Noise Induced Tinnitus: Anyone See Improvement After the 6 Month Mark?

[Poseidon65]

Hi folks,

I have noise-induced tinnitus after attending a concert nearly 6 months ago. Initially the tinnitus was bilateral, and it has gone away in the right ear, but not in the left.

I'm curious: have others here seen any tinnitus improvement after the 6-month mark of their acoustic trauma? I'd be curious to hear any and all anecdotes, whether positive or negative.

Interestingly in my case, the tinnitus started in both ears, and at one point, I thought it had completely faded in the left ear. As of today, it's actually the right ear that's completely faded. This means that at some point it actually returned to the left ear (perhaps when I had a spike) and never went away. I don't actually know when or why it came back though. FWIW, my ENT has said he'll want to do a scan of the left ear if the tinnitus remains, in order to rule out other causes.

 

[CAgirl]

@Poseidon65 I am only 3 weeks in after an acoustic trauma, so unfortunately don't have any feedback, but how long was it before you noticed some fading of your tinnitus? Hopefully someone gets back to you soon. However, keep in mind that if it did fade for them, they are most likely no longer on this site.

 

[Poseidon65]

@Poseidon65 I am only 3 weeks in after an acoustic trauma, so unfortunately don't have any feedback, but how long was it before you noticed some fading of your tinnitus?

The strange thing is that I thought my tinnitus had faded completely after 4 weeks. However, I then noticed it again while on vacation. Following that, I can definitely say that the T in my right ear faded substantially (almost to zero) between 2 months and 5 months after the trauma.

@Poseidon65 keep in mind that if it did fade for them, they are most likely no longer on this site.

That's a very good point; I'll definitely keep this in mind.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I have noise-induced tinnitus after attending a concert nearly 6 months ago. Initially the tinnitus was bilateral, and it has gone away in the right ear, but not in the left.

@Poseidon65 I am only 3 weeks in after an acoustic trauma, so unfortunately don't have any feedback, but how long was it before you noticed some fading of your tinnitus? Hopefully someone gets back to you soon. However, keep in mind that if it did fade for them, they are most likely no longer on this site.

HI @Poseidon65 @CAgirl

Noise induced tinnitus often improves with time and full habituation can take 12 to 24 months. Please click in the links below and read my articles that are meant for people with Noise induced tinnitus. Try not to skim through them. I advise you not to use any form of headphones including headset and earbuds even at low volume. Use low level sound enrichment during the day and particularly at night. More about this is explained in my posts.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-is-trt-and-when-should-it-be-started.19024/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-happens-in-trt-sessions.18195/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

 

[CAgirl]

@Poseidon65 ok some fading between 2 and 5 months is good news. That means I can still have some hope. I'm 3 weeks out. Keep thinking that if it hasn't faded by now, this is it.

 

[CAgirl]

Thank you @Michael Leigh. I will be sure to read all of those.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thank you @Michael Leigh. I will be sure to read all of those.

You'll be okay @CAgirl try not to use headphones and give yourself time to recover...

Michael

 

[Steph1710]

If it helps, mine faded to the point of nothing after two months. However, and ear infection set me back to the original sound.

But - good news is my T has substantially faded again. Even as I type this, I'm sitting in my car, ears plugged and windows up and my T is about a 2 out of 10.

Steph

<3

 

[lightning]

8 months in now. I'm not sure if the sound has faded a bit or if I've just gotten more used to it. Either way, it's an improvement.

 

[Poseidon65]

Any other thoughts from folks? I think only one person so far has said whether their T personally improved (or not) following 6-months of acoustic-trauma-induced T.

 

[Digital Doc]

My T was improved by 6 months, but still damn loud. It really took about 18 months for things to seriously calm down. Most important thing is to avoid further hearing damage which is a challenge.

 

[CAgirl]

@Poseidon65
Did you take prednisone right after?

 

[CAgirl]

@Steph1710 That's great! Did you take prednisone either time?

 

[Poseidon65]

@Poseidon65
Did you take prednisone right after?

No I did not.

 

[Digital Doc]

I did not take prednisone either.

 

[Vassili]

I'm curious: have others here seen any tinnitus improvement after the 6-month mark of their acoustic trauma?

Yes, I had major improvement at that time. I am 9 months in at the moment.

 

[CAgirl]

I did not take prednisone either.

That is so good to know. I'm so worried that I will never heal because I missed the boat with Prednisone.

 

[CAgirl]

Yes, I had major improvement at that time. I am 9 months in at the moment.

Really good to know. I have read your story and it gives me hope. Did you take Prednisone?

 

[CAgirl]

8 months in now. I'm not sure if the sound has faded a bit or if I've just gotten more used to it. Either way, it's an improvement.

That's so good. I have to ask you too if you did the course of Prednisone right after?

 

[Digital Doc]

That is so good to know. I'm so worried that I will never heal because I missed the boat with Prednisone.

No worries. Prednisone can be helpful, but healing can still occur. I did take daily omega3 supplements for a year that helped so you can try that.

 

[lightning]

That's so good. I have to ask you too if you did the course of Prednisone right after?

I did not

 

[LongWait]

The answer is no, but I'm praying to God.

 

[Vassili]

Did you take Prednisone?

No, I didn't. I had my first appointment with ENT three weeks after my acoustic incident and my doctor told me that hormones are effective only within first 72 hours after the acoustic trauma. After that she sent me to check my hearing and after analyzing the results she told me that I didn't needed hormones anyway because it turned out that I did not had any "full blown" hearing loss. When I told her that I already had some positive changes in tinnitus reduction within first three weeks she concluded that my tinnitus will go away with time but no one knows how long it will take because every case is special.

 

[CAgirl]

Ok interesting. I am worried since I didn't have any positive changes in the first month. In fact, I had a spike at the 4 week mark where it got louder and it hasn't decreased since. I hope that doesn't mean there is no chance for my recovery. I'm so glad you're improving.

 

[Vassili]

I hope that doesn't mean there is no chance for my recovery.

There are people here who had their first small steps towards recovery only after a year and then they recovered after couple of years. Do not lose hope for the best.

I'm so glad you're improving.

Thank you. Slowly but I do. I notice good progress every 3 months.

 

[Tara Lyons]

There are people here who had their first small steps towards recovery only after a year and then they recovered after couple of years. Do not lose hope for the best.

Thank you. Slowly but I do. I notice good progress every 3 months.

@Vassili I think it's great you're always so positive! I refer to your posts when I am feeling a little down... which is unfortunately often.

 

[bobvann]

No.

 

[Tara Lyons]

No.

@bobvann?

 

[bobvann]

@bobvann?

I was answering the OP's question. 3 plus years and yet figuring it out. Having said that it does feel like the bad days can be managed better at times but it is still quite bothersome.

 

[Tara Lyons]

Yes, I had major improvement at that time. I am 9 months in at the moment.

@Vassili have you noticed a lot of changes at 9 months in?