Reactive Tinnitus and Sound Distortions: How to Move Forward?

[Kraazy]

Hello everyone!

First of all, I want to wish you all a happy new year. I hope this year brings you joy, success, and most importantly, good health.

I really hope this is the year Susan Shore's device becomes available.

I am logging in quickly to give you an update since my last message in October 2024. It has now been almost five months since the onset of my hearing problems, including dysacusis.

I am happy to share that my mental state has improved significantly. I have started sophrology sessions, and they help me release anxiety and manage daily stress. These exercises have been incredibly helpful, as I am now much less focused on analyzing every sound around me.

While my dysacusis has not completely resolved, my reactions to distorted sounds have improved. Certain sounds, such as water, rain, wind, my footsteps on grass, traffic (with minor exceptions), driving my car, rubbing my hair, the microwave or refrigerator, and even my own voice, no longer cause distortions. I cannot say if these distortions have completely disappeared, if my brain has adapted, or if it simply pays less attention to them, but I no longer focus on these sounds, and they now seem fine.

The most challenging aspect for me at this stage is digital audio. I have avoided using headphones for almost five months to protect my hearing and maximize the chances of recovery. I still struggle to watch TV or listen to music at a normal volume for extended periods, but I can now enjoy videos and music at low volumes. This was not possible before because the sounds were too distorted and left me feeling depressed.

For instance, I can now listen to five songs without analyzing the audio. I enjoy those moments as much as possible, and when the music ends, I often think, "Wow, that actually sounded pretty good!"

However, living with my parents presents a unique challenge. My father, who is hard of hearing, often turns the television volume up. I struggle with the frequencies coming through my door, both high and low, as they interfere with the nature sounds or low-volume YouTube videos I play. These frequencies sound like echoes in a tube or beeping noises, which is frustrating. I am trying to adapt, but this remains difficult.

Recently, I visited a friend who played a movie at a volume no higher than 70 dB on his home theater system. Unfortunately, sounds like gunfire and voices still triggered beeping sensations for me. Even with ear protection, these beeps persisted, which was discouraging. However, I reminded myself of the progress I have made and resolved not to dwell on setbacks.

Since the onset of this issue in August 2024, I have lost over 10 kilos due to depression. I am now working on eating more to restore my strength, as this journey has taken a toll on my body.

I have also done some experiments with my hearing, which have raised concerns. I notice that I hear less clearly on my right side. Sounds are muffled, and distortions are much more pronounced in my right ear. For example, when I listen to a YouTube video at low volume with my left ear, I can hear voices clearly and follow conversations. However, with my right ear, the voices sound distant, muffled, and distorted.

I suspect that my hearing loss of 40 dB in my right ear is the root cause of my dysacusis. Will I live like this forever? I do not know, but I am determined to do everything possible to improve. I start CBT on January 13, and I hope it will be beneficial.

Take care of yourselves.

 

[Kraazy]

Yesterday, I was still hearing TV frequencies coming through my door and disturbing me. I started to wonder: Is it really my ears hearing these distortions, or is the TV sound distorted because of reverberation?

So, I decided to run a test.

I placed my phone on my desk, turned on the TV, and recorded a video. While recording, I heard the distortions, and I thought to myself: Will they show up in the recording?

Afterward, I played the video back. To my surprise, I heard in the recording exactly what I have been hearing for the past five months, the same TV frequencies. I tested this further by first listening with my right ear (my worse ear) and then with my left ear (my better ear). The distortions sounded the same with both ears.

At that moment, I took a deep breath and thought: What I have been hearing through the door for five months is totally normal!

I felt so relieved.

But then another thought struck me: What if my bad hearing is somehow interacting with the sounds recorded on the phone? To be sure, I asked my mother to listen to the recording. She confirmed that she also heard a deep sound, the exact sound I have been hearing through the door for all these months.

It was such a relief to realize that my ears were not crazy.

My mother's confirmation brought me unexpected joy. What I had been hearing was simply normal sound. For five months, my hypervigilance had caused unnecessary worry over something that was completely ordinary. It is unbelievable how much peace this realization has given me.

With that, I have decided to step away from this forum for now. I will be back in a few months.

 

[johnjacobjingle]

Glad to hear you're doing better! Unfortunately, I've been stuck with an 8-bit sound, along with a "wah-wah-wah" effect added to white noise and almost everything else I hear. It's only been two weeks since this started, so I'm hopeful it will go away. Thanks for sharing your update!

 

[knk89]

Hello everyone,

I'm also dealing with the unfortunate reality of reactive tinnitus. Every sound seems to trigger chirping, beeping, or ringing, layered on top of the constant, prolonged hissing and ringing undertones. For reasons I can't understand, it feels like my condition is only getting worse—I seem to be collecting new sounds every few days or weeks. Most recently, a buzzing "lightsaber" sound has appeared.

I'm exhausted and barely hanging on. This all started after a rock concert in September, even though I was wearing hearing protection. What began as severe, high-pitched, constant tinnitus has now transformed into completely unmaskable reactive tinnitus.

