Tinnitus and In-Ear Earphones

[smith]

Hi all.
As per my previous posts I have had tinnitus for 4 weeks since (came on out of nowhere whilst 36 weeks pregnant). Am hugely struggling with it ...

I listen to ocean waves from YouTube or apps to help me sleep at night. A few days ago I fell asleep with in ear earphones in with my ocean waves on extremely low for about an hour ... my right ear was pressed to the pillow and I feel my tinnitus has got worse in this ear ... it stands out as initially when it started it was the left ear although it had already spread to the right.

Could this low exposure have damaged my ear? I'm desperately hoping my tinnitus was caused by stress and will go ... but i am kicking myself as to whether I have made things worse!

Also does anyone have views on cranial osteopathy? I have booked to see a therapist who has cured and helped tinnitus patients.

Thanks

 

[MikeL1972]

Hi Smith,

Generally speaking, I would not use earphones/headphones going forward.

 

[smith]

Thanks Mike.
I used them briefly for two nights ... I wasn't putting the one in that was on the pillow apart from this one time.
It was the lowest volume and ocean waves only ... I am desperately hoping I haven't caused damage
I'm not coping very well

 

[VRZ78]

Try a sound machine instead of headphones. Did you go to ENT ?

 

[RaZaH]

It was the lowest volume and ocean waves only ... I am desperately hoping I haven't caused damage

I would not think this would cause any damage at all.

 

[smith]

Thanks all
I now just lay my phone on my pillow low using the sound apps.

I have seen three ENT consultants as was treated as a priority due to my pregnancy; the first said three weeks ago slight retraction to eat drums will probably be ok when baby born ... relax. The second said two and a half weeks ago there might be a tiny bit of retraction but unlikely to cause the ringing. He told me that people with tinnitus commit suicide. Told me to try and not stress and might get better. Third one said last week he believes is stress, smiled at me and told me it won't go until I relax. Saw second one again today and audiologist ... been given maskers that look like hearing aids. Need to wear them 4 to 8 hours a day and might improve within 3 months. I asked for an MRI as this had not been offered and am now awaiting an appointment. My hearing has been checked a couple of times and appears to be within normal limits. I had a grommet in my right ear when I was a teenager and again about 8 years ago due to glue ear but had absolutely no issues since.

Thanks for reading

 

[GregCA]

Third one said last week he believes is stress, smiled at me and told me it won't go until I relax.

That's doctorese for "I have no clue".

 

[MikeL1972]

That's doctorese for "I have no clue".

Basically, that is the truth. Once they look into your ears and see no wax, their guess is about as good as yours.

 

[Tommi_boi]

I highly doubt an hour of low sounds is going to do anything .

U will be fine

On another note , I don't think it was a good thing for this ENT to tell u people with Tinnitus commit suicide , this is not a responsible thing to say at all..