Rugby Legend Ben Cohen's Tinnitus Is So Bad It Can Make His Eyes Water

[dan]

'It's tough' Strictly's Ben Cohen reveals his screeching tinnitus can be so unbearable it makes his eyes water and 'will only get worse'

Everything in my world is a loud scream, permanently, everyday, 24/7. There's no sound that can beat it. It supersedes absolutely everything.

I've never known any different. It wasn't until later on I realised I was deaf. The tinnitus does drive people crazy, it doesn't me, it does change pitch - sometimes it gets so unbearable it makes your eyes water.

 

[BrOKeN_1]

This guy is an amazing example of resilience and epic endurance. I hope that if my own tinnitus ever get that I bad I can be as strong and determined to live my best life!

 

[Nick47]

The most interesting thing is he doesn't care!

 

[Ed209]

The most interesting thing is he doesn't care!

My dad was exactly the same. He didn't care at all.

 

[Utdmad89]

The most interesting thing is he doesn't care!

Wouldn't this prove that you can habituate to severe tinnitus?

 

[Nick47]

Wouldn't this prove that you can habituate to severe tinnitus?

Indeed.

 

[DeanD]

Remarkable story. I totally get when he says he has to look at people in the face and down to their mouth when they are talking to read their lips and piece together what they are saying. I too have been doing that for many years because I'm hard of hearing.

It was only because of that I went and had microsuction to remove earwax to try and help a little as everyone was fed up of me asking them to repeat everything they said.

Bad decision.

Getting on with life, even if knowing it could get worse with the things you're doing and just doing them anyway, is probably the best thing anyone can do to live with severe tinnitus.

 

[Jupiterman]

Remember he's had it it since birth.

His brain knows nothing else.

Can that really be called habituation?

 

[kingsfan]

The most interesting thing is he doesn't care!

He's a professional athlete. They are programmed to perform through pain.

In the NHL alone there are instances of athletes playing through games with broken bones, punctured lungs, broken teeth... Blake Wheeler finished a game with a ruptured testicle. Mathew Tkachuck continued through the playoffs with a fractured sternum. Zack Hyman played with a torn ACL. The list goes on and on, and that's just one professional league in a single sport.

 

[Jupiterman]

Getting on with life, even if knowing it could get worse with the things you're doing and just doing them anyway, is probably the best thing anyone can do to live with severe tinnitus.

It'll be interesting to hear if you still feel this way in a year or two.

 

[DeanD]

It'll be interesting to hear if you still feel this way in a year or two.

I think with severe tinnitus this is the best way, but much easier said than done of course.

If not, what else do you have - just barely surviving whilst waiting for it to disappear or someone to discover the cure.

I'm as guilty of that as anyone, but trying to change.

 

[Jupiterman]

I think with severe tinnitus this is the best way, but much easier said than done of course.

If not, what else do you have - just barely surviving whilst waiting for it to disappear or someone to discover the cure.

I'm as guilty of that as anyone, but trying to change.

The "live life as if you don't have tinnitus" mantra, I believe is more suitable advice for stable mild-to-moderate cases. If you're already in the severe, unstable, easily worsening category, I think you're taking a big risk with your mental health in trying to live life as normal. If your tinnitus worsens from severe to catastrophic, surviving may not be your top priority and dark thoughts may overtake.

I take your point about 'barely surviving' while living an extremely limited, noise avoiding, lifestyle. But the point is, you're surviving, and there is hope, that your tinnitus will stabilize or even reduce.

As for waiting for a cure; that thought no longer crosses my mind now.

 

[DeanD]

The "live life as if you don't have tinnitus" mantra, I believe is more suitable advice for stable mild-to-moderate cases. If you're already in the severe, unstable, easily worsening category, I think you're taking a big risk with your mental health in trying to live life as normal. If your tinnitus worsens from severe to catastrophic, surviving may not be your top priority and dark thoughts may overtake.

