Poll: Noise-Induced Tinnitus: What Is the Sound of Your Tinnitus?

[Tinker Bell]

Noise-induced tinnitus is always high frequency hair cell damage. Low frequency tinnitus is typical at M. Meniere...

Right, because high frequency hair cells are usually the first to be damaged. Ototoxic damage also occurs first to high frequency hair cells. But if the damage is across multiple frequencies from high to low, is the noise predominantly high? I know someone with acoustic trauma and their tinnitus is a lower pitch, but they have significant hearing loss through multiple frequencies.

Low frequency damage typically implies a more physical cause, like menieres or otoscelerosis. I think, but someone with these conditions could probably speak to it better.

 

[anusha]

It is my understanding that as the body heals, it is often able to change tonal sound to hissing. My T began as a tonal sound, then changed to hissing, and then was back to a high pitched tone after a second acoustic trauma.

Mine was like a tone in the first then when it was changing to soft hissing thats when I posted I think I heard silence. But since 40days I got cold/flu twice and the soft hiss turned back to teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee constant. Then last week I felt better after tried ACV and breathing exercies. Thursday again got cold and cough after december again soft hiss has become to teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee so loud so loud that all my habituation I though I was going through is waste. Yesterday has to sleep with white noise + fan + youtube videos of prayers because it makes me panic that loud T. Soft hiss is probably bearable. I totally relate to your statement above.

 

[Bill Bauer]

@anusha at least your T is not relentlessly at the same level. It is good that you are experiencing improvement. There is no reason for it to not improve again.

These backslides are certainly heartbreaking...

 

[Landand]

I'm not sure how much of my T can be blamed on noise exposure, but it's high pitched and tonal. What's strange is that in complete silence it mostly fades away but another sound appears in it's place. I can only describe that sound as a futuristic-sounding static that isn't centered around any specific frequency.... if that makes any sense.

 

[Lulu99]

my tinnitus is like a machine inside my ear high pitch sometimes i hear hissing or wooshing sound or like something buzzing multiple sounds in my left ear always changing

 

[Lulu99]

It is my understanding that as the body heals, it is often able to change tonal sound to hissing. My T began as a tonal sound, then changed to hissing, and then was back to a high pitched tone after a second acoustic trauma.

HI bill
i have a question did you do MRI scan؟
i see you got T from Acoustic Trauma
i went to the dr i did a hearing test shows that i have a littel like simple nerve damage in my left ear he request MRI for the brain i was surprise to know that because i never listen to loud music strange
the other doctor told me i have nose allergy cause my Eustachian tube blocked give me a nasel spray and allergy pills but didn`t work, I do not know who to believe

 

[anusha]

There is no reason for it to not improve again.

I hope so. I am waiting for that atleast 30mins of silence or a day of silence which I experienced only few hours back in december. It is a strong tone with this cough and cold now.

Visited my physician today in complain to recurring cough which I never had in past. She mentions michigan has a lot of flu and asked me to take vaccination for T-Dap.

T gets really really loud the moment i lay on my bed. None of the masking can mask T during bedtime. I literally have to count numbers or spell word repeatedly to fall asleep. diversion is my key to sleeping with T. That was my childhood tactic to go to sleep lol. If I just close my eyes my mind goes crazy at the moment with that loud tone I do not want to get back to crying and panic mode. Trying my best to bear with T. I am not sure if masking all the time is good but that is what I am doing with T this loud. I can hear it on top on fan sound / tv show with just dialogs.

I can't wait for it to become a soft hiss. fingers crossed.

 

[Bill Bauer]

None of the masking can mask T during bedtime.

Sound enrichment is not supposed to completely mask the sound. It is just supposed to give you something else to listen to besides your T. I know that for the first 5-15 minutes you will still be focusing on T, and pretty much ignoring the sound enrichment. However, after that the masking will make it easier to reduce your focus on T.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I am not sure if masking all the time is good

@Michael Leigh says that it is preferable to complete silence.

 

[Michael Leigh]

says that it is preferable to complete silence.

@anusha

Tinnitus shouldn't be masked. By this I mean it shouldn't be covered up so that it can't be heard. Please read the post below.

