My Tinnitus Gets Louder When Around Sound, Is This a Type of Hyperacusis?

[sanj100]

Hi guys.

I'm really really hoping someone could provided some clarity on this.

I've had tinnitus in my right ear for about two months following a middle ear operation where two middle ear bones were removed.

When I am in a quiet room my tinnitus is really low however if I go for a walk or watch TV then my tinnitus gets markedly louder as a result of the exposure to the noise. When I go back to a quiet room then it stays loud for a while before settling back down.

I don't have sensitivity or pain around loud noises but my tinnitus definitely gets louder when I'm exposed to noise.

What could be an important point is that I've always have an emotional reaction to certain sounds. For example, I live near a road and my brother and sister sleep fine through the traffic noise at night but I have never been able to tune out the noise and have worn earplugs for 5 years as a result. Further, when I'm trying to study even small noises bug me.

What I really want to know is that if my tinnitus getting louder around sound is a type of hyperacusis or not?

 

[Michael Leigh]

What I really want to know is that if my tinnitus getting louder around sound is a type of hyperacusis or not?

Hi @sanj100

It all depends what caused your tinnitus? Tinnitus can spike and get louder around sound and this could indicate tinnitus but more information would help. Please click on the links below and read my articles that you might find helpful.

Michael

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

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

 

[sanj100]

Hi @sanj100

It all depends what caused your tinnitus? Tinnitus can spike and get louder around sound and this could indicate tinnitus but more information would help. Please click on the links below and read my articles that you might find helpful.

Michael

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

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

Hi, Micheal.

I've actually read both of those posts and they were incredibly helpful and useful. Truth be told, your content has been the most useful of all in me coming to terms with this so I'm incredibly grateful to you for putting all this out there.

However, then I read conflicting things from other forum members which slightly confused me.

Basically.

My issue is that my tinnitus is usually low when not exposed to noise but as soon as I am exposed to an even moderately noisy environment (going for a walk with traffic noise around me, or watching the TV, having dinner with my family), then my tinnitus will get louder on exposure to this noise (so it goes from a light hiss in a quiet room to a louder hissing when around a noisy environment), so loud that I'd be able to hear it on top of the loud TV or traffic, even though just half an hour prior that I could barely hear it in a quiet/silent room.

I wanted to know if this is a form of hyperacusis or if it is something else, as knowing what it is will allow me to know which treatment protocol to follow to get rid of or at the very least markedly reduce this reactivity to sound that my tinnitus has.

Look forward to your reply...

 

[Michael Leigh]

I wanted to know if this is a form of hyperacusis or if it is something else, as knowing what it is will allow me to know which treatment protocol to follow to get rid of or at the very least markedly reduce this reactivity to sound that my tinnitus has.

Thank you for your kind words @sanj100 and I'm pleased that you found my articles helpful. I would like you to read a few more which I believe is important and will help you because you are new to tinnitus.

It is always best to have tests at ENT to find out what might have caused your tinnitus. Since you are new to tinnitus I don't recommend that you start any treatment at this time other than self help which will be included in the links below. Since you are sensitive to sound leads me to believe your tinnitus was caused by "exposure to loud noise". This could have been the result of listening to music through headphones at high volume levels over a period of time or attending venues where loud music is played.

I suggest that you use "sound enrichment" at night and whenever you can during the day. Since you have read my two articles then you already know what this entails. Tinnitus can fluctuate a lot in the early stages and this will take time to settle. Acquiring a positive outlook on life is one of the most important things to get you started on the habitation process. Therefore, please click on the links below and read my articles. Take your time and print them if possible and refer to them often. This helps to reinforce positive thinking and I can't impress this upon you enough. Also read the success stories from other members on the "positivity" thread.

All the best
Michael

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

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-habituation-possible.12758/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-is-reactive-tinnitus.17731/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/are-spikes-from-loud-noise-permanent.18156/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-questions-answers.22937/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/

 

[sanj100]

Thank you for your kind words @sanj100 and I'm pleased that you found my articles helpful. I would like you to read a few more which I believe is important and will help you because you are new to tinnitus.

It is always best to have tests at ENT to find out what might have caused your tinnitus. Since you are new to tinnitus I don't recommend that you start any treatment at this time other than self help which will be included in the links below. Since you are sensitive to sound leads me to believe your tinnitus was caused by "exposure to loud noise". This could have been the result of listening to music through headphones at high volume levels over a period of time or attending venues where loud music is played.

I suggest that you use "sound enrichment" at night and whenever you can during the day. Since you have read my two articles then you already know what this entails. Tinnitus can fluctuate a lot in the early stages and this will take time to settle. Acquiring a positive outlook on life is one of the most important things to get you started on the habitation process. Therefore, please click on the links below and read my articles. Take your time and print them if possible and refer to them often. This helps to reinforce positive thinking and I can't impress this upon you enough. Also read the success stories from other members on the "positivity" thread.

All the best
Michael

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

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-habituation-possible.12758/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-is-reactive-tinnitus.17731/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/are-spikes-from-loud-noise-permanent.18156/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-questions-answers.22937/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/

You're most welcome.

My tinnitus was actually caused my middle ear surgery (I had a cholesteatoma which had eroded two of my three middle ear bones in my right ear, I've also got a history of ear infections in this ear).

Thank you for providing all those links, I will surely make my way through all of them eventually.

I guess what I'm trying to find out is if I've got a form of hyperacusis along with my tinnitus, as the tinnitus is quiet in quiet surroundings but gets a lot louder when exposed to moderate noise.

