Tinnitus - ways to reduce effect and cope
Discussion
I’ve had sudden onset of tinnitus in one ear starting a few month ago suddenly from no where.
It varies from barely there to a loud buzz that sound to me like it’s in the room and can be quite annoying.
I’ve had checks, tests etc and nothing wrong other than very mild age related hearing loss and the Doc tells me it’s no concern unless the noise pulses and that long term CBT may be offered to help psychologically to ignore the noise.
White noise helps, being really busy helps and occasionally I think it’s gone only for it to return again.
I’d love to know if anyone has had similar and how they’ve dealt with it. The only correlation seems that it appeared after a flu type bug that left a coughing symptom for many weeks. That completely cleared months ago.
Doc tells me it may go suddenly one day in a few months or it may just remain and then I’ll need to look into CBT to train my brain to ignore it rather than a physical cure.
Seems a tricky one to nail down a cause and fix but I’d be grateful if others experience.
It varies from barely there to a loud buzz that sound to me like it’s in the room and can be quite annoying.
I’ve had checks, tests etc and nothing wrong other than very mild age related hearing loss and the Doc tells me it’s no concern unless the noise pulses and that long term CBT may be offered to help psychologically to ignore the noise.
White noise helps, being really busy helps and occasionally I think it’s gone only for it to return again.
I’d love to know if anyone has had similar and how they’ve dealt with it. The only correlation seems that it appeared after a flu type bug that left a coughing symptom for many weeks. That completely cleared months ago.
Doc tells me it may go suddenly one day in a few months or it may just remain and then I’ll need to look into CBT to train my brain to ignore it rather than a physical cure.
Seems a tricky one to nail down a cause and fix but I’d be grateful if others experience.
I've struggled with this for forty plus years, in the early days it was a real pain but over the years i have learned to live with it.
Reading your post just happened to remind me I have tinnitus !
I find listening to music through headphones helps quite a bit & mostly try to live in an environment with a bit of noise around me.
Reading your post just happened to remind me I have tinnitus !
I find listening to music through headphones helps quite a bit & mostly try to live in an environment with a bit of noise around me.
If it appeared from nowhere, it's more likely to disappear than not. As opposed to a reaction from loud noise which tends to be more permanent.
But it can very often be stress related, and an early warning sign to slow down a bit or have an extended break - this would be my first priority.
Ultimately though it's most important to not get hyper-focussed on the noise..it can effectively merge into the background over time if you don't allow it to become a distraction or annoyance.
But it can very often be stress related, and an early warning sign to slow down a bit or have an extended break - this would be my first priority.
Ultimately though it's most important to not get hyper-focussed on the noise..it can effectively merge into the background over time if you don't allow it to become a distraction or annoyance.
Many years ago, I had flu like symptoms one evening, just aching legs, bit of a fever. It had gone by the morning. About an hour later I noticed my hearing in one ear wasn't great and I had tinnitus.
Turned out I had (according to ENT) an inner ear infection which caused permanent hearing loss and tinnitus.
You do get used to it with time. Some times can be worse than others. But yes, as most people say, white noise is probably the most effective solution.
Turned out I had (according to ENT) an inner ear infection which caused permanent hearing loss and tinnitus.
You do get used to it with time. Some times can be worse than others. But yes, as most people say, white noise is probably the most effective solution.
I caught a puking and s
tting bug off some little creep in a supermarket. I was left with destroyed balance for six months and tinnitus that hasn't gone away for a second for ten or more years.
It's not overtly loud, but it's enough to drown out softer voices and sounds.
I'm not often aware of it any more unless I concentrate on it. I've either learnt to ignore it or the brain has tuned it out. Didn't seek out any methods.
tting bug off some little creep in a supermarket. I was left with destroyed balance for six months and tinnitus that hasn't gone away for a second for ten or more years. It's not overtly loud, but it's enough to drown out softer voices and sounds.
I'm not often aware of it any more unless I concentrate on it. I've either learnt to ignore it or the brain has tuned it out. Didn't seek out any methods.
Wifey suffers, and her hearing is not great anyway especially higher frequencies.
She sometimes uses hearing aids, for some reason the tinnutus is reduced considerably with the aids in place, don't need to be £3000 jobbies, as with glasses cheaper products are available that do everything you want of them.
I have mild tinnitus and have for years but am able to tune it out.
She sometimes uses hearing aids, for some reason the tinnutus is reduced considerably with the aids in place, don't need to be £3000 jobbies, as with glasses cheaper products are available that do everything you want of them.
I have mild tinnitus and have for years but am able to tune it out.
