. So, the "3" part of the 3 to 21 days is definitely not happening for me. I'd say that after 3 days it has made it worse. This is surprising since when I initially listened to it during the day for a few minutes I experienced some residual inhibition but that hasn't been the case when I listen to it for 7 or 8 hours while I sleep.

Also, some of the sounds from this file, especially the sounds on the right channel, sound like something out of a horror movie. When I'm half-asleep it sounds like screaming and odd whispering and other stuff you might hear in a horror movie. Definitely not calming or good for sleeping. Good thing I like horror movies.

If I wake up in the middle of the night, those sounds combined with the louder tinnitus tone make it very difficult to get back to sleep.

I suppose I can give it another 3 nights to do a full week but if I don't start to see any improvement by then I'm going back to my nighttime crickets and daytime notched-audio therapy and the occasional Clonazepam.

Sorry to hear that, I would stop for a few days and try in day time. It does not work on everyone, about 40-50% of those that don't have reactive tinnitus. You may have a form of reactive tinnitus and no sound therapy can help that condition.

 

[GuitarMan]

That's a shame. You have gone to a lot of trouble over this. I suppose that as Mr Case has stipulated many times - you need to follow his exact directions and use the correct headphones. Personally - I would follow his regime to the letter all the way - IF my levels were significantly higher - for sure. But like you - I would be concerned if the trend after a week or so was up rather than down.

I listened to Tinnitus Mix on my laptop with external speakers for 10 minutes or so and found it worked to a similar fashion as the YouTube video I go to when my 10 kHz hiss goes to a piercing whine - it helps to smooth it off. Just as you found listening during the day could help a bit.

Hope it starts to pay back for you in a few days but if it seems to be getting worse maybe you should throw in the towel.

I am following the protocol to the letter and also using the 1More earbuds which he specified as an alternative to the Koss headphones. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. This morning I'm still not noticing any positive difference. Couple more days to go...

 

[Stuart-T]

I am following the protocol to the letter and also using the 1More earbuds which he specified as an alternative to the Koss headphones. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. This morning I'm still not noticing any positive difference. Couple more days to go...

I see - well Mr Case did say it works 50% of the time so at least you will know you tried.

 

[R. David Case]

I am following the protocol to the letter and also using the 1More earbuds which he specified as an alternative to the Koss headphones. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. This morning I'm still not noticing any positive difference. Couple more days to go...

Make sure you don't play it too loud, it should be barely audible with your good ear, do not adjust volume according to your bad ear. If you try again in day, only use original Tinnitus Mix file and not the Audacity file.

I have been playing Tinnitus Mix all night, every night for 21 years so there is no way it will cause any permanent spike. Usually only people that have some form of reactive tinnitus get a spike. That's why I do not recommend any sound therapy for that.

Also, switch back to the Koss KTX-PRO1 headphones if you try again.

 

[GuitarMan]

So I gave it another try. Still nothing positive. Every night I've tried it I've slept very poorly. The noise is annoying to my ears, parts of it sound like a horror movie, I kept waking up with the cables tangled around my head, and I'd wake up in the morning with the tinnitus seeming to be louder.

Last night I switched back to my cricket sounds and slept like a baby. Woke up with the tinnitus perceived to be slightly lower than baseline but as has become normal, it gets louder and back to baseline within a few minutes. Looks like it will be crickets from now on.

So far what has worked best has been notched audio therapy during the day, crickets at night, and Clonazepam a couple of times a week. Still also doing my nighttime sleep stack too with 7.5 mg Mirtazapine, 2.5 mg THC, and a Melatonin/Valerian mix.

 

[Rainer]

The noise is annoying to my ears

That made me quit as well. I wonder whether one should try the Japanese underground rock band Les Rallizes Dénudés instead. They sound basically the same but for some reason aren't quite as obnoxious.

 

[BuzzingBay]

@R. David Case: I'd love to try this, but I'd need to use small Bluetooth (wireless) earbuds, as I am also encumbered by CPAP headgear. Any suggestions would be welcome!

 

[star-affinity]

I have been playing Tinnitus Mix all night, every night for 21 years so there is no way it will cause any permanent spike.

How long do you think it would take to notice an improvement if I've had tinnitus for one and a half years?