Thanks again for all the help, it really really means a lot.

 

[GregCA]

What I really want to know is that if my tinnitus getting louder around sound is a type of hyperacusis or not?

Some people refer to this as "reactive tinnitus". This webpage has a paragraph describing it.

 

[Michael Leigh]

My tinnitus was actually caused my middle ear surgery (I had a cholesteatoma which had eroded two of my three middle ear bones in my right ear, I've also got a history of ear infections in this ear).

Thanks for mentioning the cholesteatoma as it helps a lot. Sensitivity to sound can be caused by many things and may not be hyperacusis. Hyperacusis is usually brought on by exposure to loud noise, due to noise trauma to the auditory system.

Since you have or had cholesteatoma which is an inner ear condition. I don't think the sensitivity to sound that you are experiencing is the result of noise trauma. In this instance, I believe it's best that you see your ENT doctor and possibly, he or she can also work with a Hearing Therapist to find out the best treatment for you. This really needs professional help and is beyond the advice of this forum although I may be wrong.

I wish you well.
Michael

 

[sanj100]

Thanks for mentioning the cholesteatoma as it helps a lot. Sensitivity to sound can be caused by many things and may not be hyperacusis. Hyperacusis is usually brought on by exposure to loud noise, due to noise trauma to the auditory system.

Since you have or had cholesteatoma which is an inner ear condition. I don't think the sensitivity to sound that you are experiencing is the result of noise trauma. In this instance, I believe it's best that you see your ENT doctor and possibly, he or she can also work with a Hearing Therapist to find out the best treatment for you. This really needs professional help and is beyond the advice of this forum although I may be wrong.

I wish you well.
Michael

Hi, Micheal.

Just one correction, a cholesteatoma is a middle ear condition, not inner ear.

I have conductive hearing loss not sensorineural hearing loss.

Also, I am not experiencing any sensativity to sound that I can detect, its my tinnitus that is rising a lot when exposed to sound, if that makes sense...

 

[Michael Leigh]

Just one correction, a cholesteatoma is a middle ear condition, not inner ear.

Indeed it is @sanj100 and thanks for correcting me. In any event, as you know your condition is uncommon and therefore in this instance, I believe requires the help of the professionals to help workout a treatment plan for your sensitivity to sound.

All the best
Michael

 

[sanj100]

Indeed it is @sanj100 and thanks for correcting me. In any event, as you know your condition is uncommon and therefore in this instance, I believe requires the help of the professionals to help workout a treatment plan for your sensitivity to sound.

All the best
Michael

No worries. You mentioned the phrase "sensitivity to sound" a few times. I am assuming you think my tinnitus getting louder when around sound is a sensitivity issue.

 

[Michael Leigh]

No worries. You mentioned the phrase "sensitivity to sound" a few times. I am assuming you think my tinnitus getting louder when around sound is a sensitivity issue.

Yes I believe you do have a "sensitivity to sound" issue. Your ENT Dr and Hearing Therapist should be able to help you with this. White noise generators maybe suggested I'm just speaking off the cuff. This really needs professional advice.

Best of luck
Michael

 

[sanj100]

Some people refer to this as "reactive tinnitus". This webpage has a paragraph describing it.

Hi, Greg.

Thanks for this.

I remember reading one of your posts where you said that getting the middle ear surgery for your stapes didn't do much for your T but fixed your Hyperacusis. Did your hyperacusis cause your T to react to sounds by any chance? (pre surgery of course)?

Look forward to your reply,

Thanks.

 

[GregCA]

I remember reading one of your posts where you said that getting the middle ear surgery for your stapes didn't do much for your T but fixed your Hyperacusis. Did your hyperacusis cause your T to react to sounds by any chance? (pre surgery of course)?

No it didn't.

 

[Trax]

My tinnitus also gets a lot worse when exposed to noise. And I get confused because I've read advice online that says you shouldn't shut yourself away from noise, but I'm a lot better off if I can do that.... which is rare, because you have to interact with the world.

 

[manny222]

To Sanj100: I would like to relate my experience with hyperacusis and tinnitus that occurred on two separate occasions. The first time I was exposed to gun fire which gave me all the indications of Meniere's disease except I never had vertigo but experienced hearing loss, fullness of the ear and a slight amount of tinnitus. After several months passed, I seemed to enter a new phase in which I couldn't stand any sort of loud noise and couldn't even stand to go into a restaurant because it seemed that people were yelling. Ordinary conversation, road noise and running car engines were unbearable. A friend of mine who had an ear operation experienced the same hyperacusis but told me not to give up hope because sooner or later it would disappear. I was glad to hear that he overcame that and a few months later, my hyperacusis began to disappear and suddenly I was normal again although at the time I wasn't experiencing any strong tinnitus. Fast forward a year later in 2017 after joining a health club the music they played day in and day caused my tinnitus to return with a vengeance and about 4 months later my hyperacusis returned and now it causes my tinnitus to get even louder when I am exposed to noise until the noise subsides. In fact and please excuse the following statement but even when I tinkle in the bathroom, the tinnitus sound increases. Lol. I know from past experience that eventually the hyperacusis will subside and it gets better it seems over a long period of time so don't look for it to be reduced immediately in a few weeks but rather over months. It will get better with time and return to normal; it happened to me and it will happen again. Someone also told me not to completely shield my ears from noise and to wear ear plugs when the noise is loud. Your ears need to get accustomed to hearing normal sounds again but at a slower pace.