Why Does Tinnitus Bother Us So Much??

[Marie79]

It bothers me greatly but I was thinking...

There are plenty of situations that people sleep through different noises they can't control (airplanes, trains etc).

Is it really the idea that we can't ever turn this off that makes it so hard? I mean it is but why can't we at least get to a point that we can sleep like someone could easily fall asleep on a train or plane?

Just wondering. We all know the anxiety plays a role. I am asking this for myself as well.

 

[Michael Leigh]

It bothers me greatly but I was thinking...
There are plenty of situations that people sleep through different noises they can't control (airplanes, trains etc).
Is it really the idea that we can't ever turn this off that makes it so hard? I mean it is but why can't we at least get to a point that we can sleep like someone could easily fall asleep on a train or plane?
Just wondering. We all know the anxiety plays a role. I am asking this for myself as well.

Tinnitus affects each person differently. When a person habituates they are not bothered whether they hear the tinnitus or not. It is all about acceptance. It is true there are certain limitations to habituation. For example: My tinnitus is variable. When it is silent, mild, or moderate I am not in the least bothered by it. Even when it is intrusive and severe I can cope for around 2 days without having to resort to clonazepam and can go to sleep without too much trouble. However, if this level is sustained for more than 3 days then I usually have to take my clonazepam to calms things down.

All I'm saying is that I've accepted my tinnitus and therefore my focus is taken away from it. If you were able to see a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist who's trained in the management of tinnitus (counselling) they could help you through "talk therapy" to take away your focus from the tinnitus. I know people that have low tinnitus and only hear it in a quiet room, yet they are still bothered by it because they want complete silence. They haven't accepted their tinnitus and this can make habituation difficult.

Michael

 

[Alue]

The area of the brain that gets overstimulated or overexcited in cases of tinnitus may, in some people, incorporate other non-auditory neurological pathways like those involved in pain, concentration, and stress. So tinnitus may not just be a sound we hear, but it could lead to brain wide changes. This is just a theory, and it doesn't seem to happen in everyone that gets tinnitus.

 

[Scared111]

is it just personality? i can't seem to get used to it either
QUOTE="Marie79, post: 259172, member: 14226"]It bothers me greatly but I was thinking...

There are plenty of situations that people sleep through different noises they can't control (airplanes, trains etc).

Is it really the idea that we can't ever turn this off that makes it so hard? I mean it is but why can't we at least get to a point that we can sleep like someone could easily fall asleep on a train or plane?

 

[Jake007]

Is it really the idea that we can't ever turn this off that makes it so hard?

That could be it for me, not quite sure yet. It just blows my mind some people on here sleep on just the noise, and some even wear earplugs.

 

[Tinker Bell]

I think it's a combination of things. I slept perfectly fine for the first two weeks -- until I realized my tinnitus was permanent. Of course, then it also skyrocketed in volume so that didn't help.

I used to live next to a busy road and for the first six months, I could not sleep. The sound drove me crazy, even during the day. But life moved on, and I soon realized that the more I kept my mind occupied, the less that I noticed the loud vehicles. I guess I habituated to it! It got to a point where I didn't notice it, even hated to move away.

For me, I think that if I could handle that, then I should be okay again. But, it mentally bothers me that this sound is not real, that it's in my head, and that it will never go away. And my perception of all the things that I think I can no longer do, that really bothers me too.

 

[Michael Leigh]

is it just personality? i can't seem to get used to it either

@Scared111

Accepting tinnitus takes time and will be different for each person. Most people that have habituated to this condition will tell you that is mostly do with how we cope with it mentally or our emotional response to it. Sometimes professional help is required and a person is advised to see a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist whose trained in the management of tinnitus. Please read the post below.


The habituation process.

Habituation is frequently talked about in tinnitus forums and probably comes in at second place to the popular question: when will a cure be found? It seems some people have become quite taken with this word and believe it is the most important thing to strive for when dealing with this condition. Everyone wants to habituate as soon as possible and carry on living their life doing everything that they want to and putting tinnitus firmly behind them.

I can honestly say that I see nothing wrong with that, but wanting something in the speed that we would like it isn't always achievable, especially with something like tinnitus. A few people that have had tinnitus for a while, have contacted me to discuss just that. They have concerns about the length of time it's taking to habituate. Similarly, I have heard from those new to this condition that want the habitation process to start as quickly as possible. Both groups tell me they are doing all the right things but it seems patience is giving way to despondency and despair and some are starting to believe habituation might never happen for them.