Do your ears feel okay after a whole night of listening to Tinnitus Mix with headphones? When are the hair cells supposed to rest if not when sleeping?

Maybe you have it very quiet during the day awake.

 

[R. David Case]

@R. David Case: I'd love to try this, but I'd need to use small Bluetooth (wireless) earbuds, as I am also encumbered by CPAP headgear. Any suggestions would be welcome!

Bluetooth does not have as good of a frequency response as wired headphones but you can try it. I use a simple WAV player that fits in my shirt pocket and believe it or not, I wrap the cord around my neck and never have a problem. Been doing that for 21 years with no problems.

 

[R. David Case]

How long do you think it would take to notice an improvement if I've had tinnitus for one and a half years?

Do your ears feel okay after a whole night of listening to Tinnitus Mix with headphones? When are the hair cells supposed to rest if not when sleeping?

Maybe you have it very quiet during the day awake.

I feel very rested and my hearing is very crisp every morning. As I said, I have chosen to play it every night for the past 21 years even though it knocked out my tinnitus because of the good side effects like deeper sleep. Everyone sees different results, some see immediate results, some take months. The pattern we are seeing is the longer you have had tinnitus, the longer it takes to work. The average is 3 weeks of playing Tinnitus Mix to see results.

 

[GuitarMan]

I've had very mild tinnitus for a very long time. It was the kind that was only noticeable in a quiet room. Never bothered me. But the tinnitus that is so loud it affects my quality of life and can be heard over pretty much everything has only been here for maybe 5 or 6 months.

 

[star-affinity]

I feel very rested and my hearing is very crisp every morning. As I said, I have chosen to play it every night for the past 21 years even though it knocked out my tinnitus because of the good side effects like deeper sleep. Everyone sees different results, some see immediate results, some take months. The pattern we are seeing is the longer you have had tinnitus, the longer it takes to work. The average is 3 weeks of playing Tinnitus Mix to see results.

View attachment 51997

I so want to try it – have bought the Koss KTX-PRO1 and also have a doughnut pillow, but I'm still afraid of having headphones with sound on all night. For example @Michael Leigh recommends to never use headphones again if you have tinnitus. But you've done it all night for 21 years!

I am so afraid to damage my ear even more. But of course want to give Tinnitus Mix a try to see if it helps. Really difficult situation. I'm all set to start, but too afraid to go ahead. Maybe one night on low volume is okay and see how it feels...

As long as the volume is low enough I guess. Barely audible you say? Would be nice to have a good dB level to relate to or something.

 

[R. David Case]

I so want to try it – have bought the Koss KTX-PRO1 and also have a doughnut pillow, but I'm still afraid of having headphones with sound on all night. For example @Michael Leigh recommends to never use headphones again if you have tinnitus. But you've done it all night for 21 years!

I am so afraid to damage my ear even more. But of course want to give Tinnitus Mix a try to see if it helps. Really difficult situation. I'm all set to start, but too afraid to go ahead. Maybe one night on low volume is okay and see how it feels...

As long as the volume is low enough I guess. Barely audible you say? Would be nice to have a good dB level to relate to or something.

You should play during the day for a few hours per day for a couple of days to get used to the chaotic sounds, then switch to nights.

I agree normal headphones with certain frequencies (speech) are not good for the ears, but Tinnitus Mix played on Koss KTX-PRO1 headphones can IMPROVE hearing, not harm it.

 

[Francesco]

I've decided to give this a real try. I've got myself a pair of Koss KSC75 and a small wave player with a clip.

Question: Tinnitus Mix does not cover my tinnitus, most of the time I can still tell my Tinnitus from the Tinnitus Mix - is that normal?

 

[R. David Case]

I've decided to give this a real try. I've got myself a pair of Koss KSC75 and a small wave player with a clip.

Question: Tinnitus Mix does not cover my tinnitus, most of the time I can still tell my Tinnitus from the Tinnitus Mix - is that normal?

Yes, that's normal, Tinnitus Mix is NOT a masker. Play below the level of your tinnitus. We are having lots of success stopping many phantom sounds with Tinnitus Mix.

 

[Keydet19]

Hi David. I'm using Koss Porta-Pro, which I have used for years--same frequency response as your recommend ones, and higher quality. April will mark 6 years with tinnitus; losing hope, but giving this a shot.

