Should I Stick with Pink Noise Therapy?

[Srebint]

I've made a couple of threads on my hyperacusis before, but to summarize- I developed hyperacusis in August 2016 after listening to loud, often intense music on headphones with high-end audio equipment at high volumes regularly for a year straight. I've also always had a very minor case of tinnitus going back to childhood. I went about a year before another checkup (where shortly beforehand I actually learned the name of the condition, because the specialist I first saw never actually told me it), where until then I hadn't really made any attempts at alleviating it or trying to cure it. I seemed to be making progress until spring of last year, where it seemed to flat line, and by the time I went in for a check up, my sensitivity had actually gotten worse, but that was apparently a normal progression.

Back in October, I attempted to see my threshold after a post someone in one of my threads made about what sensitivity with real hyperacusis would look like. It ended up making my hyperacusis the worst it's ever been, and was diagnosed with a temporary threshold increase. It hasn't gone away to this day, but it's definitely improved, and some of my symptoms have been better than ever. I didn't start trying any kind of therapy- specifically pink noise therapy- until a ways into November, and I think it's helped. I've been very inconsistent with how I've listened to it though. I still live at home with family, and it's very difficult to listen to pink noise for hours a day. I also worked a seasonal job (that's wrapping up tomorrow) that could be very loud and unpredictable noise wise, and it often exacerbated my condition. I often wore transparent gel ear plugs when I worked, and sometimes yellow foam ones. Those all helped, but it wasn't always convenient to wear them, and it seemed unhelpful to my condition to wear them constantly. But, random loud noises could easily get to me.

The pink noise therapy often functions as a way of alleviating the noise stress I suffered throughout the day, and while I'm able to listen to much, much louder volumes than I was previously, I'm not sure what volume to listen to them at. I also saw The Last Jedi a couple of weeks back and wore earplugs on and off, and eventually, I started getting light pain in my left ear.

So to emphasize, while I'm still at the threshold increase, my hearing has in ways often been better than it was before. But I don't know if what I'm really doing is helping, and I don't know what to turn to next, other than expensive therapy or equipment.

Is pink noise something I should just continue with? What are the highest volumes I should listen to it at?

And is it possible long-term pink noise usage could actually damage my headphones? I have a pair of high end headphones I've had for a few years, and I've read that playing pink noise can be good for burning them in (I've never done this.) But I think I've also read pink noise can damage them. I've left the pink noise running on my headphones for extended periods without actually wearing them. The mp3 file has a tendency to alternate in volume at seemingly random intervals. Not sure if that's the quality of the audio file or something else, or if I should listen to a truly consistent volume to begin with.

 

[AZeurotuner]

I've made a couple of threads on my hyperacusis before, but to summarize- I developed hyperacusis in August 2016 after listening to loud, often intense music on headphones with high-end audio equipment at high volumes regularly for a year straight. I've also always had a very minor case of tinnitus going back to childhood. I went about a year before another checkup (where shortly beforehand I actually learned the name of the condition, because the specialist I first saw never actually told me it), where until then I hadn't really made any attempts at alleviating it or trying to cure it. I seemed to be making progress until spring of last year, where it seemed to flat line, and by the time I went in for a check up, my sensitivity had actually gotten worse, but that was apparently a normal progression.

Back in October, I attempted to see my threshold after a post someone in one of my threads made about what sensitivity with real hyperacusis would look like. It ended up making my hyperacusis the worst it's ever been, and was diagnosed with a temporary threshold increase. It hasn't gone away to this day, but it's definitely improved, and some of my symptoms have been better than ever. I didn't start trying any kind of therapy- specifically pink noise therapy- until a ways into November, and I think it's helped. I've been very inconsistent with how I've listened to it though. I still live at home with family, and it's very difficult to listen to pink noise for hours a day. I also worked a seasonal job (that's wrapping up tomorrow) that could be very loud and unpredictable noise wise, and it often exacerbated my condition. I often wore transparent gel ear plugs when I worked, and sometimes yellow foam ones. Those all helped, but it wasn't always convenient to wear them, and it seemed unhelpful to my condition to wear them constantly. But, random loud noises could easily get to me.

The pink noise therapy often functions as a way of alleviating the noise stress I suffered throughout the day, and while I'm able to listen to much, much louder volumes than I was previously, I'm not sure what volume to listen to them at. I also saw The Last Jedi a couple of weeks back and wore earplugs on and off, and eventually, I started getting light pain in my left ear.

So to emphasize, while I'm still at the threshold increase, my hearing has in ways often been better than it was before. But I don't know if what I'm really doing is helping, and I don't know what to turn to next, other than expensive therapy or equipment.

