Tinnitus, A Personal View

[Michael Leigh]

Best day yet, so I'm hoping against hope this will pass as it does for so many others - and of course that everyone else finds relief sooner than later too.

Hi @Halsy
Thank you for you kind comments.
As you know you're in the early stages of tinnitus. Since it has improved could be a sign of better things to come and hopefully they will. Just leave it to time and try and get a long doing all the things that you usually do. Remember to have a word with your GP if you're feeling stressed in any way and continue with the sound enrichment at night.

All the best
Michael

 

[Rodribs]

Michael thank you very much for all the lecture quite a lot of information i wasn aware since i got this like 2 week since the doctor (non an specialist) but a scientist and investigator told me just by lookin into my ears that with no doubt I had Tinnitus and is at a severe stage beacuse I clearly hear the noise all day and Im taking sleep medication otherwise cant succeed, also a think I have Hyperacusis cause I cant tolerate high noises like the voice itself and if there is a chance that I can communicate with you to have some help. might be whatsapp, Im leaving mine +593996868993. I cant even hear people chating cause it cause pain on my ears.

Thank you so much

 

[Michael Leigh]

Michael thank you very much for all the lecture quite a lot of information i wasn aware since i got this like 2 week since the doctor (non an specialist) but a scientist and investigator told me just by lookin into my ears that with no doubt I had Tinnitus and is at a severe stage beacuse I clearly hear the noise all day and Im taking sleep medication otherwise cant succeed, also a think I have Hyperacusis cause I cant tolerate high noises like the voice itself and if there is a chance that I can communicate with you to have some help. might be whatsapp, Im leaving mine +593996868993. I cant even hear people chating cause it cause pain on my ears.

Thank you so much

HI @Rodribs

I am sorry to hear of the difficulty that you have been through with tinnitus. I recommend seeing an Audiologist or Hearing Therapist that specialises in the Treatment and management of tinnitus. When tinnitus starts to be intrusive and uncomfortable these healthcare professionals can help a lot with treatment. Unfortunately I don't use Whatsapp or Skype. You are welcome to send me private messages and if I can help in anyway I will try to do so.

I hope that you start to feel better soon.
All the best
Michal

 

[dpdx]

great read

 

[Rodribs]

HI @Rodribs

I am sorry to hear of the difficulty that you have been through with tinnitus. I recommend seeing an Audiologist or Hearing Therapist that specialises in the Treatment and management of tinnitus. When tinnitus starts to be intrusive and uncomfortable these healthcare professionals can help a lot with treatment. Unfortunately I don't use Whatsapp or Skype. You are welcome to send me private messages and if I can help in anyway I will try to do so.

I hope that you start to feel better soon.
All the best
Michal

Actually don't know how to send u a private Michael can help me some thank u very much

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi @steve S.

Click on my Avatar (picture) and choose "start conversation" by clicking on it. A box should then appear so you can start a PM.

Michael

 

[Michael Leigh]

Actually don't know how to send u a private Michael can help me some thank u very much

Hi @Rodribs

Click on my Avatar (picture) and choose "start conversation" by clicking on it. A box should then appear so you can start a PM.

Michael

 

[Michael Leigh]

great read

Thank you @dpdx

Michael

 

[Holly1987]

Thank you for taking the time to write this, it is so helpful.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thank you for taking the time to write this, it is so helpful.

Thank you for your kind comments @Holly1987

All the best
Michael

 

[Steve S.]

Really enjoyed reading your post.Very informational. I've had "T" for about 20 yrs. It didn't bother me. I could put it back and not think about it. I've been on paxil since 2002. It pooped out and i was put on trintellex around April. I tappered off paxil and increased the trintellex at the same time. late May i woke up around 2 in the morning with my ears ringing. They haven't stopped since. I got off the trin and was put on zoloft. I tried it for 9 weeks. It kept my anxiety up and never calm. As you know, anxiety and "T" don't mix well. I was put back on paxil 5 weeks ago. I feel 100% better. My depression has lifted. My anxiety is low and my appetite is back. I lost 13 lbs in 2 months between july and Aug. Now i'm coping with the "T" alot better. I still hear it and still have moments iu gets to me. Am i starting to Habitate?

