What Jobs Can People with Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Do?

[DebInAustralia]

I had ear pain for many months but then it went. It was years ago, before the tinnitus. Nobody could work out what it was. TMJ in the end...

I've just been diagnosed with TMJ, and have ear pain from it.

 

[Candy]

Yes TMJ here too... but that doesn't mean it's the cause so not sure what to do... I have a splint but I don't notice any difference.

 

[PeteJ]

I believe what you might be experiencing is pain hyperacusis.
You can read this if you want to know a bit more about it. There's also the podcast that was done by Tinnitus Talk.

Sorry you're going through this. It can't be easy. I hope you find some answers.

But, the pain usually comes on after the noise - that isn't typical?

I can also feel that something is wrong in my ear but I don't know how to describe it. It makes me very concerned like it won't ever go away or heal. I don't know what is wrong or what it means.

 

[Bartoli]

But, the pain usually comes on after the noise - that isn't typical?

I can also feel that something is wrong in my ear but I don't know how to describe it. It makes me very concerned like it won't ever go away or heal. I don't know what is wrong or what it means.

I think delayed onset of pain is possible. I'm not the best source of info on that. For me, following an unexpected loud noise that startles me, like one of my kids that lets out a shriek, it just ramps up my tinnitus and can make it more vicious. But it's pretty much immediate.

For the weird feeling in your ear I can't tell since you can't describe it. Even if you could, chances are I don't know. My right ear feels weird , like there's a void in information coming in, maybe because of the asymmetry between my two ears in terms of hearing loss?

All the best Pete.

 

[serendipity1996]

I think delayed onset of pain is possible. I'm not the best source of info on that. For me, following an unexpected loud noise that startles me, like one of my kids that lets out a shriek, it just ramps up my tinnitus and can make it more vicious. But it's pretty much immediate.

For the weird feeling in your ear I can't tell since you can't describe it. Even if you could, chances are I don't know. My right ear feels weird , like there's a void in information coming in, maybe because of the asymmetry between my two ears in terms of hearing loss?

All the best Pete.

But, the pain usually comes on after the noise - that isn't typical?

I can also feel that something is wrong in my ear but I don't know how to describe it. It makes me very concerned like it won't ever go away or heal. I don't know what is wrong or what it means.

I primarily experience a delayed-onset reaction. Never really got immediate acute pain from sound although I would experience a 'broken speaker' effect where my ears would crackle in response to certain high-frequency sounds. That's mostly gone away now but yeah it can totally be delayed-onset.

 

[Juan]

I know a number ex-service guys who ended up getting partial disability for tinnitus/hearing loss after they completed their tours (heavy gunners, submarine radar headset operators, etc). I don't know anyone who tried to get a medical discharge for this during their service; I'm sure it happens, but it's not very common. It's not as though most people working construction are bored biochem degree holders exploring other options. If you are 8-years skilled as a bulldozer operator, you're making very good money doing something, with a skillset that's not really applicable to doing anything else. Tough situation.

Submarine radar headset operator? Where does the hearing damage come from? Loud headset?

 

[linearb]

Submarine radar headset operator? Where does the hearing damage come from? Loud headset?

yeah, you have to wear a headset to monitor radio beeps, with the background noise of a battle sub at operation, and you're wearing that beep beep headset for your whole shift

for the record the dude in question never seemed very bothered by this from what I could tell, it was just part of his military story.

 

[Juan]

yeah, you have to wear a headset to monitor radio beeps, with the background noise of a battle sub at operation, and you're wearing that beep beep headset for your whole shift

for the record the dude in question never seemed very bothered by this from what I could tell, it was just part of his military story.

Sounds a bit like torture, even for normal hearing people.

Just off topic... after developing hyperacusis I watched this documentary about Guantanamo torture practices and apparently they consist of playing heavy metal full volume. Basically this can produce hyperacusis, tinnitus, hearing loss... invisible damage.

 

[Contrast]

Get a disability attorney and attest the State's the denial of disability income. Expect to get denied 3-5 times before you win.


This is such common knowledge in autism/mental health circles but it isn't being circulated much in the tinnitus/chronic pain world. People get denied SSI once and give up. That's sad. Everyone knows you get denied the first time no matter what. I found a girl on twitter with a painful disease preaching this but in general autism community circles view this as common knowledge, where as for tinnitus and physical injuries don't. I don't think the NIH funded psychologist that use ACT and TRT to prevent us from getting disability would like us to know this.

 

[RishRamsey]

And what about people not from the US? Fuck their lives!