On Behalf of Neighbour Mary

[Ralph for Mary]

Hi,

I'm trying to help elderly neighbour Mary who, I understand, is profoundly deaf. Her dog barks very loudly but she doesn't hear it until I protect my ears and she sees the dog bark.

Mary's life is made miserable by loud music from next door, even at 3 in the morning. She phoned to council to complain but later said it was worse (in retribution?). She called me to come and listen but I couldn't hear anything. "The neighbour saw you coming and turned it down".

I gave her a cassette recorder to collect 'evidence' - but I wonder, could it be tinnitus? I understand she's referring to low frequency sounds, like music bass and says she can feel it, even when in bed.

Can you 'feel' low frequency noise caused by tinnitus?

Other carers say there is no noise, it must be tinnitus but could it be?

I'd love to help her more.

Background - my wife met her at a lip reading class and she's come to tea so she knows us both.

So thats my introduction - on behalf of Mary!

Ralph

 

[Rubenslash]

I've read that some people with low frequency T can indeed somehow feel it vibrating in their head, so I think this is a clear tinnitus case.

 

[Lorac]

Hello Ralph,
What a wonderful neighbor you are! I lost all of the hearing in my left ear a few years ago and I hear and feel tinnitus in my deaf ear all day, every day. How my tinnitus feels is the worst part of my dilemma. Does Mary wear hearing aids at all?

 

[Ralph for Mary]

No hearing aids as far as I can tell.

I know Evelyn Glennie, the famous percussionist can feel the sound of drumming but I didn't know one could feel the bass coming through the wall from a small apartment. But then what do I know?

Most reports of tinnitus I've read speak of noise or continuous sound. Could it be rhythmic, like music?

Thanks all,

Ralph - for Mary!

 

[Lorac]

@Ralph for Mary,
Tinnitus can sometimes be rhythmic. It's called pulsatile tinnitus and there is a separate section on this forum devoted to that condition. (I don't have that kind.) I hear and feel tinnitus every waking second in my deaf ear and it increases when I am around sound. Some other people on this forum hear less tinnitus when they are exposed to sound. I wonder if Mary should be seen by an audiologist. Is this an option?

 

[twa]

No hearing aids as far as I can tell.

I know Evelyn Glennie, the famous percussionist can feel the sound of drumming but I didn't know one could feel the bass coming through the wall from a small apartment. But then what do I know?

Most reports of tinnitus I've read speak of noise or continuous sound. Could it be rhythmic, like music?

Thanks all,

Ralph - for Mary!

You are so kind to help your elderly neighbor. I hope you can find some help for her. I cannot imagine having this condition and being older and not knowing what is happening. May you be blessed immeasurably!

twa