Multi-Toned Tinnitus with a Rhythmic Beat: How to Cope?

[keepthefaith]

After partially recovering from sudden sensorineural hearing loss three months ago, with mild to moderate loss across all frequencies, I developed tinnitus. It started as a high-pitched ringing or static, with strange tones randomly coming and going starting in the second month.

Now, I am stuck with a tone that is seemingly musical in nature and impossible to mask, though it is soft. It has a rhythm or beat to it, less pitchy than the ringing, and it changes every two weeks. Every version is extremely annoying. It sounds like a beep, chime, or flute playing a note three to five times, or like the ding-ding sound when collecting a coin in a game.

I habituated to the high-pitched ringing and static about two months after my tinnitus started, but I am desperate for this musical tone to be gone forever. I track it constantly while working, even with background music or podcasts playing, and I still notice it outdoors. I have tried hearing aids with different types of noise, but nothing masks it.

Does anyone with hearing loss across all frequencies only have pure tone tinnitus? Has anyone with hearing loss ever had a tone disappear? How long did it take?

 

[Resin]

With this type of unstable tinnitus that fluctuates, the brain sometimes tries to interpret the noise as something more structured. It searches through your memory and starts playing random music. I once had a research link showing brain activity related to old memories in this type of tinnitus, but I have lost it.

I have had this for more than six months now. I think it might be related to my hyperacusis, but I am not sure. The way I cope is by influencing what it "plays." I have focused on making it play three or four melodies that I find pleasing. They are not really full songs, just short four- or five-note melodies that repeat. That is what I hear, and it does not bother me. I just tell myself, "Those are my songs."

I have tried hearing aids with different types of noise, but nothing masks it.

If you are looking for a hearing aid for this, I have heard that fractal sounds—randomly generated sound patterns—can be effective for musical tinnitus. I am not sure which manufacturers offer this, but it may be worth looking into.

I also did come across a research paper that showed some success on musical tinnitus with Olanzapine. That's something you'd need to discuss with your doctor.