I suffered after a nasty bout of chickenpox in my 40s.
Thankfully I am so used to it, I am able to zone out. However, I do need the radio on to get to sleep. My hearing isn't to bad, but when I am tired, I can hear, but it isn't always defined, especially if the person speaking isn't actually facing me.
I have also found that certain medication such as paracetamol make it worse.
Thankfully I am so used to it, I am able to zone out. However, I do need the radio on to get to sleep. My hearing isn't to bad, but when I am tired, I can hear, but it isn't always defined, especially if the person speaking isn't actually facing me.
I have also found that certain medication such as paracetamol make it worse.
I’ve had tinnitus for years, probably from playing music too loudly or standing in the student Union right next to the speakers at gigs.
I’ve somehow learnt to ignore it, but as soon as you mention or think about it, it appears. Like now, writing this it’s suddenly become louder than the TV.
I had an episode where it suddenly increased in volume a few years ago after a sinus infection, which left me unable to sleep, and I was in tears. Didn’t know what to do. I sought help, and the docs referred me to a specialist. He was apparently a top specialist in the country (Prof valentine I think?) who immediately put my back up, and told me it was simply stress and nothing to do with the infection. However he recommended CBT. Thankfully symptoms calmed down after the course and 6 months later my tinnitus was at the level I had been used to. As much as I didn’t warm to him, his team helped me.
When lying in bed with my head against the headboard, I can hear new sounds which pulse. Quite odd, but I guess I’m doing pressure on a vein or something.
Have confidence that it will recede. Either you’ll learn to block it out subconsciously, or the conditions that are causing it (infections etc) will ease and it’ll disappear.
I would recommend a CBT course though, it does help.
I’ve somehow learnt to ignore it, but as soon as you mention or think about it, it appears. Like now, writing this it’s suddenly become louder than the TV.
I had an episode where it suddenly increased in volume a few years ago after a sinus infection, which left me unable to sleep, and I was in tears. Didn’t know what to do. I sought help, and the docs referred me to a specialist. He was apparently a top specialist in the country (Prof valentine I think?) who immediately put my back up, and told me it was simply stress and nothing to do with the infection. However he recommended CBT. Thankfully symptoms calmed down after the course and 6 months later my tinnitus was at the level I had been used to. As much as I didn’t warm to him, his team helped me.
When lying in bed with my head against the headboard, I can hear new sounds which pulse. Quite odd, but I guess I’m doing pressure on a vein or something.
Have confidence that it will recede. Either you’ll learn to block it out subconsciously, or the conditions that are causing it (infections etc) will ease and it’ll disappear.
I would recommend a CBT course though, it does help.
Thread resurrection, as I am currently having various checks for Tinnitus. It started after helping out at our village D-Day celebrations 18 months ago. I was helping put up the flag (scaffolding) poles and was holding the pole while another chap hammered it into the ground with a sledgehammer. Needless to say, I wasn't wearing any ear protection and before long I noticed my left ear was ringing. This wasn't helped by spending a week at Le Mans a few days later just to compound the problem.
It soon evolved into a weird rattling noise in my ear, particularly noticeable when driving (I assume it is aggravated by the different air pressure) or when air blows past my ear or particularly bass heavy music. I have had various checks and had my ears cleaned out a few times and it still persists, although it was picked up that the ear drum is very thin, which I believe was caused by an over enthusiastic ear syringing by a young nurse a few years ago. I have been suggested hearing aids to help, but I have tried ear buds and the sound is still noticeable, so I'm not convinced.
After another check up at ENT a few weeks ago, I was referred for an MRI, which I had yesterday (anyone else hate MRI's, or just me ?). The chap I saw at ENT said this was just to check for any benign tumours, which may be causing the problem. Not sure how he would know they would be benign before the MRI, but he assured me they would be.
So, assuming that comes back all ok, I assume I just have to live with it. It could be worse I suppose, as I don't hear the rattle all the time, and I don't drive as much as I used to, which is when it is most noticeable. Does anyone else have this particular type of Tinnitus ? As every time I have explained the symptoms to any medical professional, they look at me like I am slightly mad. I even have to explain that yes I have checked the car for rattles and it isn't that !
It soon evolved into a weird rattling noise in my ear, particularly noticeable when driving (I assume it is aggravated by the different air pressure) or when air blows past my ear or particularly bass heavy music. I have had various checks and had my ears cleaned out a few times and it still persists, although it was picked up that the ear drum is very thin, which I believe was caused by an over enthusiastic ear syringing by a young nurse a few years ago. I have been suggested hearing aids to help, but I have tried ear buds and the sound is still noticeable, so I'm not convinced.
