I Only Hear My Tinnitus in Quiet Places — Does This Mean Anything?

[Carol27]

Does this mean anything? Ever since my tinnitus started I am only able to hear it in quiet places. Does it get worse? better? I am very confused. Does it mean that it can fade away? I just want some kind of hope. Has it gone away for anyone here completely? I've read some success stories here but mostly all speak about them learning to cope with it. I've come across some people who it has gone away for them and never returned.

Also, I've been hearing a vibration noise in my ears on top of the ringing. Is that normal?

 

[Michael B]

@Carol27 It's hard to say with any certainty if one's tinnitus will remain the same but you're off to a good start with it being fairly quiet. It may very well stay that way and if it does chances are in time you'll no longer think about it.

 

[Carol27]

@Carol27 It's hard to say with any certainty if one's tinnitus will remain the same but you're off to a good start with it being fairly quiet.

I can't stop crying. I feel like my life is falling apart and I feel like I won't be able to live like this.

 

[Michael B]

I'm sure others will provide support and insight into this but what helped me in the early days was listening to music, particularity New Age. I found it very relaxing and still go to it on occasion. I remember keeping busy; distraction is key. Night time is another matter but there are those who recommend sound machines to help get your mind off the sound. I still use one myself. (no headphones)
The true healer, Carol, is time. Like the hands on a clock, you don't realize you're healing but each new day, week gets better. Crying is normal, I've done it myself in the early days as have many.

 

[GregCA]

Does this mean anything?

It just means you have a mild version of tinnitus. How it evolves is probably more dependent on what the root cause is, which, according to your profile, is unknown to you.

 

[MRItechssuck]

I had mild tinnitus that basically went away or I habituated to it after a few years.
After another trauma... mine is severe.

You feel so distraught because it is new... trust me... there are people much worse off.

Keep a fan on, especially at night , avoid quiet rooms, stop checking on the tinnitus... and before long you will forget about it. Be smart and avoid loud noises, and always bring earplugs with you... even to an MRI.

Good luck.

 

[alex1975]

Sorry to hear that! My audiologist told me, as basic as this sounds, that tinnitus is my ears telling me they've had enough of loud noise and as long as I stayed away from it, I wouldn't do any more damage and therefore my tinnitus shouldn't increase.
From here, if I were you, I would avoid loud bars, clubs or concerts. ut if you must then I would wear high quality ear plugs.
Also, if you're an anxious person, then perhaps it could be stress, which means that once you relax and give it time, it should go away...

 

[mrbrightside614]

I can't stop crying. I feel like my life is falling apart and I feel like I won't be able to live like this.

Carol. Let me say you are BLOODY LUCKY you can only hear it in quiet places. Enjoy your relaxation, your television, your radio. If you're nervous about it getting worse, keep a pair of earplugs on you. The chances are in your favor of it going away in time. Consider yourself lucky you do not have intrusive tinnitus, which presents itself whether you're paying conscious attention to it or not. Do not give it the audience and it will likely go away.

 

[Carol27]

if you're an anxious person, then perhaps it could be stress, which means that once you relax and give it time, it should go away...

Omg I really hope that is the case! Thank you for responding.

 

[Carol27]

Enjoy your relaxation, your television, your radio. If you're nervous about it getting worse, keep a pair of earplugs on you. The chances are in your favor of it going away in time.

I can't hear it when I am outside, however, sometimes I can hear it low when I am watching TV but its low to the point where I forget about it. Like there is time that I feel like I hear silence but then I tend to look for the noise and then its like "YUP I'M STILL HERE." The worse is when I am trying to sleep and when I am talking to someone and everything around us is quiet or when I am using my phone or doing homework.

And I am currently in finals week in college, so taking a test where the whole classroom is quiet is also very distracting.

 

[Digital Doc]

Getting to the quiet stage of tinnitus is a very good sign. However, take it as a warning that with further noise exposure this has potential to get much worse so protect your ears from further damage like your life depends on it, because it totally does.

 

[GregCA]

protect your ears from further damage like your life depends on it, because it totally does.

I like this way of putting it.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Does it get worse?

It shouldn't.

You are at the stage that many get to after 1-2 years of healing.

Does it mean that it can fade away?

There is a high chance that it will. Just make sure to not harm your ears again.

Has it gone away for anyone here completely?

Yes. But normally after being loud it fades so that people can hear it only in quiet rooms.

When it is quiet like that, it is reasonable to expect habituation, where you stop noticing it, and stop having a strong reaction to it when you become aware of it as you are trying to fall asleep.

I just want some kind of hope.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...eone-else-who-has-tinnitus.26850/#post-307822

 

[Don Tinny]

Just enjoy life without loud events. You only hear it in quiet places so it's not a big problem and mild tinnitus it's pretty common.

The real problem is that you need to take care of your ears. Believe me. Most days I hear my tinnitus everywhere!!

 

[Digital Doc]

I like this way of putting it.

Thanks. Too many stories of things ending really badly from this T. I view my "residual ring" on good days as a reminder to play by the rules, and avoid loud noise like the plague that it is.

 

[vermillion]

- I Only Hear My Tinnitus in Quiet Places — Does This Mean Anything?
- It means that you are lucky.