I take your point about 'barely surviving' while living an extremely limited, noise avoiding, lifestyle. But the point is, you're surviving, and there is hope, that your tinnitus will stabilize or even reduce.

As for waiting for a cure; that thought no longer crosses my mind now.

For me personally, I have throat and breathing issues, which is uncomfortable all the time, just like tinnitus is all the time.

I'm not talking super reckless of course, like going front row of heavy metal concert without earplugs - but I stopped doing things, even with protection, as I didn't want to worsen.

Dark thoughts are already there in the background. It may stabilize, but mine is all linked with a brain nerve issue and medical people are absolutely clueless about any of this, despite apparently seeing the best ones out there.

I get the point though, but limiting life and having big restrictions takes as much as a mental toll, if not more.

If you can live life with tinnitus - rather than surviving, boxing and limiting in to depression - enjoyment of life, no matter how long for, surely must be better.

 

[Stayinghopeful]

My dad was exactly the same. He didn't care at all.

Same, my old boy can hear it clearly whenever he wants to.

 

[Cmspgran]

I take your point about 'barely surviving' while living an extremely limited, noise avoiding, lifestyle. But the point is, you're surviving, and there is hope, that your tinnitus will stabilize or even reduce.

As for waiting for a cure; that thought no longer crosses my mind now.

How long does one wait though, this isn't me being facetious, it's a genuine question.

I've had six months of basically being couped up at home. I luckily have a WFH job. I've been to a pub on a couple of occasions earlier on but have avoided even that for several months. I go for walks around local town and that's pretty much it.

I'm acutely aware I'll never go to a concert again or anything remotely with that sound level but at what point does one take the approach @DeanD suggests and just focus your energy on trying to get on with a normal life, as best one can considering our limitations. Is it several years in your opinion?

 

[Nick47]

There is only one solution now, live 'your' best life, ignoring your tinnitus, whilst avoiding your original cause, which for many is loud noise exposure.

I look at the year 2028, where there will certainly be treatment options. For sure bimodal stimulation, with one or two other possibilities (objective measurement, better tDCS, off-label epilepsy medications, Neurosoft, better hearing assisted tech etc.) that will help different patients.

 

[WillBeNimble]

There is only one solution now, live 'your' best life, ignoring your tinnitus, whilst avoiding your original cause, which for many is loud noise exposure.

I look at the year 2028, where there will certainly be treatment options. For sure bimodal stimulation, with one or two other possibilities (objective measurement, better tDCS, off-label epilepsy medications, Neurosoft, better hearing assisted tech etc.) that will help different patients.

And hopefully Rinri Therapeutics will have gotten a good human trial or two in.

 

[Nick47]

And hopefully Rinri Therapeutics will have gotten a good human trial or two in.

I have some genuine hope. They've been in preclinical since 2012.

 

[Jupiterman]

How long does one wait though, this isn't me being facetious, it's a genuine question.

I've had six months of basically being couped up at home. I luckily have a WFH job. I've been to a pub on a couple of occasions earlier on but have avoided even that for several months. I go for walks around local town and that's pretty much it.

I'm acutely aware I'll never go to a concert again or anything remotely with that sound level but at what point does one take the approach @DeanD suggests and just focus your energy on trying to get on with a normal life, as best one can considering our limitations. Is it several years in your opinion?

This is the question that has been asked many times on different threads.

Do you go out and live your live, willing to accept the (potentially permanent) hits to your tinnitus?

OR

Do you live a noise avoiding phase (of your life), knowing you'd find further worsenings of your tinnitus too much to take, adversely affecting your mental health?

They are your ears and therefore your risk to take.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

As for how long, if you do decide to be cautious and stay indoors a lot? No one knows for how long, as everyone tends to react differently. You could stay at home for years and not notice any improvement or you may notice improvement after several months.

I can imagine if your tinnitus stabalised or reduced you may begin to feel more confident about going out.