It is of little comfort to these people when they hear family and friends say, tinnitus is just a minor irritant and something that can easily be ignored. Occasionally, it might be intrusive but this is never more than temporary and they are still able to carry on with their life unperturbed. I often sense the frustration a person is under when they are relaying this to me. Whether I'm talking to them on the telephone, private messenger or answering an email. It is then that I'm often asked: why is it that the habituation process doesn't seem to be happening for them?

Answering such a question isn't easy because there is no single answer that I can provide but I will say this. Tinnitus is a common condition that comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. It can be very troublesome especially in the early stages of onset, but gradually this gives way and the condition settles down and in time many manage to cope with it when it's mild or moderate. Sometimes this may involve treatment via a hearing therapist or a person achieves this naturally without being referred to a clinic.

It should be noted that tinnitus can be a complex condition, depending on how loud and intrusive it is for the individual? So what I've just outlined won't apply to everyone. There are other factors that also come into play. A person's make-up or rather their outlook on life. Whether they are positive or negative thinking can help or delay the habitation process. In addition to this, stress and anxiety are often associated with tinnitus and a person might be taking medication such as an antidepressant to help cope with it. There are a myriad of scenarios that I could relay to you on how tinnitus can affect someone's quality of life, their well-being and the habituation process. For now I will say this:

When a person habituates to tinnitus it means they are able cope with it but this doesn't mean they will never hear it. Although some people habituate to a level where the tinnitus is rarely heard or stays at a very low level. Whether the tinnitus is silent for periods of time or remains low, mild, moderate or is occasionally intrusive, it doesn't really matter, because it all means the same thing. When habituation is reached a person will know, because whatever the level it will not bother you. However, like everything there are exceptions and tinnitus is no different. I believe there are some limitations to habituation. As I have previously said the condition comes in many forms and intensities. Some people have variable tinnitus that can fluctuate from silent, mild, moderate and severe. When it is loud and intrusive (severe) and this level is sustained for long periods it can become very debilitating and a person might have to take medication to cope with it, which is usually supplied by their doctor. This level of sustained intrusiveness shouldn't be confused with a tinnitus spike, which usually returns to baseline within a short period of time.

I want to say that I believe habituation is achievable for most people with time. In some instances a person might need the professional help of a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist, as there are a variety of treatment options available to help one in the habituation process. One should also try to be realistic. There are some people that will accept nothing less than a complete cure from their tinnitus and this is unfortunate, because they could waste a lot of time being miserable.

I have corresponded with people that have said, their tinnitus is very low and is only heard occasionally or in a quiet room, at night for instance. Yet these people are not satisfied because they want a complete cure and will deliberately seek out quiet surroundings to monitor their tinnitus, checking to see if it has increased or not. It's as if they have become obsessed with this condition and to the point where is starts to affect their relationship with those that are close to them, and I don't think this is healthy.

In summing up I want to say one last thing. Those that are having treatment with a Hearing Therapist, Audiologist, or finding that their tinnitus is becoming less intrusive and they are in the habituation process. Try not to read negative posts or associate with negative thinking people who are not in the same place that you are, as their beliefs can prevent your advancement, if you are not careful.

I wish you well
Michael

PS: further reading on habituation:
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/answers-to-hyperacusis-and-habituation.12058/

 

[ofaisalo]

I just imagine my T is the AC sound in my room you can't shut it down
so you just have to sleep and beat your T
I know this might not helping but it does for me

 

[JurgenG]

Personally: The way I've gotten T.. Really stupid misstake in my case.
Also the fear of it making worse, and how limited I am now.

The sound, when it is at it mildest I can deal with, more and more.

 

[Bill Bauer]

until I realized my tinnitus was permanent.

Have you experienced any improvement since February or March?

 

[Lex]

* We can't switch it off.
* We can't run away from it.
* We can't enjoy silence anymore.
* We don't know if it's going to get louder.
* We don't have a clear list of do's and don'ts.
* We're pissed there's no good treatment for it.
* We suffer from other symptoms that go with T.

 

[Mentos]

I think it's the lack of control over the sound is what bothers us the most. Take an example of radio: I know quite some people without T who play radio all the time at work, in a car, at home almost always. I even know 1-2 people who sleep with radio on. There are people with T who simply do not like silence (colleague of wife, my sisters, my coleagues from work who always play music in the office). Are they bothered by the sound of radio? Not at all, they even entertain it. So I recently play radio all the time at work and at home (my T is mild enough to be masked by it). I read and sleep with rainsounds, they sooth me down. So what really botheres me with T? It's a lack of silence and lack of control over the condition. It can get worse for no reason, the fact that I need to manage it, the thought that it may be a lifetime condition makes it difficult to bear emotionally.

