Will Tinnitus Ever Get Better?

[dan]

I have had, in retrospect, several tinnitus spikes during my life, the first memorable one was back in 1985, with several in between. The last one was the worst.

I can say in my experience that each improved, but it takes a lot of time.

Hi Digital Doc, was this worst spike caused by noise? Can you elaborate how long did said spike last, when did you start feeling improvement? Did it return to baseline? Etc.

 

[Don Tinny]

It can get better and it can get worse. It all depends on the damage.

 

[Digital Doc]

Hi Digital Doc, was this worst spike caused by noise? Can you elaborate how long did said spike last, when did you start feeling improvement? Did it return to baseline? Etc.

This last spike was caused by a new weed wacker. It started over a year ago. It took about 8 months for improvement. Not sure what my baseline was before as it has varied though the years. Over a year later, things are a lot better, although I still have some less than ideal days, usually associated with a lack of sleep for reasons unrelated to the tinnitus.

 

[monkey legs]

I find that potatoes sets my ear to ringing it only takes one medium sized to set it off. Diabetes and diet is tuff to deal with. One day this works next day well that didn't help at all. My t is more likely to come on during the night, just about the time I'm headed for the toilet.

Dont forget your perception of Tinnitus is also related to your external sound enviroment. Sometimes its easy to think that the T has got louder. When in fact the external sounds are so quiet, there is nothing to mitigate the internal sound.

Hope this helps.

Peace & Love.

Chimp.

 

[Kriszti]

It can get better and it can get worse. It all depends on the damage.

Is there any way to objectively measure the damage done?

 

[Don Tinny]

Is there any way to objectively measure the damage done?

I think not. It is very difficult to reach the inner ear cells. You can do a regular hearing test, but audiometries don't cover the entire frequency spectrum.

 

[StubbyJ]

Unfortunately, and fortunately T is different for everyone. Upon onset four years ago it went from pure tone to ambient hiss to on its way out (barely audible) until I listened to a binaural beat track/video which produced two extremely loud tones (tea kettle and jet engine). One night it was as loud as a hair dryer in the ear and almost as loud from the back of my head. Thanks God that lasted only and evening. On the positive side, it made everything thereafter an improvement. As I sit here today it's way, way better with my quietest day occurring two weeks ago and as I type a mini vacation. I've have about 5 setbacks with both T an H and have recovered from all. Do I think my luck with persist, don't know, but every time I come on here my hope fades?

I have musician friends whom have played live with T for decades with never experiencing a single sign of increased intensity. But yet you read the unfortunate events of other's and it makes you/me freak out.

My neighbor (65/male) has had it for years from work (pipe fitter). It has remained the same, never changing. He mows, garden tills, runs the leaf blower, shoots guns with hearing protection...and doesn't give a crap.

We as individuals need to "learn" our own T and what we can and can't get away with; there's no one answer. Yes, the obvious thing to do is to avoid loud noises; I guess the consensus is anything over 65 dB but I could be wrong. However, some of us just can't help ourselves and simply, "need to mow the lawn."

Also, what's crazy T for some, is "nuttin but a chicken wing" for another. We naturally talk about volume as the main factor in intrusiveness, but I find tone and placement a huge factor. I've since developed so may tones I cannot begin to remember them, but I know for sure some louder ones don't bother me as much a quieter ones depending upon the aforementioned variables.

In short, in my experience and with many others yes, T gets better and one can recover from spikes. For other people no, T does not get better and they do not recover from spikes. Learn your T and make the best decisions you can.

I do believe flat range speakers are WAY more damaging than other loud noises. I've never experienced a T spike from motors and whatnot, but as soon as I'm around PA speakers (flat range) I get a spike. Motors and whatnot offer me H setbacks, but as mentioned, as far as T those speakers are evil...as evidenced by all the onset testimonials.

I do want to offer that my T is is/was noise induced but as soon as I began physical therapy for my spine I saw a reduction in volume, pain, pulsatile and chirping T. I have pretty pronounced to terrible back/neck issues, thus may not work for the limber folk out there.

Take care, and may the cure some soon. I don't know you all but, I do care for you.

Be good to one another.