After another check up at ENT a few weeks ago, I was referred for an MRI, which I had yesterday (anyone else hate MRI's, or just me ?). The chap I saw at ENT said this was just to check for any benign tumours, which may be causing the problem. Not sure how he would know they would be benign before the MRI, but he assured me they would be.
So, assuming that comes back all ok, I assume I just have to live with it. It could be worse I suppose, as I don't hear the rattle all the time, and I don't drive as much as I used to, which is when it is most noticeable. Does anyone else have this particular type of Tinnitus ? As every time I have explained the symptoms to any medical professional, they look at me like I am slightly mad. I even have to explain that yes I have checked the car for rattles and it isn't that !
The best things for me are protecting my hearing from any loud noise, and reducing stress.
I think everyone has different frequencies they are vulnerable to. For me, the clinking of crockery is very triggering. If I forget to put my AirPods in whilst I'm cleaning up the kitchen, then i get 12-24s of ringing. Loud cinemas and that kind of thing can trigger it too.
Also any kind of stress will trigger a day of ringing. I think that's probably a blood pressure thing.
If I keep this up I can often forget about it for weeks at a time, although it's always there in the background if something draws my attention to it. Probably one of the reasons why stresses are important is that if you keep thinking about it, then it's always there.
I have a similar thing with road noise near my house. I often completely forget about it until I have sight of the road, and then it feels louder and I can't think of anything else. But if it's out of view, it often 'feels' silent.
I think everyone has different frequencies they are vulnerable to. For me, the clinking of crockery is very triggering. If I forget to put my AirPods in whilst I'm cleaning up the kitchen, then i get 12-24s of ringing. Loud cinemas and that kind of thing can trigger it too.
Also any kind of stress will trigger a day of ringing. I think that's probably a blood pressure thing.
If I keep this up I can often forget about it for weeks at a time, although it's always there in the background if something draws my attention to it. Probably one of the reasons why stresses are important is that if you keep thinking about it, then it's always there.
I have a similar thing with road noise near my house. I often completely forget about it until I have sight of the road, and then it feels louder and I can't think of anything else. But if it's out of view, it often 'feels' silent.
Edited by lizardbrain on Monday 12th January 13:18
Ginger & Magnesium work for me. I've found a drink called Moju that seems to help a lot. Reducing stress and anxiety is a major factor. Oddly when things get really bad I find that noise cancelling headphones and loud music actually help, but I know that probably doesn't work for most people.
Certain noises can be triggers. Cutlery on plates repeatedly or the beeping of the dish washer can set me off. It's quite strange. This has been a recent enough development brought on by other health issues.
Certain noises can be triggers. Cutlery on plates repeatedly or the beeping of the dish washer can set me off. It's quite strange. This has been a recent enough development brought on by other health issues.
I've had it massive for 25 years now.
It took me ten years to find / hear a similar high noise / frequency, it was so extreme.
What I did and continue to do is imagine/ experience the real life sound when I become self aware/ it intrudes into my consciousness.
If you can find a sound / noise (pleasant one) try to link that into your head instead of the negative / distressing experience of raw tinnitus.
The noise and frequency has change over those years.
To begin with it was very low frequency and I linked it consciously to a ferry journey from Piraeus to Mykonos (a pleasant experience).
It morphed after 5+ years into a VERY high frequency and I eventually found a real life frequency in of all places the Masai Mara whilst on a walking safari - it was a load of crickets in the long grass (don't know what the collective name is).
Which was fortuitous because it was again a positive experience to draw on and helped tremendously.
After 25 years I've come to terms with it.
I'm trained in NHS Hypnotherapy so that helped me "self help" into a better place.
I hope you gives you some ideas on how to get into a better place.
It took me ten years to find / hear a similar high noise / frequency, it was so extreme.
What I did and continue to do is imagine/ experience the real life sound when I become self aware/ it intrudes into my consciousness.
If you can find a sound / noise (pleasant one) try to link that into your head instead of the negative / distressing experience of raw tinnitus.
The noise and frequency has change over those years.
To begin with it was very low frequency and I linked it consciously to a ferry journey from Piraeus to Mykonos (a pleasant experience).
It morphed after 5+ years into a VERY high frequency and I eventually found a real life frequency in of all places the Masai Mara whilst on a walking safari - it was a load of crickets in the long grass (don't know what the collective name is).
Which was fortuitous because it was again a positive experience to draw on and helped tremendously.
After 25 years I've come to terms with it.
I'm trained in NHS Hypnotherapy so that helped me "self help" into a better place.
I hope you gives you some ideas on how to get into a better place.
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