Should I mask my tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a complex condition and if hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound) is present it is even more. Many newbies have difficulty coping with tinnitus and understandably, getting rid of this constant intruder, that has suddenly invaded their life becomes paramount on their mind. In an attempt to do this, they will usually try every means possible to distract themselves from the tinnitus which will include masking it completely with another sound so that it can't be heard.

However, tinnitus is quite resilient, any attempts to mask it completely are usually unsuccessful. As soon as the masking sound is removed or stopped temporarily, the brain will immediately focus back on it and often, it appears to be louder and more intrusive. This causes stress especially for someone new to tinnitus. For anyone that doesn't know, the more stressed we are the tinnitus becomes more intrusive, and the louder the tinnitus is the more stressed we are. It can become a vicious circle.

Anyone that is seasoned to tinnitus and has habituated, knows that trying to mask it completely so that it can't be heard is not achievable. A much better way and preferred method that Hearing Therapists advise tinnitus patients, is to use sound enrichment. One can use music or nature sounds from a sound machine and set the volume slightly below the tinnitus. By doing this, the brain over time will learn to no longer see the tinnitus as a threat and gradually push the noise further into the background giving it less importance, which is called habituation.

Michael

 

[anusha]

@anusha

Tinnitus shouldn't be masked. By this I mean it shouldn't be covered up so that it can't be heard. Please read the post below.

Should I mask my tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a complex condition and if hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound) is present it is even more. Many newbies have difficulty coping with tinnitus and understandably, getting rid of this constant intruder, that has suddenly invaded their life becomes paramount on their mind. In an attempt to do this, they will usually try every means possible to distract themselves from the tinnitus which will include masking it completely with another sound so that it can't be heard.

However, tinnitus is quite resilient, any attempts to mask it completely are usually unsuccessful. As soon as the masking sound is removed or stopped temporarily, the brain will immediately focus back on it and often, it appears to be louder and more intrusive. This causes stress especially for someone new to tinnitus. For anyone that doesn't know, the more stressed we are the tinnitus becomes more intrusive, and the louder the tinnitus is the more stressed we are. It can become a vicious circle.

Anyone that is seasoned to tinnitus and has habituated, knows that trying to mask it completely so that it can't be heard is not achievable. A much better way and preferred method that Hearing Therapists advise tinnitus patients, is to use sound enrichment. One can use music or nature sounds from a sound machine and set the volume slightly below the tinnitus. By doing this, the brain over time will learn to no longer see the tinnitus as a threat and gradually push the noise further into the background giving it less importance, which is called habituation.

Michael

Wow!! It's been 2 months with T and I think I am totally doing it wrong. Thank you for this great info.

I will try to realign.

Is sound of a fan / white noise equivalent to sound enrichment? Somehow nature sounds did not work for me initially.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thanks for the PM @Bill Bauer

HI @anusha

Please click on the links below and read my posts and articles on tinnitus that you might find helpful.
All the best
Michael

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

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

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

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/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-ent-doctor-and-hearing-therapist.24047/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/inspiration.22894/

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

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/a-change-of-lifestyle.20643/

 

[Raphael7713]

If I only knew the cause of mine. Because for me I've suffered from a couple of things that can result in tinnitus, I don't know the exact cause of it. I've been having anxiety and stress for years, grinding my teeth and jaw, listening to music from earphones, sinus problem since 2014. Lol

 

[Michael Leigh]

Is sound of a fan / white noise equivalent to sound enrichment? Somehow nature sounds did not work for me initially.

Some people do use a fan for sound enrichment. The only problem is that the volume of the fan cannot be adjusted to below the level of the tinnitus like a dedicated sound machine can. Some people use nature sound Apps downloaded from the Internet on their mobile phone. This is fine but the volume from a mobile phone isn't adequate on its own to supply good sound enrichment. It can be plugged into a docking station with speakers and this will be good. Or connect a Blue Tooth speaker to the phone. However, although this method is doable I believe it's rather untidy.

Oasis sound machines are made for people with tinnitus although anyone will benefit using one. Model S-650 is popular.