 

[pathworker2017]

Much of the long ( and very well put article) covers ground that I am familiar with as i have experienced T since about 2012. As of about this time last year, the condition has jumped up from mild to verging on severe. the upshot is that, following an initial visit with my Gp I was referred to an audiologist, who, having done the necessary preliminaries has referred me to a ENT surgeon for further investigation as he is of the view that conductive hearing loss is a contributing factor. one technique I employ for promoting sleep when T is bothersome is to use a low level background soundscape( generally wide band) in conjunction with deep slow breathing. If this little nugget of information proves helpful to anyone then I know I'm on the right track.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Much of the long ( and very well put article) covers ground that I am familiar with as i have experienced T since about 2012. As of about this time last year, the condition has jumped up from mild to verging on severe. the upshot is that, following an initial visit with my Gp I was referred to an audiologist, who, having done the necessary preliminaries has referred me to a ENT surgeon for further investigation as he is of the view that conductive hearing loss is a contributing factor. one technique I employ for promoting sleep when T is bothersome is to use a low level background soundscape( generally wide band) in conjunction with deep slow breathing. If this little nugget of information proves helpful to anyone then I know I'm on the right track.

@pathworker2017
Hearing loss could be a factor and it's right that you should be referred to ENT. However, you may then be referred to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist if you have loss of hearing and a Hearing aid/s is recommend. Another thing to consider. If your tinnitus was oringinally caused by "loud noise" have you been listening to music through headphones or attending places where loud music is played or working in a noisy environment? Something usually causes tinnitus to get worse. If it is not an underlying medical problem then it is usually "sound"

Michael

 

[pathworker2017]

Micheal, thank you for your reply I have two theories as to possible cause of increase in the incidence of t(with regard to headphones, I have used studio grade headphones for working with sound as hobby generally keeping the volume set to a comfortable level and no louder). one theory i am working on is that an underlying congenital disorder maybe a causative factor( my mother contracted rubella while she was carrying me), the other possibility I have not ruled out is impact damage to the upper jaw following a fall onto a hard surface( around about may/June last year)

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi @pathworker2017

Your theories may be right.

Whenever people mention to me that their tinnitus has increased, the first thing I ask do they listen to music through headphones or attend places where loud music is played. The majority of the time I'm told they have returned to using headphones keeping the volume low and after a while noticed the tinnitus has increased.

People that work in call centres and wear a headset for long hours have contacted me to say they have developed tinnitus. In my opinion, headphones are dangerous for anyone to use that has tinnitus which was "originally caused by loud noise" I know some people with noise induced tinnitus aren't affected and you may be one of them. Knowing how debilitating this condition can be when it is severe and I've been there please believe me. It took 4 years for me to habituate the second time. I would never return to using headphones.

I wish you the best of luck at ENT and hope that you get some help.
Michael

 

[pathworker2017]

All I can say at this point is a big thank. on two fronts. first and foremost, that this forum actually exists in the first place. and a personal thank you, it is actually good to be able to communicate with someone who has been through the mill in this regard and as such it gives me immense encouragement.

 

[Saeed Ahmad Khan]

Thank you for sharing this informative and confidence improving article. To sum up what I got from it is that one should" learn to live with positive thinking".

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thank you for sharing this informative and confidence improving article. To sum up what I got from it is that one should" learn to live with positive thinking".

Thank you for your kind words @Saeed Ahmad Khan Athough I believe as many do that positivity is the way forward with tinnitus and living a better quality of life. For some this is a lot harder to achieve. It requires dedication, patience and to believe in oneself. Once a person accepts this life starts to become easier.

All the best
Michael

 

[Rajin]

Thank you so much, you are so knowledgeable. God bless you for helping ppl .

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thank you so much, you are so knowledgeable. God bless you for helping ppl .

