Is the Resonance I'm Hearing Considered Hyperacusis?

[Joe Cuber]

I was at the park today for about an hour. All the various noises around me sounded normal--people talking, kids playing, cars driving by, construction noises in the background. However, my tinnitus reacted to it all and got pitchy and louder. About 10 minutes after I got home, my tinnitus calmed back down to the level before I went to the park.

Is this tinnitus resonance I'm hearing considered hyperacusis? Or is it considered something else?

Thanks, I'm just trying to learn the terminology.

 

[Rudedog205]

Is this tinnitus resonance I'm hearing considered hyperacusis? Or is it considered something else?

Some people believe it to be a component of hyperacusis but it is typically referred to as reactive tinnitus.

 

[Joe Cuber]

Some people believe it to be a component of hyperacusis but it is typically referred to as reactive tinnitus.

Ah I see, thanks for clarifying that for me. I saw both terms but wasn't sure if they were referring to the same thing.

 

[dennis_me]

When I read what you are going through, I have the impression that we are going through exactly the same type of tinnitus. I have exactly the same phenomena.

Depending on the external sound my tinnitus pierces almost every sound. It's so annoying when I try to mask it. Normally I play some sounds before going to bed and when I study but these two tasks are still very difficult. When I get in a quiet place it's normally at its baseline but then I give 100% of my attention to it so my perception is even worse and in addition it fluctuates enormously from one day to another.

So you think your tinnitus comes from long-term exposure to loud music? Is it possible you had COVID-19 or the vaccine before the onset of tinnitus? I think my tinnitus comes from the 3rd dose but I'm not sure.

How old are you if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Joe Cuber]

When I read what you are going through, I have the impression that we are going through exactly the same type of tinnitus. I have exactly the same phenomena.

Depending on the external sound my tinnitus pierces almost every sound. It's so annoying when I try to mask it. Normally I play some sounds before going to bed and when I study but these two tasks are still very difficult. When I get in a quiet place it's normally at its baseline but then I give 100% of my attention to it so my perception is even worse and in addition it fluctuates enormously from one day to another.

So you think your tinnitus comes from long-term exposure to loud music? Is it possible you had COVID-19 or the vaccine before the onset of tinnitus? I think my tinnitus comes from the 3rd dose but I'm not sure.

How old are you if you don't mind me asking?

Hey @dennis_me, I don't mind you asking at all (I even wrote it in my About Me section ). I'm 51.

Masking is a challenge for me too. I don't try to completely mask it, since the advice to ensure that you hear the tinnitus over the background in order to habituate to it. But I do try to pick a background sound that's similar. Some days, it sounds like crickets, so I choose a cricket YouTube video to listen to. Sometimes it sounds like rain.

Yeah the fluctuation by the day is the most peculiar aspect of it. Mine changes sometime while I'm sleeping. So my current theory is that it has to do with my neck, my cervical spine in particular. The reason I think this is because I've noticed a correlation in where my head ends up at night and my tinnitus. I sleep on my side, and if my head happens to roll forward so that my neck is curled, that tends to correlate with hearing a loud hiss the next day.

I don't believe mine is COVID-19 and/or vaccine related. I didn't have COVID-19 around the time my tinnitus appeared, and I had my vaccine and booster shots months prior to my onset. I didn't have an acute noise trauma either. But I do have long-term mild/moderate hearing loss in both ears and I have been using earbuds for work many hours a day during lockdown. So that might have contributed to it.

Another reason I think mine is related to my cervical spine is because a chiropractor assessed my spine. I have several issues, but an interesting one is that my spine torques/twists to the left as you go up my spine. My chiropractor says this adds tension to the right side of my neck and face, which is the side my tinnitus is on.

 

[dennis_me]

Yeah you're right, I should also try not to completely mask my tinnitus all the time. I feel like I'll never get used to it otherwise. I'll start once I finish my exams next week, it'll be good to have almost 3 months of vacation after months of hell with my studies. I had to work often 7 days a week and 6 days at least with constant stress...

Your theory about your cervical spine is very interesting. I also have the impression that the position of my head has an impact on my tinnitus, I am currently going to a physiotherapist specialized in tmj disorder and neck issues. Have you been to a chiropractor?

Okay, it could also be my cause. I have the vaccine as a suspect but I'm not sure. I lived like an idiot the few months before the appearance of my tinnitus. Going to the club without ear protection, listening to fairly loud music all the time, taking medication at the slightest complaint, taking fairly strong sleeping pills because of stress and so on. I find it very difficult to forgive myself because in the end I am responsible for my suffering, whatever the cause...

 

[NewLionel]

Hey @dennis_me, I don't mind you asking at all (I even wrote it in my About Me section ). I'm 51.

Masking is a challenge for me too. I don't try to completely mask it, since the advice to ensure that you hear the tinnitus over the background in order to habituate to it. But I do try to pick a background sound that's similar. Some days, it sounds like crickets, so I choose a cricket YouTube video to listen to. Sometimes it sounds like rain.

Yeah the fluctuation by the day is the most peculiar aspect of it. Mine changes sometime while I'm sleeping. So my current theory is that it has to do with my neck, my cervical spine in particular. The reason I think this is because I've noticed a correlation in where my head ends up at night and my tinnitus. I sleep on my side, and if my head happens to roll forward so that my neck is curled, that tends to correlate with hearing a loud hiss the next day.