 

[Francesco]

Can anyone recommend a way to keep the Koss KSC75 on at night? So far I've cut a bandana out of a shirt to keep them on without their clip. Well it has not worked at all. I wake up and they are all over me.

Thanks.

 

[R. David Case]

Hi David. I'm using Koss Porta-Pro, which I have used for years--same frequency response as your recommend ones, and higher quality. April will mark 6 years with tinnitus; losing hope, but giving this a shot.

Yes, they are pretty much the same as Koss KTX-PRO1. Good luck.

 

[R. David Case]

Can anyone recommend a way to keep the Koss KSC75 on at night? So far I've cut a bandana out of a shirt to keep them on without their clip. Well it has not worked at all. I wake up and they are all over me.

Thanks.

That's why I recommend the Koss KTX-PRO1, they have headband that keeps them on. You may want to cut hole in a cheap foam pillow so when on your side, the earpiece fits right in the hole. Very comfortable.

 

[Francesco]

That's why I recommend the Koss KTX-PRO1, they have headband that keeps them on. You may want to cut hole in a cheap foam pillow so when on your side, the earpiece fits right in the hole. Very comfortable.

View attachment 53258

So the Koss KSC75 with the clip does not hold? Doesn't the headband of Koss KTX-PRO1 break when you sleep on the side?

Thanks!

 

[DreiT]

That's a shame. You have gone to a lot of trouble over this. I suppose that as Mr Case has stipulated many times - you need to follow his exact directions and use the correct headphones. Personally - I would follow his regime to the letter all the way - IF my levels were significantly higher - for sure. But like you - I would be concerned if the trend after a week or so was up rather than down.

I listened to Tinnitus Mix on my laptop with external speakers for 10 minutes or so and found it worked to a similar fashion as the YouTube video I go to when my 10 kHz hiss goes to a piercing whine - it helps to smooth it off. Just as you found listening during the day could help a bit.

Hope it starts to pay back for you in a few days but if it seems to be getting worse maybe you should throw in the towel.

I have the same piercing whine at about 11000 Hz. It's so intrusive. Can you please share what video makes the whine go away? I'm really desperate. Thanks.

 

[R. David Case]

So the Koss KSC75 with the clip does not hold? Doesn't the headband of Koss KTX-PRO1 break when you sleep on the side?

No, my Koss KTX-PRO1 headphones have never broke.

 

[R. David Case]

I have the same piercing whine at about 11000 Hz. It's so intrusive. Can you please share what video makes the whine go away? I'm really desperate. Thanks.

The sound therapy Tinnitus Mix is available at the website:

tinnitusmix.com

 

[TinnyCanMan]

Question, would Tinnitus Mix have any benefit during the day?

 

[R. David Case]

Question, would Tinnitus Mix have any benefit during the day?

Yes, you can play during the day but it works faster if you play all night, every night for 3 weeks. You can ADD playing during the day for faster results.

 

[TinnyCanMan]

Tinnitus Mix has had a weird effect on me. The kettle noise has calmed down and I can only hear a soft humming in complete silence. I would be freaking out but I don't think this will last long.

 

[lymebite]

The kettle noise has calmed down and I can only hear a soft humming in complete silence. I would be freaking out but I don't think this will last long.

Curious why you would be freaking out with this result? It sounds like a good thing? (I would be thrilled if my loud noises calmed down so I could only hear a soft humming in complete silence.)

 

[TinnyCanMan]

Curious why you would be freaking out with this result? It sounds like a good thing? (I would be thrilled if my loud noises calmed down so I could only hear a soft humming in complete silence.)

Sorry for the confusion, I just don't know if it will be permanent or not. Sometimes it goes back to baseline, but calms down. I don't know if this is important but my tinnitus sounds really similar to some parts of the Tinnitus Mix audio.

EDIT:

Oh I just realized what you meant, I meant freaking out in a good way.

 

[R. David Case]

Sorry for the confusion, I just don't know if it will be permanent or not. Sometimes it goes back to baseline, but calms down. I don't know if this is important but my tinnitus sounds really similar to some parts of the Tinnitus Mix audio.

EDIT:

Oh I just realized what you meant, I meant freaking out in a good way.

That is a good sign when Tinnitus Mix changes the tinnitus or lowers its volume. Keep going every day or night without skipping for 3 weeks or the tinnitus will reform.