Reactive Morse Code Tinnitus and Sound Sensitivity: My Experience and Questions

[morgank89]

Hello,

First of all, I just want to say I am sorry that we are all here. This is an awful and lonely condition.

For the past few months, I have had chronic congestion, which I have experienced around this time of year for the past couple of years. My ears felt clogged, and I had ringing in one ear, similar to what I had last year.

I have been heavily involved in the music scene and have spent half of my life at gigs and loud bars. A few weeks ago, I attended three music events in one week. At the last one, I started noticing that my left ear was picking up a high metallic broken speaker like tone, and the music sounded distorted. This has been coming and going in intensity.

I decided to see an ENT, who said my hearing was above average, but my tympanometry showed that my eardrums were rigid. Since I have had lifelong issues with Eustachian tube dysfunction, they prescribed Prednisone.

After two days on prednisone, I developed Morse code tinnitus in both ears. At first, it was faint. I had to plug my ears and listen carefully to hear it. Then, it became more noticeable. Now, on top of the Morse code tinnitus, I also have reactive Morse code beeps that sound slightly different. This happens with everything, fans, the TV, and other background noise. At first, I genuinely thought it was coming from those sources because it seems to blend in with external sounds.

Of course, I also made the mistake of checking my hearing with YouTube frequency tests, not realizing that could be harmful.

I see that everyone's experiences with hyperacusis and reactive tinnitus are different. I believe mine is true reactive tinnitus because the Morse code sound is coming from inside my ears. If I plug my ears, it becomes quieter, but I can still hear it.

I do not understand why this seems to affect such a small subset of people. I have noticed that many who experience this also have OCD or health anxiety, both of which I struggle with.

Does anyone believe the Susan Shore device could help with this specific condition? I know medications are generally discouraged, but I may have to take the risk because my mental health is really struggling.

I would love to hear from others who also experience reactive tinnitus that originates inside their ears and not just over external sounds like fans and TVs.

Thank you

 

[Jupiterman]

Reactive tinnitus can cause your baseline tinnitus to become louder in response to external sounds.

What it's called is less important than how you manage it.

Protect your ears.

If Prednisone made your tinnitus worse, I'd be cautious about trying other medications.

 

[hopefulmomma]

I also have Morse code beeping that I hear as a layer of sound on top of other sounds, but only in my right ear. It comes and goes all day long, and I hate it. It started five months ago with no clear cause.

No one can say for sure how Susan Shore's device will affect people, but I have to wonder and hope for the best.

How long have you had this obnoxious tinnitus? I'm unsure of your timeline.

Also, try not to worry. How are you doing today?