 

[slipware]

It bothers us so much because it just isn't normal.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Have you experienced any improvement since February or March?

That depends on how we are defining improvement. Are we measuring improvement by tinnitus sound volume, pitch, and intensity? Or are we measuring by anxiety, depression and habituation?

My hearing loss has not improved, and it's not going to regardless of whether I wear ear plugs for everyday sounds, listen to white noise, or take medication. My tinnitus is a direct result of that hearing loss, so it's not going to improve.

But my overall anxiety and depression have improved, which makes me feel like I can better cope, better focus on the world beyond the noise in my head, and better get back to my life.

 

[Lex]

That could be it for me, not quite sure yet. It just blows my mind some people on here sleep on just the noise, and some even wear earplugs.

I don't mask anymore.

To be honest, I don't get stressed when I hear my T loud and clear while wearing earplugs, but I sort of panic when I faintly hear it every so often in a not-noisy-but-not-quiet environment sans earplugs. I guess it's because I expect to hear my T with earplugs on, but not without.

 

[Sam Bridge]

I don't mask anymore.

To be honest, I don't get stressed when I hear my T loud and clear while wearing earplugs, but I sort of panic when I faintly hear it every so often in a not-noisy-but-not-quiet environment sans earplugs. I guess it's because I expect to hear my T with earplugs on, but not without.

Interesting, sometimes if I go into a queit room i will cover my ear so that its kinda like a "heads up to hear the " if that makes sense.

 

[Lex]

@Sam Bridge, I think I get you. It's like telling yourself to brace for it, so it won't catch you off-guard. I believe for people with mild / moderate / maskable / non-debilitating T, the lack of control we have over the buzz is a big factor in when we'll habituate. For far worse T, volume takes center stage so it's much, much more difficult to let it go.

I would have habituated by now if I didn't have H.

 

[Kelvin]

For me the H is the worse bit.
I think my base T is mild compared to others on here.
When H decides to make my ears sensitive then Mr T kicks off !!
It bothers me because it seems to occur at random and I have have no control, a complete inability to make a difference.
Its very mentally tiring to deal with or try and ignore.

 

[Candy]

Mine is audiable over most things, if I wear plugs it's extremely unpleasant.
Having a radio or external sound masking it would be brilliant but it's not the case, even though noise helps reduce its impact.
One year in, never listed to music through headphones, never listened to music period, been to two concerts over 15 years ago, only had theTV on from 6.00pm.
And it's as loud as ever. All this because of a loud prolonged shout in a small room (main lead). You couldn't make it up.

The only positives are that I have a good audiogram, that some days the sound is more moderate and that in the mornings it's softer. But Mr piercing T, I cannot get used to him.

So if your T is mild try and enjoy life and maybe get some therapy to help you deal with the uncertainty around the future, the anger, guilt and acceptance as it sounds like that's a big part of some people's struggle...

 

[Raphael7713]

I've been suffering from T on and off for 6 months. I told one of my friends that I have T and he said "I also have it, im practically deaf in one ear" (he is a musician). What is strange is that he has NEVER EVER mentioned this before. Then I asked my other buddy if it's true that our friend has T or if he is just trying to comfort me, and he replied "no it's true, he has almost no hearing in one of the ears". And I thought wow...he has never mentioned this. Either it's very mild, or he is just built in a way where he ignores it completely. This is a friend that has spent years in a studio making and listening to music his entire life.

 

[Sam Bridge]

Mine is audiable over most things, if I wear plugs it's extremely unpleasant.
Having a radio or external sound masking it would be brilliant but it's not the case, even though noise helps reduce its impact.
One year in, never listed to music through headphones, never listened to music period, been to two concerts over 15 years ago, only had theTV on from 6.00pm.
And it's as loud as ever. All this because of a loud prolonged shout in a small room (main lead). You couldn't make it up.

The only positives are that I have a good audiogram, that some days the sound is more moderate and that in the mornings it's softer. But Mr piercing T, I cannot get used to him.

So if your T is mild try and enjoy life and maybe get some therapy to help you deal with the uncertainty around the future, the anger, guilt and acceptance as it sounds like that's a big part of some people's struggle...

I am not sure an audiogram determines severity of t. I have mild hearing loss at a couple of frequencies and my t by description compared to yours seems alot softer, its not really piercing either. My grandad has hearing aids for his severe loss and he says his t is very mild also. Makes this whole thing even more bizarre.

