Long Tinnitus Spike for 10+ Months — Anyone Else with Long Spikes? Can It Still Get Better?

[Rayk]

Hi

I'm hoping some can offer some advice for me.

Has anyone suffered from a spike that has gone on for 10 months or more - that's the stage I'm at now?

When my tinnitus started it was very low, almost unnoticeable on a daily basis and this lasted for over a year until October last year for whatever reason it spiked and I have been by and large troubled with it on a daily basis now for over 10 months.

I have been following the usual meditation, keeping positive outlook with mixed results.


Anyway I also have another query which I haven't come across before:

I categorise my days as good bad days and bad bad days.

For the last week or so it's been bad bad days but when this happens the hearing in my right ear (the tinnitus is only really bad in the right ear) becomes completely muffled - it's like I can barely hear anything at all out it.

But when it slightly settles down again which I hope it does - back to the good bad days I can hear normally out of it again.

Has anyone ever had anything like this they can share their experience with me?

Is it stress that is causing the hearing to be muffled?

I have been to the ENT and I have high frequency hearing loss in both ears which explains the Tinnitus but not the muffled experience.

Any feedback would be most welcome.

Cheers.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Has anyone suffered from a spike that has gone on for 10 months plus - that's the stage I'm at now?

Is it stress that is causing the hearing to be muffled?

I have been to the ENT and I have high frequency hearing loss in both ears which explains the Tinnitus but not the muffled experience

@Rayk

Since you have hearing loss I would have thought ENT would refer you to Audiology, to see an Audiologist as I believe, you need a hearing aid/s to help improve your hearing. If your hearing is not restored to an optimum level it is quite possible that your tinnitus will increase due to hearing impairment. Hearing loss is closely associated with a worsening of tinnitus or actually causing its onset. Therefore, I think you should to see your ENT doctor or get another referral and see a different physician. The hearing loss is probably causing your muffled hearing. This really needs professional medical advice. The auditory system is too delicate to leave something like what you describe alone.

On the matter of a "spike". 10 months is a long time and this usually happens for one reason. You have been exposed to loud noise/sound. Either you have been using headphones, headset etc or going to places, venues where loud noise is present: clubs etc or been around loud noise that has affected your auditory system.

If you are using headphones of any description then I advise you to stop using them even at low volume. If you are going to places where loud music is present, I advise you to limit the frequency of attendance. Wearing earplugs even the best type, will not stop your inner ear been affected if external sound is too loud.

In short: a spike that is lingers on is often a result of exposure to loud noise. It is headphone use or venues where loud noise is present that are the usual cause. Please click on the links below and read my posts.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

 

[Rayk]

Thanks for the reply.

It's a weird one as a couple of weeks ago my hearing out of the ear was great - no issues and the tinnitus had settled down and I was thinking I was starting to habituate - like I was pre October last year.

Then suddenly it gets worse which in turn make me more anxious, stressed etc and the hearing goes all muffled.

This has happened a few time in the last 10 months.

I know once the tinnitus goes back to a more manageable level and the stress drops a bit the hearing will better out my ear.

I was wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences as I haven't read about it anywhere.

I do intend to discuss this with an ENT specialist soon but I fear I will just get the "you have high frequency hearing loss therefore tinnitus" speech.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Then suddenly it gets worse which in turn make me more anxious, stressed etc and the hearing goes all muffled.

This has happened a few time in the last 10 months.

I do intend to discuss this with an ENT specialist soon but I fear I will just get the "you have high frequency hearing loss therefore tinnitus" speech.

You need to be properly examined by an ENT that is willing to do this and not be fobbed off. The ear and auditory are delicate. From what you describe I don't think you will find answers at any tinnitus forums. Try and get a referral to an ENT doctor to examine you thoroughly and give a proper diagnoses as this is what you need.

Michael