Strange Sensations and Electric Flickers: 3.5 Months into Tinnitus After Acoustic Trauma

[Louise 17]

Hello all,

I've posted a couple of times, and I am now 3.5 months into the strange world of tinnitus following a one-off acoustic trauma.

I have one main tone in my right ear, and I would describe it as fluctuating between mild and moderate. Sometimes at night, it is quiet until I need to get up. But at other times, it feels like electric currents flickering inside my head. It is not always there and usually shows up by midday. I find it really distracting, like my head is no longer my own and something is invading it, or like it is trying to tune into something.

Does this die down once the tinnitus has settled? What causes the electrical feeling? It is not what I would traditionally call tinnitus, but it definitely feels like part of it.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed or commented on posts over the years. It is strangely reassuring to read others' stories and know I am not the only one going through this. Hope you're keeping well, wherever you are!

 

[Jupiterman]

Does this die down...?

This largely depends on you.

If you would like it to worsen, then continue living life as usual, take risks with noise exposure, and experiment to find out what makes your tinnitus worse. I am sure you will find it interesting and enlightening. You could also get a hearing test or even an MRI, just to be sure you are giving your tinnitus every possible chance to get worse.

Alternatively, you could try protecting your ears and avoid taking any risks for the next few months. You might even experience a reduction in your tinnitus.

The choice is entirely yours.

 

[Louise 17]

Thanks. I have already taken these steps. I used ear protection and never abused my ears in the first place. The injury was caused by someone else. I do not take unnecessary risks.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have had the tests and do not have any hearing loss. Again, I took care of my ears, and I have experienced a significant reduction in tinnitus.

Perhaps I should rephrase. This question is for anyone else who has experienced ear buzzing or zapping. Have you found that it dies down over time?

 

[thinkingmind]

I had it. It stopped after some time (but I don't want to jinx it).

 

[SueX]

I'm only six months in with the "electricity" sounds. It has not improved yet, but sometimes I experience other tones alongside the static-like electricity. However, I have read that for many people, it does get better. So, there is hope.

 

[Louise 17]

Thanks for your responses. I've had a slight improvement since my last post.

I decided to give alcohol a break. It has been two weeks now, and the tinnitus has quietened down to a hiss and a low tone that I can only hear in a quiet room. The electric or static sensation in my head has gone. My improvement has been very slow from the beginning, but since quitting, it has really plateaued.

My rationale was that perhaps my ears were inflamed after the sound trauma, and I wanted to give them a chance to heal. Maybe it is just a coincidence and simply the passing of time, but either way, it has been a relief.

I wish you both some relief from the static as well.

 

[thinkingmind]

It seems we have a similar timeline and cause for our tinnitus. Is yours also better in the morning?

 

[Louise 17]

It seems we have a similar timeline and cause for our tinnitus. Is yours also better in the morning?

Hey, I just read your initial post, and it seems like we have a similar tinnitus story. Mine is quieter in the morning and at night. It starts picking up when I begin moving around. At night, it's almost like a white noise sound, and if I didn't know I had tinnitus, I probably wouldn't think anything of it.

The sound generally improves throughout the day. There is less of a tone and more of a hiss. It has been progressing each month, very slowly, and not always in a straight line, but looking back, there is definitely been progress.

Is there anything that really stood out as helpful for you?

I agree with you. I think some inflammation from the initial damage needed time to settle. I am still waiting to see if it ever goes back to baseline, but I can live with it at this level.

Before this, I had sensitive hearing, and now I carry a set of Loop earplugs for the tube, gym, and so on. My ears are grateful, there is so much less reactivity. In the last couple of weeks, the sensitivity has also gone down.

I hope you had a peaceful Easter!

Best,
Lou

 

[thinkingmind]

Afternoons are the worst for me.

I rarely hear the "original tone" anymore, except late at night or right after waking up. Most of the time, I hear a hissing sound, and occasionally sharper tones that come and go. I think the original tone is still there, but my brain seems to be producing a reactive hissing on top of it—possibly as a way to compensate?

Melatonin has helped me the most. It really affects the tinnitus itself by lowering the volume.
Magnesium slightly lowers the frequency, but not the volume.
Apple cider vinegar hasn't been useful. It does have an effect, but it changes the hissing into a buzzing sound, and I'm not sure why.
Cortisone improved things while I was taking it, but afterward, I experienced an electric-sounding noise in my head for a few days. Eventually, it settles back to the baseline hissing.

How is your hearing? Have you done a full audiometry?

Did you already have tinnitus before this acoustic trauma?

I really hope the reactive hissing fades away. That would be the best outcome.

In the early mornings, I can almost forget that I have tinnitus.

Wishing you a happy Easter

Best wishes,
TM