 

[gameover]

This is the question that has been asked many times on different threads.

Do you go out and live your live, willing to accept the (potentially permanent) hits to your tinnitus?

Right. It is really hard do "go out and live your life" with reactive tinnitus and hyperacusis. It virtually forces you to not do these things.

Reactive tinnitus combined with hyperacusis is like a case of a broken leg. That leg hurts more when you walk, but the pain recedes when you sit. If the pain were constant regardless if you sit or walk, I guess you might as well walk. The question "will it get worse" becomes secondary. So with reactive tinnitus you prefer to "sit", naturally.

I have a hard time "pushing it" because things get worse, even if temporarily, or just uncomfortable. I invariably regret going to a restaurant or a longer car drive. I regret it while doing it, so of course this becomes instant disincentive to do these things.

I don't overprotect, but I live a quiet life now. I am exposed to fairly normal level of household sounds. I take showers, I brush my teeth with electric toothbrush, I talk to people in person or over video. I eat with silverware and porcelain plates, but usually with my wife only. I take short car drives (< 10 minutes) and go for a walk in a forest. I might watch a movie quietly when I feel better. Occasionally I drive somewhere for ~1 hour one way if I have to (doctor's appointment). Or do some basic work on a car like changing oil or swapping wheels. But that's about it.

I don't go to gatherings or parties. I went to one. Nope, no more. I went to a restaurant a few times. Done with that, too loud. Drove on a 6 hour road trip. No more. I took a 3 hour flight for vacation this year. I am done with that. I was driving my loudish sports car quite a bit this summer. I loved cars so much, and especially this one. But I need to give it up, though it breaks my heart. Maybe I worsened because I kept driving it (with protection of course).

I am in the wait, survive and see mode. If I get meaningfully better I'd be very careful about "going out and living my life". Because I don't want to relive this horror. I'd give up most if not everything to have inner peace and silence. Yes, I miss so many fucking things, but there is nothing I miss more than silence in my head.

 

[Cmspgran]

Right. It is really hard do "go out and live your life" with reactive tinnitus and hyperacusis. It virtually forces you to not do these things.

Reactive tinnitus combined with hyperacusis is like a case of a broken leg. That leg hurts more when you walk, but the pain recedes when you sit. If the pain were constant regardless if you sit or walk, I guess you might as well walk. The question "will it get worse" becomes secondary. So with reactive tinnitus you prefer to "sit", naturally.

I have a hard time "pushing it" because things get worse, even if temporarily, or just uncomfortable. I invariably regret going to a restaurant or a longer car drive. I regret it while doing it, so of course this becomes instant disincentive to do these things.

I don't overprotect, but I live a quiet life now. I am exposed to fairly normal level of household sounds. I take showers, I brush my teeth with electric toothbrush, I talk to people in person or over video. I eat with silverware and porcelain plates, but usually with my wife only. I take short car drives (< 10 minutes) and go for a walk in a forest. I might watch a movie quietly when I feel better. Occasionally I drive somewhere for ~1 hour one way if I have to (doctor's appointment). Or do some basic work on a car like changing oil or swapping wheels. But that's about it.

I don't go to gatherings or parties. I went to one. Nope, no more. I went to a restaurant a few times. Done with that, too loud. Drove on a 6 hour road trip. No more. I took a 3 hour flight for vacation this year. I am done with that. I was driving my loudish sports car quite a bit this summer. I loved cars so much, and especially this one. But I need to give it up, though it breaks my heart. Maybe I worsened because I kept driving it (with protection of course).

I am in the wait, survive and see mode. If I get meaningfully better I'd be very careful about "going out and living my life". Because I don't want to relive this horror. I'd give up most if not everything to have inner peace and silence. Yes, I miss so many fucking things, but there is nothing I miss more than silence in my head.

I can totally relate to everything you have said in this post @gameover. I sincerely wish us better days ahead, where one day we can live a quiet life without the daily torture.