Is pink noise something I should just continue with? What are the highest volumes I should listen to it at?

And is it possible long-term pink noise usage could actually damage my headphones? I have a pair of high end headphones I've had for a few years, and I've read that playing pink noise can be good for burning them in (I've never done this.) But I think I've also read pink noise can damage them. I've left the pink noise running on my headphones for extended periods without actually wearing them. The mp3 file has a tendency to alternate in volume at seemingly random intervals. Not sure if that's the quality of the audio file or something else, or if I should listen to a truly consistent volume to begin with.

Lately I've been listening to pink noise while I sleep, played on a small speaker at a comfortable volume, it has had a positive impact on my H. I would HIGHLY recommend for you to toss your ear buds in the garbage (or sell them off), it's like a lung cancer patient continuing to smoke cigarettes, bad idea and will only make your condition worse.

 

[GregCA]

And is it possible long-term pink noise usage could actually damage my headphones?

I doubt it.

 

[glynis]

I would keep relaxing music on around you in the day or tv on low setting.
Through the night relaxing music or pink noise through pillow speakers.
At work try a fan on or music on low or for a short period I don't see playing pink noise on the lowest setting with earphones a problem but try it out maybe only in 15 minute sessions if you need it .
If your tinnitus spikes with a short time of 15 minutes playing pink noise on the lowest setting then it has to be whats best for you regarding using them anymore.
Love glynis x

 

[Tommi_boi]

If I was in your shoes , I would continue with the pink noise, but run it off a speaker near your bedside table.

I would probably also avoid things like concerts but cinema would probably be okay with the right ear plugs and if you think you are starting to become tolerant.

A good option is to buy specialised "musicians ear plugs" which can filter noise better than traditional ear plugs while not making noises as muffly.

Finally, this is up to you , but I would take a break from headphones and ear buds and see if it helps.

I personally have done this due to a lot of people recommending it on this forum, but I'm not sure how true it is .

I struggled with sound sensitivity for about 2 years but noticed with taking care of yourself you can start to feel better.

 

[Srebint]

Really should have replied back to this sooner. Not much has changed since I originally posted this. I forgot to mention I did ditch wearing earplugs for significant periods after my job finished, and I basically wear them only when I'm at the gym or in the shower (wear I'll use bundled tissue.) I had a habit of wearing them in the car too due to the radio, but I've just opted out of listening to the radio.

Beyond that, all I've done is listen to pink noise, but I've still been inconsistent, and I don't know if it's been doing anything. In fact, the sensitivity and tinnitus has gotten worse recently. I've gotten in a habit of trying to listen to music more on my headphones, but not for long periods, though it still seems like I've been vulnerable. And in particular, I have been cranking up the volume of pink noise to quite high levels- not to the point where it really causes me any discomfort. But every time I do listen to pink noise, I've come away with tinnitus.

I don't know if that's supposed to happen. It doesn't last long, and I've chalked up the recent increasing in sensitivity to another case of it being unpredictable, but still. I've admittedly not done much research beyond this forum in awhile to get an idea of how I should be using pink noise. My threshold increase from 4 months ago never truly went away either- but again, there have been significant periods where my tolerance has become better than it ever was even before that happened.

I looked more into a specialist close to an hour from here, and I found out they were more expensive than I thought. The appointments would be $150 each, but the entire therapy would be $3,000. Out of the question for me. There's some other specialists in Boston I plan to look into, but all of the options I've looked into so far- the white noise generators, the specialist, these implants (https://www.earsinus.com/) are all very expensive.

I just want to say that despite things getting worse recently, my pink noise tolerance hasn't changed at all. But I have no idea really if I've been making things worse by listening to them at high volumes, and what my threshold for pink noise actually is, and what I should go by on that.

I'm also going to hold off on pink noise until I learn more. I just tested a bit at a very low volume though, and it seemed to exacerbate the tinnitus even then. But no real difference between that and very high volumes.

 

[Michael Leigh]

And is it possible long-term pink noise usage could actually damage my headphones? I have a pair of high end headphones I've had for a few years, and I've read that playing pink noise can be good for burning them in (I've never done this.) But I think I've also read pink noise can damage them. I've left the pink noise running on my headphones for extended periods without actually wearing them. The mp3 file has a tendency to alternate in volume at seemingly random intervals. Not sure if that's the quality of the audio file or something else, or if I should listen to a truly consistent volume to begin with.

HI @Srebint

I am also an Audiophile and used to listen to music through high-end Beyer headphones. I didn't realize I was causing harm listening at what I now know was too high a volume and developed tinnitus. That was 22 years ago and haven't used headphones since.

