I'm a 57 year old guy, and I've dealt with mild tinnitus since I could remember. I probably developed it from going to loud concerts back in my college days. My tinnitus (until recently) was only noticeable in a quiet room, kind of a low leaves rustling sound, with some high pitched overtones. It bothered me enough that I once saw a doctor about it years ago, who told me that nothing could be done. But it was mild and I didn't think about it much. Not at all noticeable when there were other sounds in my environment. To me, it just became the ever present music of the spheres of the world I live in.
Then, about two weeks ago, I woke in the morning and it was 1000 times worse. Only in my left ear, I heard a high pitched tone. Very loud, much louder than anything else - I could overhear it over anything. And just in the left ear. I went to see a prominent ear doctor at Mass Eye and Ear in Boston, who my wife knows. She had a hearing test done on me, and it showed that I had significant loss at the 4000 Hz range, and then it went back up. I vaguely recall that that was what my hearing test showed when I last had it done, maybe 10 years ago. And both my ears were the same, which wouldn't explain why I suddenly have such loud tinnitus in my left ear.
So after about a week of the severe tinnitus, it fairly suddenly dropped in volume, to maybe half of what it was. It's been like that ever since (maybe two weeks). I've found that I can get temporary relief by listening to the "tittinus therapy" videos on youtube...
So does anyone have any idea what might be going on with me, what a possible treatment could be, and/or if it will go away on its own?
My wife (who likes to do internet medical research), is telling me about a subcutaneous vagus nerve stimulator that shows promise. Others talk about audio therapy...
I do have an appointment in a couple weeks with a tinnitus therapist. I would prefer someone who is in touch with the cutting edge stuff though, and I'm not sure if this person only does the same old therapies with little result.
Then, about two weeks ago, I woke in the morning and it was 1000 times worse. Only in my left ear, I heard a high pitched tone. Very loud, much louder than anything else - I could overhear it over anything. And just in the left ear. I went to see a prominent ear doctor at Mass Eye and Ear in Boston, who my wife knows. She had a hearing test done on me, and it showed that I had significant loss at the 4000 Hz range, and then it went back up. I vaguely recall that that was what my hearing test showed when I last had it done, maybe 10 years ago. And both my ears were the same, which wouldn't explain why I suddenly have such loud tinnitus in my left ear.
So after about a week of the severe tinnitus, it fairly suddenly dropped in volume, to maybe half of what it was. It's been like that ever since (maybe two weeks). I've found that I can get temporary relief by listening to the "tittinus therapy" videos on youtube...
So does anyone have any idea what might be going on with me, what a possible treatment could be, and/or if it will go away on its own?
My wife (who likes to do internet medical research), is telling me about a subcutaneous vagus nerve stimulator that shows promise. Others talk about audio therapy...
I do have an appointment in a couple weeks with a tinnitus therapist. I would prefer someone who is in touch with the cutting edge stuff though, and I'm not sure if this person only does the same old therapies with little result.
Member