Michael

 

[anusha]

The only problem is that the volume of the fan cannot be adjusted to below the level of the tinnitus like a dedicated sound machine can

I purchased a white noise machine and it has volume button and it was 12diff sounds. white noise, rain, waves, chimes etc... Probably will try using that in a volume a bit less than my Tinnitus.

Thanks again

https://www.hearingaidknow.com/assets/downloads/sound-enrichment-therapy.pdf

Found this article will be reading that alone with your other posts above. Thank you for helping others with your knowledge.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@anusha

When using sound enrichment at night, it is advisable to have it playing continuously through the night until morning and not to set it to turn off with a timer. More about this is explained in my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View, in the Link above under sound machines.

 

[Dmitriy]

What's worse is that you can damage your hearing inside your own home.

Ha, I was pulling out a pot from a kitchen cabinet full of pots. To see what I was pulling I stuck my head in there, and next second a bunch of pots tumble and fall. Insanely loud sound in a small cabinet. I fell back and broke out in cold sweat, thinking that my T would go into overdrive. Thank God nothing changed. But speaking of silly home situations..

 

[Sonic17]

My T is hard to describe; like someone else mentioned it sounds different if I pay more attention to it or just let it fall into the background. I wake up with a steady drone...sort of hollow sounding like I am flying in an airplane, as if it is not even coming from my head. As the day progresses depending on what I do (swimming, walking outdoors, etc,) the drone is still there but becomes less audible as my ears both now hiss.
I consider myself lucky as my T fades easily to the background when people are talking, water is running, wind is blowing, etc.
However, not so lucky that I get to hear silence. (Sigh), maybe some day.

PS I also get to listen to my crackling neck when I move my head, yuck!

 

[Tinniger]

About 4:1 for hissing ...., very interesting.....

 

[Tinniger]

45:15 for hissing!! Still surprising. Maybe it is not true, that noise-induced tinnitus makes a tonal sound of xxxx kHz ??

 

[Julien87]

Hissing in my case

 

[SugarMagnolia]

I have been struggling to describe the sound. I've always called it a high-pitched tone, but I'm not sure tone is the right word. Hiss doesn't quite describe it either.

My tinnitus is a high pitched hissing sound which is quite common amongst people with tinnitus. It is bilateral and in the centre of my head. It is also variable in intensity. Complete silence, mild, moderate or severe.

I think "high pitched hiss" comes closer than either word alone.

It's only in my left ear (the one that got blasted with feedback) and it generally stays the same volume.

Maybe the "sound" of tinnitus is so unspecific that a differentiation between beeps and hissing makes no sense...??...

That's how I feel. Once a doctor asked me to describe it and I was at a loss for words. I wish I could match it to some external sound and be able to say to another person, "that's it!"

 

[Tinniger]

48:15 for hissing.
From this point of view it is in most cases complete nonsense to determine a tinnitus frequency. Because in most cases tinnitus has no frequency at all, just as white noise has no frequency.

 

[Bill Bauer]

"high pitched hiss"

I think I know what you are talking about.....

 

[Bill Bauer]

I wish I could match it to some external sound and be able to say to another person, "that's it!"

A sound made by the air escaping from a punctured tire (or the sound you ear when you pump too much air into a tire, and have to let some of it out of the tire)?

 

[SugarMagnolia]

A sound made by the air escaping from a punctured tire (or the sound you ear when you pump too much air into a tire, and have to let some of it out of the tire)?

If you could take that Ssss sound, but make it high-pitched, a bit tinny or artifical. A cross between the Ssss and an artificial tone. I don't know if that makes sense.

Was your acoustic trauma also a brief one-time noise exposure?

 

[Rajin]

This I am having a hard time figuring out , I don't know what my sound is , could be because of the hearing loss . I am hearing sound I can't hear. Make sense.

 

[Bill Bauer]

A cross between the Ssss and an artificial tone. I don't know if that makes sense.

It does, to me.

Was your acoustic trauma also a brief one-time noise exposure?

Yes, it took a fraction of a second...

 

[jay777]

dentist drill cutting glass with screeching brakes and a whistel a real grit your teeth sound

 

[SugarMagnolia]

Yes, it took a fraction of a second...

A fraction of a second and poof ~ life is instantly changed.

It does, to me.

It's good to be understood (but not good that you have to hear this too).