I would recommend the following study: Split a group of recently acquired noise induced hyperacusis patients in two groups: One group exposes themselves to everyday sounds (restaurants, cinemas, malls, ...) without hearing protection and the other ones protect from all sounds which are uncomfortable to them. And monitor them for 12 months.
@Bill BauerSo I've been tying to do some experiments to help get rid of this madness, or to see what works. I have tinnitus and hyperacusis, had pain in my ears from voices back in May, had to leave the table. Everything seemed overly loud, not as much anymore. No more pain from voices. But this is what I've done since...
I started using ear plugs at work about six weeks ago. Prior to that I was using them definitely for driving, because cars are loud. The ringing seemed to subside with ear plugs. It was really really intense at first, I could barely keep them in. Then I noticed as the weeks were going on it seemed less and less. It's very low at this point.
So I did an experiment where I took the ear plugs out for a week at work and exposed myself to regular noise. Voices, etc. I thought maybe I was protecting too much and my job isn't really noisy. I would test my ears in the ear plugs to see if the ringing was still low... and it was. I am curious to see if this is actually fading or if I just have reactive tinnitus/hyperacusis.
So I did this for the week and today is now Friday and I would randomly put the ear plugs in at work today and the ringing is quite low regardless of being exposed to noise. But I get these really odd sensations in my ears after being exposed to noise. I went to a friends pool the other night and didn't use earplugs, and had the weirdest "loudness" when I got into my car. Obviously reacting to the noise. I don't know, this is all so crazy....
Thoughts?
I really *can not* handle the noise in the ears
Hey Tara, how did these experiments turn out in the long run? How are you today compared to almost a year ago?So I've been tying to do some experiments to help get rid of this madness, or to see what works. I have tinnitus and hyperacusis, had pain in my ears from voices back in May, had to leave the table. Everything seemed overly loud, not as much anymore. No more pain from voices. But this is what I've done since...
I started using ear plugs at work about six weeks ago. Prior to that I was using them definitely for driving, because cars are loud. The ringing seemed to subside with ear plugs. It was really really intense at first, I could barely keep them in. Then I noticed as the weeks were going on it seemed less and less. It's very low at this point.
So I did an experiment where I took the ear plugs out for a week at work and exposed myself to regular noise. Voices, etc. I thought maybe I was protecting too much and my job isn't really noisy. I would test my ears in the ear plugs to see if the ringing was still low... and it was. I am curious to see if this is actually fading or if I just have reactive tinnitus/hyperacusis.
So I did this for the week and today is now Friday and I would randomly put the ear plugs in at work today and the ringing is quite low regardless of being exposed to noise. But I get these really odd sensations in my ears after being exposed to noise. I went to a friends pool the other night and didn't use earplugs, and had the weirdest "loudness" when I got into my car. Obviously reacting to the noise. I don't know, this is all so crazy....
Thoughts?
I really *can not* handle the noise in the ears
I no longer overprotect, I used to protect when showering and driving - I no longer do so. When you say you use earbuds, are you listening to music? If so, please don't! I don't think it's a good idea, your ears need to heal. I haven't touched headphones in a year, and never will again.
Interesting progression, wishing you the best of luck moving forward.
Well that's good, hopefully we're both out of this nightmare soon. Take care, I'm here if you need anything!
Thank you very much. Hopefully your tinnitus fades like your hyperacusis did or at least gets to a comfortable level.
All different tones, again I don't believe the forum wisdom of ringing - buzzing - hissing - silence. In my opinion it just fades into nothing... but that's just me.
It sounds like you have made wonderful progression. My tinnitus started one month before yours and is only in my right ear. It is pretty much a continuous high pitch static sound. Initially I showed no hearing loss but had n event this past December with smoke alarms where I may have done some hearing damage. I have to have continuous sound playing in the background and do sleep with background sound on. So you not having to do that is awesome.
A doctor gave me Klonopin but I only took it once. I was on quite the concoction when this happened due to anxiety from it all, (Ativan, Valium, sleeping meds) and I don't want to keep putting this stuff in my body. So I don't take anything anymore, plus a lot of that stuff is actually ototoxic - ironic. I'm afraid to take anything anymore to be honest. I'm afraid to even take an Advil when I have a headache. But yes, I hope I'm out of this hell soon. Hope you are too.
Agreed. I'm trying to adjust while going withdrawals. Do you mask or use ambient sound?
Any improvement? I am trying sound therapy. I am trialing a hearing aid/masker to see if that might help.
Yes I do. Along the way I also got chemically addicted to Klonopin. So I am trying to dig out day by day and am in survival mode and keep trying to figure out how to improve. The fact you sleep without sound is way better than me so credit to you. I wish my tinnitus was resolved but this is going to be a long haul.
Every minute of every day.
I think generally I have come to terms that this is what I have and am focused on trying to figure out how to manage and cope with it and hopefully one day habituate to it.
Member