I find it difficult to be here. Reading responses and coming to terms with my condition is terrifying, but I could really use any advice or hope you can offer. If anyone is willing to chat over the phone, I'd be incredibly grateful. I'm just trying to hold on.

Thank you.

-Kevin

 

[johnjacobjingle]

Hello everyone,

I'm also dealing with the unfortunate reality of reactive tinnitus. Every sound seems to trigger chirping, beeping, or ringing, layered on top of the constant, prolonged hissing and ringing undertones. For reasons I can't understand, it feels like my condition is only getting worse—I seem to be collecting new sounds every few days or weeks. Most recently, a buzzing "lightsaber" sound has appeared.

I'm exhausted and barely hanging on. This all started after a rock concert in September, even though I was wearing hearing protection. What began as severe, high-pitched, constant tinnitus has now transformed into completely unmaskable reactive tinnitus.

I find it difficult to be here. Reading responses and coming to terms with my condition is terrifying, but I could really use any advice or hope you can offer. If anyone is willing to chat over the phone, I'd be incredibly grateful. I'm just trying to hold on.

Thank you.

-Kevin

Hey Kevin,

I know how you feel. I experience a lot of distortions, beeps, and other sounds with my tinnitus, and I also have some hyperacusis. I really miss listening to music, but I know things will get better. Honestly, just take it one day at a time and try to find joy in something else, like reading or watching a movie with subtitles.

There is someone else here who went through a really tough time, but after a year or two, they are back to living their life. I highly recommend checking out @AnthonyMcDonald's post.

Hang in there, man. There are treatments coming down the pipeline, and if there has ever been a good time in history to deal with tinnitus, it is now. You have got this. Keep pushing forward!

 

[DamagedJoe]

Unfortunately, I have something similar. I haven't been "at it" that long, but I hate it - in fact, I hate my whole life right now.

 

[vilebubbles]

I've started to get the beeping too. I'm very scared. It's gone from a few times a day to constant beeping.

 

[Raven Nevermore]

Hello everyone,

My Health Journey:

I have been living with tinnitus and hyperacusis for 12 years, but I've managed to overcome them, particularly hyperacusis, where everyday noises no longer bother me (except for washing dishes and vacuuming). I was so proud of myself for being able to live happily!

For almost a year, I also dealt with ear spasms (myoclonus) triggered by burping, yawning, or stretching. Magnesium bisglycinate helped me significantly, and now I experience very few spasms. Additionally, I had a "reflex" in my ears when I spoke or when something fell. I thought this was due to my hyperacusis, which has also since improved (possibly TTTS?).

In late June 2024, I decided to do some health tests for my 30th birthday, including a urine test, as I wanted to get an overall picture of my health. Unfortunately, I tested positive for an STI, which explained the urinary pain I had been experiencing. My doctor prescribed a 14-day course of Doxycycline (200 mg per day). During these 14 days, I experienced occasional spikes in my tinnitus.

Sadly, at the end of the treatment, my pain persisted. I returned to my doctor, who then prescribed 28 more days of Doxycycline. During this second course, my symptoms initially disappeared. However, on the 25th day, the pain returned, and I was devastated. I experienced severe stress, anxiety attacks, and overwhelming fear that I might have to live with this forever. I spent sleepless nights reading through forums and dark stories online.

Now, three weeks after completing the second treatment, I've started experiencing sound distortions. This has caused me immense worry, as I fear this may be permanent. Usually, background noise masks my tinnitus, but now it feels like the opposite.

At home, I can't do anything without my tinnitus reacting to real-time noises, only stopping when the sound source is turned off. Everyday sounds like water, wind, rain, my breathing, movements, air conditioning, fans, cars, and the TV all seem to aggravate my tinnitus, and it's exhausting.

I can't seem to stop fixating on these phenomena. I try going outside to get some fresh air and stay active, but as soon as I return home, my morale plummets. I've been living in silence, but I'm unsure if that's the right approach.

My family doesn't understand what I'm going through, and they continue making noise in the house. With each sound, my tinnitus spikes (for example, the TV in the living room is 50 meters away from my bedroom, and even with the door closed, the TV's frequencies seem to pass through. I feel like I have superhuman hearing, like Superman with superpowers).

I desperately need advice on how to stop fixating on all the noise in my life.

• Is this condition curable?
• Should I try to live normally?
• Should I protect myself from noise all the time?
• Should I live in silence?
• Did my treatment damage my ears? Or is it due to stress or anxiety?
• Should I take any medication? I'm already taking Magnesium bisglycinate (800 mg) and probiotics. I tried NAC (600 mg), but my tinnitus increased the day after my first dose, so I stopped. I also drink Chamomile herbal tea to help me sleep.

Here is a video that explains what I hear (please be mindful of the volume):



I'm feeling completely lost and anxious about going through all of this. I need help so much. Thank you, everyone.

I have reactive tinnitus too, and antibiotics do make it spike. But it usually settles down. It is hard to live with!