You are very kind @Rajin thank you..
Michael

 

[Sven]

Well written and it seems to sum up everything quite well. All I've learned and plenty I've never learned was in there.

Some parts I wish I'd known before. I never knew for a fact (does anyone?) that damaged ears are more sensitive. That is, that those of us already with noise-caused T are even more sensitive to damage, thus making protection even more necessary and not to be toyed with (I say this as I'm suffering from a quite bad spike despite wearing protection at a loud party 10 days ago).

 

[AZeurotuner]

Well written and it seems to sum up everything quite well. All I've learned and plenty I've never learned was in there.

Some parts I wish I'd known before. I never knew for a fact (does anyone?) that damaged ears are more sensitive. That is, that those of us already with noise-caused T are even more sensitive to damage, thus making protection even more necessary and not to be toyed with (I say this as I'm suffering from a quite bad spike despite wearing protection at a loud party 10 days ago).

Where you talking a lot with ear plugs in? For me personally, the occlusion effect is really bad when I wear the regular foam plugs, having a deep voice and being kind of a loud talker amplifes my voice pretty badly. It might have been the sound of your self speaking that caused the spike.

 

[foliefortuna]

Where you talking a lot with ear plugs in? For me personally, the occlusion effect is really bad when I wear the regular foam plugs, having a deep voice and being kind of a loud talker amplifes my voice pretty badly. It might have been the sound of your self speaking that caused the spike.

What exactly is the occlusion effect? Does it only apply to internal sounds?

 

[Sven]

Where you talking a lot with ear plugs in? For me personally, the occlusion effect is really bad when I wear the regular foam plugs, having a deep voice and being kind of a loud talker amplifes my voice pretty badly. It might have been the sound of your self speaking that caused the spike.

Not more than usual. That has never (I think) been a problem. I use custom made earplugs, btw.

 

[AZeurotuner]

What exactly is the occlusion effect? Does it only apply to internal sounds?

Yeah it's when internal sound vibrations bounce off your ear protection and reflect into your ear drum, it's tends to be a lot worse with earplugs than ear muffs. Although it's supposed to be a lot better with custom plugs, because they go deeper in the ear canal, which is supposed to minimize the reflections to my understanding. I'm currently waiting on a set of custom molds, regular ear plugs are horrible for me.

 

[foliefortuna]

Yeah it's when internal sound vibrations bounce off your ear protection and reflect into your ear drum, it's tends to be a lot worse with earplugs than ear muffs. Although it's supposed to be a lot better with custom plugs, because they go deeper in the ear canal, which is supposed to minimize the reflections to my understanding. I'm currently waiting on a set of custom molds, regular ear plugs are horrible for me.

Thank you, but what is with dental drills and the occlusion effect? Dental drills are not an internal sound.

 

[AZeurotuner]

Thank you, but what is with dental drills and the occlusion effect? Dental drills are not an internal sound.

It is in the sense that it's in your mouth making contact with your teeth, which sends soundwaves through your bones.

 

[foliefortuna]

It is in the sense that it's in your mouth making contact with your teeth, which sends soundwaves through your bones.

I cannot believe I did not see that.

 

[AZeurotuner]

I cannot believe I did not see that.

No worries... Happens to the best of us sometimes.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Well written and it seems to sum up everything quite well. All I've learned and plenty I've never learned was in there.

Some parts I wish I'd known before. I never knew for a fact (does anyone?) that damaged ears are more sensitive. That is, that those of us already with noise-caused T are even more sensitive to damage, thus making protection even more necessary and not to be toyed with (I say this as I'm suffering from a quite bad spike despite wearing protection at a loud party 10 days ago).

Thank you for your kind words @Sven. A person can still enjoy a fulfilling life and go out and have a nice time at places where music is played. One still has to be careful of overly loud sounds because wearing earplugs doesn't necessarily mean one is safe. If external sound is loud enough, it can pass through the skull and transferred to the inner ear by bone conduction.

When is it convenient, please go to my "started threads". There you will find articles on coping with tinnitus that you might find helpful.

All the best
Michael