I don't believe mine is COVID-19 and/or vaccine related. I didn't have COVID-19 around the time my tinnitus appeared, and I had my vaccine and booster shots months prior to my onset. I didn't have an acute noise trauma either. But I do have long-term mild/moderate hearing loss in both ears and I have been using earbuds for work many hours a day during lockdown. So that might have contributed to it.

Another reason I think mine is related to my cervical spine is because a chiropractor assessed my spine. I have several issues, but an interesting one is that my spine torques/twists to the left as you go up my spine. My chiropractor says this adds tension to the right side of my neck and face, which is the side my tinnitus is on.

I have reactive tinnitus and neck/jaw problems. When I play poker and get stressed/tense up, my tinnitus gets worse fast.

 

[Joe Cuber]

@dennis_me - I feel for you. That kind of school and work load alone takes a lot of fortitude. Throw in dealing with tinnitus--you're a strong person to handle it all. It's easy to blame ourselves, but fixating on that won't get you far. It's where you go from here that matters. Count the positive things in your life every day, that'll help you build a positive mindset.

I do see a chiropractor. It's been helping. I have more good days these days. I'm asleep scheduled to see an osteopath, and I'm trying to schedule time with a TMJ specialist (they're booked out until October, sheesh).

I hope your summer break comes soon.

I have reactive tinnitus and neck/jaw problems. When I play poker and get stressed/tense up, my tinnitus gets worse fast.

Hey @NewLionel - Interesting, have you also seen a chiropractor, dentist, and/or TMJ specialist?

 

[NewLionel]

Hey @NewLionel - Interesting, have you also seen a chiropractor, dentist, and/or TMJ specialist?

i have seen a few! The chiro at the moment told me basically my whole right side is tilted forward, mainly pelvis and shoulder, which this causes strain on the neck and jaw and pulls on the cranial nerves, possibly vagus nerve. Working on addressing the issues but difficult with a bad neck/jaw.

 

[Joe Cuber]

i have seen a few! The chiro at the moment told me basically my whole right side is tilted forward, mainly pelvis and shoulder, which this causes strain on the neck and jaw and pulls on the cranial nerves, possibly vagus nerve. Working on addressing the issues but difficult with a bad neck/jaw.

My chiropractor says I have pretty much the same issue! She said my right pelvic bone is forward, causing a torque/twist up my spine to the left, and it's causing tension on my right side, which is the side I experience tinnitus. Also, I have kyphosis in my mid back that causes me to slouch (well, my slouching, caused the kyphosis), and that causes my neck muscles to be rock hard because they have to hold my head up. I've been seeing her for weeks now, and the adjustments have been going okay. I think they're helping. I have more frequent good days now, and my bad days aren't as severe.

 

[dennis_me]

@dennis_me - I feel for you. That kind of school and work load alone takes a lot of fortitude. Throw in dealing with tinnitus--you're a strong person to handle it all. It's easy to blame ourselves, but fixating on that won't get you far. It's where you go from here that matters. Count the positive things in your life every day, that'll help you build a positive mindset.

I do see a chiropractor. It's been helping. I have more good days these days. I'm asleep scheduled to see an osteopath, and I'm trying to schedule time with a TMJ specialist (they're booked out until October, sheesh).

I hope your summer break comes soon.

Thank you very much <3 My last exam is the 29th and then I go to Barcelona for a week. Can't wait to be there!

It's good that you made those appointments. But the fact that you have to wait until October is ridiculous.

 

[NewLionel]

My chiropractor says I have pretty much the same issue! She said my right pelvic bone is forward, causing a torque/twist up my spine to the left, and it's causing tension on my right side, which is the side I experience tinnitus. Also, I have kyphosis in my mid back that causes me to slouch (well, my slouching, caused the kyphosis), and that causes my neck muscles to be rock hard because they have to hold my head up. I've been seeing her for weeks now, and the adjustments have been going okay. I think they're helping. I have more frequent good days now, and my bad days aren't as severe.

Some chiros are good, but to fix postural issues you need stretching and then add muscle strengthening.

 

[Joe Cuber]

Thank you very much <3 My last exam is the 29th and then I go to Barcelona for a week. Can't wait to be there!

It's good that you made those appointments. But the fact that you have to wait until October is ridiculous.

Barcelona... niice. I've been there a couple of times, I really like the vibe there. Have fun. Yeah, ridiculous that they're booked out until October. I'm not putting too much hope in TMJ as a major cause, I think my neck is more of a factor.

Some chiros are good, but to fix postural issues you need stretching and then add muscle strengthening.

I agree. My chiro has been doing a lot to correct my posture by fixing my kyphosis, but I do have to stretch and exercise too (mostly walks at this point).

 

[Juan]

Is this tinnitus resonance I'm hearing considered hyperacusis? Or is it considered something else?

That's not hyperacusis. If you had hyperacusis you would have the urge to cover your ears in the presence of sound, as it would be perceived abnormally loud.

It's reactive tinnitus, meaning tinnitus that fluctuates - typically increases - in the presence of sound.