Tinnitus Answers

Tinnitus answers

I was recently asked the following questions by a few people and have decided to submit my replies here, as they might be of help to others. Names have been omitted.

“My T was caused by headphones, I’m 8 weeks in and can’t cope, any advice please”? “You have had T for many years. Can you honestly say that you enjoy life”? “Have you reached the stage where u now say "xxxx it" and live ur life”? “How is ur sleep”? “I’m also convinced that if you can teach ur brain certain things T can be totally demolished. Do u agree”? “My T is reactive to sound any advice on this”? “Where can I go to for professional help”?

I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulty coping with tinnitus at the moment and know this isn’t an easy time for you. On the positive front, most people habituate to tinnitus within the first six months to a year sometimes a little longer. They are usually able to carry on with their life doing everything that they want to without too much problems. Many things can cause tinnitus but the most common are: headphone use and going to places where loud music is played. Clubs, concerts including the cinema. I advise you not to listen to any type of audio through headphones even at low volume. When going to places where sound levels are likely to be high, I suggest wearing noise-reducing earplugs. These have built in filters and are different from foam earplugs.

Please read my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View, as you might find it helpful. The link is at the bottom of the page along with Hyperacusis, As I see it. Experiencing sensitivity to sound is very common with loud “noise trauma” The Reactive tinnitus that you mention is a direct result of this and is known as Hyperacusis. There are various ways of treating it that are covered in Hyperacusis, as I see it, as well as how to use noise reducing earplugs correctly. Some people over use them because of their sensitivity to sound. Doing this treats the symptom not the cause and therefore, without realising it the overuse of earplugs can make the auditory system hypersensitive to sound, so if one isn’t careful they can make the condition worse.

No two people will experience tinnitus the same and our emotional make up also plays a big part in how we are able to cope with it. Some people might need professional help in dealing with it and I’m a firm believer in this. Tinnitus is an integral part of a person’s mental health and cannot be separated from it. The more stressed we become the more intrusive the tinnitus will be. Anything that helps to relax us will usually have a positive impact on the tinnitus and make it more tolerable. Counseling with Hearing Therapist or Audiologist trained in tinnitus management can be of immense help and should be considered. Please click, on the links below for more advice on this.

Some people believe habituation means they will no longer hear the tinnitus but this is incorrect. However, it’s true that for some, their tinnitus can reduce to such a low level they hardly ever hear it. By contrast, others hear their tinnitus in the background and can live quite contently doing all the things they want to because their brain has learned to ignore it, and that’s what habituation is, learning to live with something. When you habituate you will feel a lot different to how you feel now, even if your tinnitus spikes occasionally. Your focus will not be so much on how to train your brain to demolish it. It takes time but most people can achieve a lot. Please click on the habituation link below.

I have had tinnitus a long time and unfortunately was medically retired from my job because of it. I wasn’t forced out as my employer helped me a lot but my tinnitus can be particularly severe at times, which wasn’t an ideal situation. People often use the terms: “I want to enjoy my life”. Or "Is it possible to enjoy life with tinnitus”?

I try to be a positive thinking person even in my down times. Although there was one point when I had reached my lowest ebb and that was in 2010. My tinnitus was variable and could reach very severe levels. After two years of TRT which helped but wasn’t as successful as the first time, I started to get depressed as I wasn’t making further improvement. I asked my consultant to be candid about my condition. She looked at me with concern and said, I was the second worst tinnitus patient she had met. I wanted the floor to open and swallow me whole as I felt so down and dark clouds were looming overhead. I asked for the truth and I got it. She continued with: “ I will never give up on treating you”.

It took four years to habituate the second time. I have been through many ups and downs with this condition just like other veterans. Tinnitus has made me into a stronger person and to appreciate the good things in my life, which I consider to be a lot compared to what others have in this world and what they have to endure. A roof over my head, food in the fridge and be able to sleep peacefully at night. To those at home reading this post on their computer it may not seem like a lot or something taken for granted. However, in some parts of the world people are unable to do or have these things for one reason or another. War, famine or total despair, take your choice because it’s all out there for you to see.

Accentuate the positive things in your life and this will help eliminate the negative.

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-mental-health.21978/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-habituation-possible.12758/

 

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and knowledge, @Michael Leigh . Let's hope that some of the recent start up companies working on hearing restoration such as Frequency Therapeutics and Decibel Therapeutics find success soon!

 

Thank you for your kind comments @Flamingo1 I also hope the companies that you refer to have success in hearing restoration.
Michael