Socializing with Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS) — Any Activity Suggestions?

[Rosa_D_123]

Hello everyone,

My name is Rhona Coghlan. I am 24 years old and living in Ireland. I have had tinnitus for the past four years and have been experiencing symptoms of Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS) for the last three months.

I am trying to widen my social circle for the sake of my mental health, but I am worried about how my ears will react. I have become very sensitive to sounds, especially when people talk to me. Interestingly, music and other sounds like cars do not seem to affect me.

If anyone has TTTS or knowledge about it and can offer advice on how to socialize while managing it, I would really appreciate it. I used to love dancing, but I understand that I may need to give that up.

I have not seen an ENT yet, but I have an appointment in about a month. Thank you all for reading, and I welcome any advice you can share!

 

[MindOverMatter]

Hello everyone,

My name is Rhona Coghlan. I am 24 years old and living in Ireland. I have had tinnitus for the past four years and have been experiencing symptoms of Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS) for the last three months.

I am trying to widen my social circle for the sake of my mental health, but I am worried about how my ears will react. I have become very sensitive to sounds, especially when people talk to me. Interestingly, music and other sounds like cars do not seem to affect me.

If anyone has TTTS or knowledge about it and can offer advice on how to socialize while managing it, I would really appreciate it. I used to love dancing, but I understand that I may need to give that up.

I have not seen an ENT yet, but I have an appointment in about a month. Thank you all for reading, and I welcome any advice you can share!

Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome, by itself, is not dangerous to my knowledge. Most of all, it is annoying and disturbing. I have had many bouts with it throughout the years, the last one lasting a few months if I recall correctly.

TTTS tends to fade when you stop focusing on it. In other words, it often improves when you react to it with less negativity and stop worrying about it constantly.

It is largely fueled by stress and anxiety.

 

[adpolandam]

Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome, by itself, is not dangerous to my knowledge. Most of all, it is annoying and disturbing. I have had many bouts with it throughout the years, the last one lasting a few months if I recall correctly.

TTTS tends to fade when you stop focusing on it. In other words, it often improves when you react to it with less negativity and stop worrying about it constantly.

It is largely fueled by stress and anxiety.

Do you mean TTTS as a sharp, immediate pain that happens with sudden sounds, even if they are not necessarily loud, like the sensation of someone sticking a needle in your ear?

 

[MindOverMatter]

Do you mean TTTS as a sharp, immediate pain that happens with sudden sounds, even if they are not necessarily loud, like the sensation of someone sticking a needle in your ear?

TTTS can present in many forms and with a variety of symptoms. Some people experience all of them, while others only have a few.

What you are describing can, for some individuals, be one of the symptoms of TTTS. I have not personally experienced extreme ear pain due to TTTS. It is also commonly associated with pain hyperacusis.

 

[Rosa_D_123]

Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome, by itself, is not dangerous to my knowledge. Most of all, it is annoying and disturbing. I have had many bouts with it throughout the years, the last one lasting a few months if I recall correctly.

TTTS tends to fade when you stop focusing on it. In other words, it often improves when you react to it with less negativity and stop worrying about it constantly.

It is largely fueled by stress and anxiety.

Thank you. My TTTS is not currently painful, but it is a very physical sensation that can become painful after a couple of minutes of continued stimulation. It only happens when people talk—I'm fine with music and videos online. I was watching a movie with friends at home, though, and my ears were reacting like crazy, so I put in earplugs and that fixed it.

I'm staying away from loud sounds and wearing earplugs when I can't avoid them right now. Are there any other things you have tried that were helpful? I know there are a lot of therapies available, like sound therapy and CBT, and mindfulness has helped some people.

 

[MindOverMatter]

I'm staying away from loud sounds and wearing earplugs when I can't avoid them right now. Are there any other things you have tried that were helpful? I know there are a lot of therapies available, like sound therapy and CBT, and mindfulness has helped some people.

Natural muscle relaxants like Magnesium Glycinate and bioflavonoids (especially if you have aural fullness) are worth trying.

 

[adpolandam]

Thank you. My TTTS is not currently painful, but it is a very physical sensation that can become painful after a couple of minutes of continued stimulation. It only happens when people talk—I'm fine with music and videos online. I was watching a movie with friends at home, though, and my ears were reacting like crazy, so I put in earplugs and that fixed it.

I'm staying away from loud sounds and wearing earplugs when I can't avoid them right now. Are there any other things you have tried that were helpful? I know there are a lot of therapies available, like sound therapy and CBT, and mindfulness has helped some people.

Sorry to butt in. It has been two years since my injury, and I feel that my middle ear — or rather the membrane — is in worse condition. It feels loose. The trigeminal nerve has been damaged because I feel pressure on the right side of my head — above the eye, below the eye, and around the ear.

Even with earplugs, I feel spasms with sudden sounds, although they are not painful. When there are vibrations, I feel them very strongly in my ears, especially when wearing earplugs and earmuffs.

Ear diseases are terrible, and doctors are a disaster.

 

[Rosa_D_123]

Sorry to butt in. It has been two years since my injury, and I feel that my middle ear — or rather the membrane — is in worse condition. It feels loose. The trigeminal nerve has been damaged because I feel pressure on the right side of my head — above the eye, below the eye, and around the ear.

Even with earplugs, I feel spasms with sudden sounds, although they are not painful. When there are vibrations, I feel them very strongly in my ears, especially when wearing earplugs and earmuffs.

Ear diseases are terrible, and doctors are a disaster.

That does sound unpleasant. I hope you can find some relief. I do not have a physical injury, but I experienced some audio trauma three or four months ago. I know there are some surgeries available, but they can be quite risky depending on the procedure.

My TTTS (or possibly something else) fluctuates in severity. I can only assume it is from the audio trauma I experienced a few months ago, as all the doctors I saw did not find any signs of physical damage. I am going to see the ENT in a month, but I know realistically that treatment options for ear conditions are somewhat limited. I can only hope it improves over time, as some people have reported, but I also realise it might not. I am trying to come to terms with that.

 

[MindOverMatter]

My TTTS (or possibly something else) fluctuates in severity. I can only assume it is from the audio trauma I experienced a few months ago, as all the doctors I saw did not find any signs of physical damage. I am going to see the ENT in a month, but I know realistically that treatment options for ear conditions are somewhat limited. I can only hope it improves over time, as some people have reported, but I also realise it might not. I am trying to come to terms with that.

In most cases, there is no need to do anything about this unless you are experiencing severe physical pain. Resting your ears from loud sounds and allowing time to pass is usually enough. What is crucial for recovery is to train the brain to tune it out and stop treating it as a threat. Stop searching for answers. I know that is easier said than done.

When anxiety and stress are under control, and you are no longer stuck in a fight or flight state, most cases of TTTS seem to ease over time. My audiologist has seen many people with these conditions, and most do get better with time.

However, the more you stress about it, and the more you obsess over it and search for answers, the longer it is likely to stay.

 

[adpolandam]

I hope everyone finds their own way to cope with ear problems. Today I decided not to protect my hearing at a house party for my daughter's first birthday. I was very scared, especially when a small dachshund started barking for no reason from another room where he was locked. The children were also loud, especially when they screamed or threw toys onto the wooden floor. Even some of the adults were loud at times, and it hurt.

I was also nervous when a three-year-old with a balloon was playing next to me. But I will not give up, even after two years of living with tinnitus, pain, hearing loss, and vibrations in my ears. I feel that today I did not give in to the beast.

This is my first positive post.