 

[grate_biff]

@Sam Bridge, I think I get you. It's like telling yourself to brace for it, so it won't catch you off-guard. I believe for people with mild / moderate / maskable / non-debilitating T, the lack of control we have over the buzz is a big factor in when we'll habituate. For far worse T, volume takes center stage so it's much, much more difficult to let it go.

I would have habituated by now if I didn't have H.

You are so right, Lex.
I like you!

 

[grate_biff]

Either it's very mild, or he is just built in a way where he ignores it completely

The eternal question of T. It as hard to answer as the "chicken or the egg!" thing.
It makes it close to impossible to even discuss,to give advice to each other or to understand how we feel about it. Nothing is right and nothing is wrong.
Still, here we all are!
I guess, not feeling so alone with it, goes a long way!

 

[Raphael7713]

The eternal question of T. It as hard to answer as the "chicken or the egg!" thing.
It makes it close to impossible to even discuss,to give advice to each other or to understand how we feel about it. Nothing is right and nothing is wrong.
Still, here we all are!
I guess, not feeling so alone with it, goes a long way!

I think it's important not to feed the T. Some people can naturally ignore it very easy, while for the most of us we think about it often and "feed" the T with attention and stress/anxiety.

 

[Sam Bridge]

I've been suffering from T on and off for 6 months. I told one of my friends that I have T and he said "I also have it, im practically deaf in one ear" (he is a musician). What is strange is that he has NEVER EVER mentioned this before. Then I asked my other buddy if it's true that our friend has T or if he is just trying to comfort me, and he replied "no it's true, he has almost no hearing in one of the ears". And I thought wow...he has never mentioned this. Either it's very mild, or he is just built in a way where he ignores it completely. This is a friend that has spent years in a studio making and listening to music his entire life.

I am sure i read that Dave Grohl is almost deaf in one ear and has t, yet he carries on. Not sure how loud his t is though.

 

[GregCA]

It bothers me greatly but I was thinking...

There are plenty of situations that people sleep through different noises they can't control (airplanes, trains etc).

Is it really the idea that we can't ever turn this off that makes it so hard? I mean it is but why can't we at least get to a point that we can sleep like someone could easily fall asleep on a train or plane?

My noise is nothing like a train or a plane. I find trains/planes soothing, just like a fan or a vacuum cleaner.
My T is difficult to bear because it's a distressing stimulus. It's not a naturally occurring sound and it creates a natural response from the hard wiring in my body, similar to pain.

The analogy I like to give people is to think about eyesight. Take a look at the moon: you can look at it, it's ok, even at night. Imagine if the moon was in your field of vision 24x7: that's annoying, for sure, but it doesn't "hurt".

Now imagine you go out and have the sun hit your eyes. Your first natural reflex is to squint and/or stick your hand in front of your eyes to cover the sun. That's because "it hurts". Now imagine you aren't allowed to close your eyes or cover the sun with your hand, and you have that 24x7 in your field of vision. I understand you can make an argument that "it won't kill you", or "it's just a light", but the stimulus itself is strong enough to make it very unpleasant, just like a traditional nociception.

Mild T vs Severe T is Moon vs Sun in my parallel universe. I find that people can relate to this more easily than a description of the sound: when describing the sound they think that it's like cicadas in the summer (and start relating to pleasant vacation experiences), or something like a soothing fan/train/plane. No big deal in their eyes (pun intended).

 

[Zenyatta]

Yeah @GregCA , that's a huge part of it. I have multiple T sounds - I can completely tune out some of them as they're not terribly intrusive, but the one that sounds like microphone feedback combined with a remote car alarm? Hoo boy.

 

[Sam Bridge]

@GregCA interesting anaolgoy. Can you describe your sound? Is it maskable?

 

[Krish230]

Uncertainty about the future. I'm only 20 years old and have my whole life to live, yet I have severe and intrusive T.

I've had to change my lifestyle - no headphones, keep times spent in loud places to a minimum - alongside the fear that it'll keep getting even worse.

My friends do understand, but I'm finding habituation really difficult because the noise seems to steadily getting louder. What will it be like in 20 years time, when I'm 40?

 

[GregCA]

@GregCA interesting anaolgoy. Can you describe your sound? Is it maskable?

I have multiple sounds:
The first one is a low frequency drone that I easily tune out.
The second one is somewhat of a tone around 7.1 kHz.
The third one is a fluctuating higher pitch noise that is similar to the ultrasonic cleaners that dental hygienists use to clean your teeth.

We've tried masking techniques with the audiologist but it didn't work. The audiologist said if we keep increasing the volume of the masker, it would get into unsafe territory (because I have hearing loss). So no, it's not maskable.
The best masker is the shower: it doesn't cover it completely, but it does help drown it.