Is Complete Silence Possible for a Tinnitus Sufferer?

[Tybs]

Hi @Luman & @Christopher805 & @Tybs! I have had intermittent t for the past six months, likely from ototoxic meds. I have one day off, one day on, sometimes 2-3 days off (recently). Does it get better? I'm not sure if it's improving at all and am worried that I won't be able to habituate. Any advice would be appreciated!

One can never be sure, and I honestly have no experience with med-induced tinnitus. My own tinnitus is a result from a fall, and in my case I can state that it does get better: just véry slowly, and usually widely differing ups and down when it comes to hours/days. On average I went from 9/10 down to 0/1 though. Excluding the completely silent periods, I still need a silent environment to notice it.

The one more difficult issue I have is that it increases a bit if I lay down, so the night can get somewhat annoying on a bad day. Not complaining though, many from this forum would gladly take my place.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I have almost half an hour each morning when waking that I have no tinnitus sounds whatsoever... Bliss! Then the more I move about, the louder my tinnitus becomes.

HI @Steph1710

I do understand how you feel but try not to concern yourself with silent tinnitus, because when you habituate and I have every confidence that you will, silent tinnitus will not matter in the slightest I assure you. Your tinnitus may reduce to a very low level and may even be silent at times but it will all mean the same thing. Please click on the link below and read my post: The habituation process.

My tinnitus ranges from: Complete silence, mild, moderate, severe and very severe. It only because troublesome when it is severe and this is sustained for more that 2 to 3 days. Sometimes it will reduce to a more manageable level by itself sometimes it wont, and I take clonazepam which normally reduces it to complete silence or a more tolerable level over 12hrs.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

 

[lightning]

I still have not experienced silence since my T started. However, I've found that lately I have been able to periodically enjoy quiet environments.

 

[ASilverLight]

On Sunday and Monday I woke up to complete silence again. Both times it lasted about 2-5 minutes, after which my tinnitus came back. Both times it was really quiet for a while - especially on Sunday. So on Sunday, I thought I'd do an experiment. * I stayed in bed all day, in the quiet. No background noise. Only noise exposure I had that day were some noises outside (occasional car passing by, I live in a really quiet neighbourhood, the toilet flushing and the tap on with a little stream.

By evening time, my tinnitus got as bad as it usually does even when I'm out and about and have noise around me for most of the day.

I'm not sure what to make of it. Maybe it was random. Maybe not.

I just find it strange that I've now, on multiple occasions, woken up to silence only for my tinnitus to follow a pattern.

* I did this to see the effects of regular noise exposure, wondering if this is what made my tinnitus worse. As I'm typing this, after two days of being busy and having noise around me, it's no better/worse than it was at this time after being in silence all day. So I don't know.

To be honest, waking up to complete silence, as wonderful as it is, is heartbreaking. Sunday I thought it had randomly gone away, my brain having flipped a switch somehow. I was devastated when it came back.