Treating tinnitus and hyperacusis or hyperacusis specificially, will be different for each person. Some people will make steady improvement over time and there will be no need for a referral to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist for treatment and management. Please be aware it can take a person many months to recover and habituate to these conditions. Up to 18 months or more. Simply listening to white or pink noise through headphones is not adequate treatment and it's something I do not recommend. The tinnitus will often be masked even at very low volumes because headphones are not the right devices for this purpose. They may suffice for occasional distraction from the tinnitus but as far as treating it or hyperacusis, in my opinion it won't.

Many people do not understand how important counselling is in treating tinnitus and especially when hyperacusis is present. In these cases a lot of people have had a noise trauma to their auditory system. Even listening to white or pink noise through dedicated white noise generators which are the correct devices for this purpose, will not always work. Therefore, counselling with a trained Hearing Therapist or Audiologist in tinnitus and hyperacusis management and using sound therapy via white noise generators, is the best approach.

At first the therapist discusses with the patient how the tinnitus and hyperacusis makes them feel and how they have impacted on their life. Often people say they have lost interest in the things they once liked doing and explain about their sensitivity to sound. The main goal here is to gradually help them look at life differently and with a more positive outlook. Over time the negative thinking that is often associated with tinnitus and hyperacusis is gradually dispelled and demystified.

The Hearing Therapist does this in a controlled and precise manner so that the patient feels relaxed and not pressured. In many instances the tinnitus is gradually pushed further into the background making it less prominent. Sound therapy in the form of white noise generators need to be worn to desensitize the auditory system. Therefore, it must be stressed and understood, this treatment takes time. I am talking about TRT but fully understand some people may not be able to afford this treatment or, it may not be available at a place where they live. It all depends how a person is affected by the tinnitus and hyperacusis? If a person is under a lot of stress with these conditions simply listening to white or pink noise will not necessarily work as a treatment.

I advise you not to listen to music through headphones even at low volume. Please read my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it, which discusses the treatment of hyperacusis: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

Michael

 

[Srebint]

Thanks for the reply. I went ahead and called the Otolerngology department at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary again, and I get the impression they don't have much. A receptionist I spoke to said they've only just started the beginnings of research into hyperacusis at that center or something along those lines. I'll found out more tomorrow, but beyond that, the only other avenue I'm aware of is another person at that department who offered to schedule some kind of evaluation back in December.

It's either that or going for $3,000+ therapy or buying white noise generators that go for about $1,000, if I were to make a commitment to serious, direct therapy. There really aren't that many people who specialize in treatment of hyperacusis/tinnitus out here that don't have extremely high price tags. I should have mentioned that when I got started on pink noise in November, it really did seem to help. But it got offset to a large degree by the stress of my job I was at, and while the earplugs I got helped, it's simply not easy to commit to listening to pink noise continuously throughout the day. And I wonder if it's actually helping now or has made things worse.

Would it matter if I listened to white noise through headphones? The biggest barrier is the price, and I'd only go for them if there was a serious possibility I could sell them back or something. Do people even sell/buy used wearable white noise generators? And you emphasize the importance of therapy, but that's likely more expensive than even the generators.

I've had this for a year and a half now and I don't see this subsiding any time soon.

By the way, I sent you an email awhile back to the address you provided, but you never got back.

 

[Srebint]

And yeah, through all this, as I wore the headphones, I got into the habit of using them not just to listen to music here and there, but other things. I did not listen to music often, but I would often use them to listen to other things. It's really hard to avoid when you're wearing them for pink noise therapy throughout the day, and the hassle of switching from headphones to speakers. I honestly thought some of this might be therapeutic, especially since my tolerance was the best in almost a year- and I made sure to stop listening when things became irritating and to not overdo the volume. But now I'm thinking this might have offset the benefits of pink noise, and made things worse again.

I'm guessing I should listen to nothing other than pink/white noise and other therapeutic sounds through my headphones, until this all subsides.

 

[Srebint]

I spoke to one of the specialists at the Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary today, and while they don't seem to offer any treatment for hyperacusis/tinnitus, they, in addition to soon beginning research, will likely soon begin multiple studies for hyperacusis/tinnitus that could offer something. So there's that.

In the meantime, all I can really do is opt for self-therapy, but I'm still at a loss on what to do next, though the specialist did seem to suggest I should continue pink noise therapy. I will say though, that the exacerbation of the tinnitus when listening to pink noise on headphones, it makes no difference whether I listen at low or high volumes- the tinnitus spikes immediately regardless of the volume.