Poll: Would You Choose Complete Deafness Over Tinnitus If It Meant No Tinnitus At All?

[redleg103]

Please answer my poll.

Bad poll. You don't want to give people who lack knowledge about tinnitus the impression that if they make themselves deaf that will "cure" the T. I think most of us here know that if they lost their hearing the T would remain.

 

[rightleft22]

I believe deaf people can have tinnitus and I imagine such a case would be worse
I couldn't sleep last night and one of the thoughts going threw my head was worrying about becoming deaf and still hearing this fracking buzzing.

 

[Jett]

I Believe I read a story recently of just such a thing actually happening in a third world country ...a longtime T sufferer voluntarily finally had his auditory nerves cut to eliminate a nonstop screaming T level, only to wake up
With no hearing but the T still screaming within his head!no way to mask it and no way to change it back
...a true hell on earth

 

[JasonP]

I Believe I read a story recently of just such a thing actually happening in a third world country ...a longtime T sufferer voluntarily finally had his auditory nerves cut to eliminate a nonstop screaming T level, only to wake up
With no hearing but the T still screaming within his head!no way to mask it and no way to change it back
...a true hell on earth

Yes, I have heard of that. I believe a doctor told me that a while back that same thing happened to another person.

 

[three4rd]

Not a chance. I don't think we can imagine what it truly would be like to not hear at all. To not enjoy natural sounds, converse with family and friends, hear music (for me as a musician that would be huge), all these scenarios are a pretty extreme alternative to having T. I think this is a bit like asking - if you had to live with a few fingers amputated on both hands, would you rather that both your arms be cut off? Or if you had severe macular degeneration and highly limited vision, would you prefer to be completely blind?

 

[three4rd]

I Believe I read a story recently of just such a thing actually happening in a third world country ...a longtime T sufferer voluntarily finally had his auditory nerves cut to eliminate a nonstop screaming T level, only to wake up
With no hearing but the T still screaming within his head!no way to mask it and no way to change it back
...a true hell on earth

Exactly..my audiologist mentioned this also..that with the nerves cut the 'phantom' sound would still be generated by the brain since it would continue to search for the missing frequencies.

 

[stophiss]

No. But honesty your question isn't remotely fair or even relevant. Tinnitus...the singlular word is woefully inaccurate and doesn't cover the spectrum. Those that answered yes to your poll likely all have intrusive tinnitus. Intrusive or acute tinnitus isn't even the same thing as mild tinnitus. Hand grenades and fuzzy slippers.

People take for granted the gift of hearing but when I listen to the nuance of sound in nature or the spoken word or a song that takes me to a time and place, I realize why hearing is so important and such a blessing. Hearing is a gift and why we try to protect it.

Would my life be just fine deaf btw for those that may even be heading in this direction? Yes.
I personally believe my H and T are genetic. My grandmother, my mother and my older brother later in life had or have hearing loss. My older brother FWIW who doesn't hear as well as I do does not have T or H.

 

[MikeGreen]

Would T be fixed if you trained your brain not to focus on it and forget it ?

 

[stophiss]

Would T be fixed if you trained your brain not to focus on it and forget it ?

No. But T can be habituated to which is effectively training the mind to not focus on T.
Harder for those with really loud T.
The 'concept' of habituation is enigmatic as is how human beings even think. What creates thought? Why is the brain subdivided into the conscious versus subconscious mind...later being responsible for much of our belief system.
And this is my opinion.... Habituation can't be a process of deliberation. Habituation is rooted in acceptance and letting go. Stepping outside yourself and not listening to the inner sound of tinnitus. Sure, background noise helps. But so does externalizing and projecting thought away from self.

 

[MikeGreen]

No. But T can be habituated to which is effectively training the mind to not focus on T.
Harder for those with really loud T.
The 'concept' of habituation is enigmatic as is how human beings even think. What creates thought? Why is the brain subdivided into the conscious versus subconscious mind...later being responsible for much of our belief system.
And this is my opinion.... Habituation can't be a process of deliberation. Habituation is rooted in acceptance and letting go. Stepping outside yourself and not listening to the inner sound of tinnitus. Sure, background noise helps. But so does externalizing and projecting thought away from self.

I still find it a very interesting subject due to an experience I had in the past. I had a sound in my head, a noise. After telling my brain not to focus on it and that it was fake/imaginary. It disappeared. It was a small peep. Life is weird.

 

[volsung37]

Absolutely not. I still love music, birdsong and the sound of my loved ones. Tinnitus is a pain in the butt however good hearing is a precious gift.

 

[Tweaker]

No, I love music, birdsong and communicating with speach. I hate the tinnitus but being totally deaf is so isolating. I know a lot of totally deaf folk at church.
A friend of mine with tinnitus once met someone who was deaf with tinnitus and also blind. That is unthinkable. Afterwards he was thankful for having only the tinnitus. I try to think of this and put my own suffering into persepctive. I know it doesn't help your own situation but makes you think what some people are able to tolerate.

 

[Ricardo1991]

I see you answered this in March. Do you still feel the same way? I don't think I ever wanted to be deaf but thinking about this choice puts things in perspective. For example, at least I have my hearing. I understand though if someone has extreme tinnitus why they would want this though. I wonder if these people were treated for depression and anxiety though if the feelings could go away and they could habituate to it. I think it would take time to do it and may involve hearing aids and some kind of masking or music device.

Hi, actually I take back my words. I have been so happy lately. I discovered the artist Kimbra recently and I have been obsessed with her music. I also have been to a couple of musicals lately. I listen to my mom over the phone, I hear my husband talk to me. I have been enjoying life. I think I have been habituated fairly nicely. Honestly, I can still hear it, I still listen to it, sometimes it bothers me but I'm just happy! lol

 

[JasonP]

Hi, actually I take back my words. I have been so happy lately. I discovered the artist Kimbra recently and I have been obsessed with her music. I also have been to a couple of musicals lately. I listen to my mom over the phone, I hear my husband talk to me. I have been enjoying life. I think I have been habituated fairly nicely. Honestly, I can still hear it, I still listen to it, sometimes it bothers me but I'm just happy! lol

That is wonderful!!! It just takes time. You may have a time here or there in the future where it bothers you but just know that it will pass and you can get over it. You just proved it! The more you beat it and the stronger you beat it, its going to effect your fight or flight system even less!! What does that mean? Way more tuning it out!!

 

[thering]

I would say no. It sounds tempting but there are still so many auditory things to enjoy that i would be sad to not experience. maybe if my T was worse i would consider it further.

 

[just1morething]

I don't like hypotheticals. It is what it is today.

 

[Mike9103]

No not at this stage, because my T is not severe and I can mask it most of the time . If it ever becomes severe then perhaps deafness would be preferable than being invaded by a constant high pitched noise that you can't mask.

 

[Bam]

Deaf no T. I'm in. Sit out a few years in total silence until some clever f***er can cure deafness.