My ENT Suggested to Always Have Background Noise Around Me

[Mark Foster]

I had noise induced tinnitus for a few months.
I went to a very good ENT who has done a lot of research on tinnitus and ear stuff.

He said that the only "working" solution is to always have noise/music around you so that the brain never gets the chance to hear (or possibly, generate) the tinnitus, and so is much more likely to "forget" about it.
At that point I told him: "I know I will get used to it, but I actually wanted to do something to lower it", and he said: "No, with this method, with time, you will likely stop hearing it, it won't be about tolerance".

I've been reading a huge amount of information on tinnitus and I've never read anything like this, especially because he wasn't talking about white noise therapy or TRT, he was just talking about having a background volume level always loud enough to distract you from it.

What do you think of this? Ever heard of anything like this?

 

[GSC]

I had noise induced tinnitus for a few months.
I went to a very good ENT, that has done a lot of research on tinnitus and ear stuff.

He said that the only "working" solution is to always noise/music around you so that the brain never gets the chance to hear (or possibly, generate) the tinnitus, and so is much more likely to "forget" about it.
At that point I told him: "I know I will get used to it, but I actually wanted to do something to lower it", and he said: "No, with this method, with time, you will likely stop hearing it, it won't be about tolerance".

I've been reading a huge amount of information on tinnitus and I've never read anything like this, especially because he wasn't talking about white noise therapy or TRT, he was just talking about having a background volume level always loud enough to distract you from it.

What do you think of this? Ever heard of anything like this?

My ENT told me the same thing. It's habituating.

 

[Mark Foster]

And does always having noise around actually help?

 

[GSC]

And does always having noise around actually help?

No idea. I'm not even three months in yet.....

 

[JohnAdams]

I went to a very good ENT

he said: "No, with this method, with time, you will likely stop hearing it,

And does always having noise around actually help?

with being distracted from it, yes.
with making it go away, no.

 

[JohnAdams]

No idea. I'm not even three months in yet.....

o rly?

 

[GSC]

o rly?

Wow. You're supposed to be MY bud and you don't even know how long I have had tinnitus for.

 

[JohnAdams]

Wow. You're supposed to be MY bud and you don't even know how long I have had tinnitus for.

I forgot it was so shortly ago. I'm sorry.

 

[Mark Foster]

with being distracted from it, yes.
with making it go away, no.

Ok maybe then you get distracted from it as the brain silently gets used to it on its own? Sounds optimistic but I hope so.

 

[GSC]

I forgot it was so shortly ago. I'm sorry.

Buy me prp and you're forgiven.

 

[JohnAdams]

Buy me prp and you're forgiven.

It's already in you.

 

[GSC]

It's already in you.

You smart ass.

 

[PureNoise]

My ENT told me the same thing. It's habituating.

I was told the same thing by an ENT. He didn't explain why.

 

[JohnFox]

What do you think of this? Ever heard of anything like this?

Everyone's tinnitus has it's own unique fingerprint. With some kinds of T, background noise works great for coping, and some noise works better than others. Your best bet is to experiment with different things and see what works best for you. With my type of T, just about any kind of background noise aggravates my T causing it to ramp up. Thats why I never go anywhere without earplugs. Absolute quiet, is my best friend, whereas with others T, they cannot tolerate quiet. Go figure... So, experiment with different techniques and find your happy place.

 

[JohnAdams]

ass.

That's were the bone marrow is.

 

[just1morething]

No idea. I'm not even three months in yet.....

I hope your noise lessens in time. From what I recall your noise was caused by a fire alarm.

 

[Lilah]

Absolute quiet, is my best friend, whereas with others' tinnitus, they cannot tolerate quiet.

My tinnitus can be reactive but it ramps up quickly when it's silent. I can hear the momentum building. Basically a lose lose situation I guess.

 

[PeteJ]

And does always having noise around actually help?

All the drs and ENTs preach that. It's what GSC said: 'habituating'

It's what TRT is supposedly doing: using hearing aids to 'correct your hearing loss' and provide sound in the hope that you focus on that instead of the tinnitus. The hope is, in time your brain won't concentrate on the t unless you 'listen for it.' They program music or whatever sounds you want or something.

These are bandaid 'treatments' that don't work for everyone and most, like this one, is expensive. So, if you don't/can't get TRT, they tell you to always have some sound around you.

Everyone is different. Some people supposedly habituate to severe t but I suspect many struggle to. I will guess that people who perceive their t as moderate or mild are more likely to habituate at some point in time and even then it's not everyone.