Acceptable registrations in the queue through March 16 at 11:00a ET have now been activated. Enjoy! -M.W.

Terms of Use have been amended effective October 6, 2019. Make sure you are aware of the new rules! Please visit this thread for details: https://www.mibuzzboard.com/phpBB3/view ... 16&t=48619

Tinnitus Coping Tips

A place to talk about any topic on your mind (non-broadcasting related). General conversation.
stopnswop2
Posts: 3106
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2015 2:08 pm
Location: Novi, MI
Contact:

Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by stopnswop2 » Wed Jan 23, 2019 2:08 am

Anyone else suffer from tinnitus and how do you cope?

Mine started suddenly in may 2016.
It's only in my left ear.
It's 24/7.
I have periods where it's louder than usual to the point of hearing it over everything, but unfortunately never periods where it ever stops.

I ended up physically dependent on benzodiazepines, which I'm still working on tapering off.

How do you keep from going insane and wanting to die?


Music is my life.

User avatar
Turkeytop
Posts: 8854
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:27 pm

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by Turkeytop » Wed Jan 23, 2019 2:30 pm

I've had it for over 20 years. I always keep a radio on. I read about an Ontario man who lives about 20 miles from Niagara Falls. Every day he drives down there and let's the roariy water drown out the noise in his ears.

There are hearing aids that generate white noise to mask it. To me, that's just trading one noise for another.


I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.

User avatar
Turkeytop
Posts: 8854
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:27 pm

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by Turkeytop » Wed Jan 23, 2019 2:30 pm

I've had it for over 20 years. I always keep a radio on. I read about an Ontario man who lives about 20 miles from Niagara Falls. Every day he drives down there and let's the roaring water drown out the noise in his ears.

There are hearing aids that generate white noise to mask it. To me, that's just trading one noise for another.


I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.

User avatar
audiophile
Posts: 8546
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:21 pm
Location: Between 88 and 108 MHz.

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by audiophile » Wed Jan 23, 2019 5:39 pm

I know an someone that got it from a soundcheck that went wrong at concert (feedback).


Ask not what your country can do FOR you; ask what they are about to do TO YOU!!

stopnswop2
Posts: 3106
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2015 2:08 pm
Location: Novi, MI
Contact:

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by stopnswop2 » Wed Jan 23, 2019 5:53 pm

Turkeytop wrote:
Wed Jan 23, 2019 2:30 pm
I've had it for over 20 years. I always keep a radio on. I read about an Ontario man who lives about 20 miles from Niagara Falls. Every day he drives down there and let's the roariy water drown out the noise in his ears.

There are hearing aids that generate white noise to mask it. To me, that's just trading one noise for another.
Well the objective is to mask the noise with another sound that is more pleasant. White noise I can confirm is much more pleasant. I've tried this though... I can hear the ringing over it... sigh.


Music is my life.

zzand
Posts: 1709
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:16 am
Location: right here

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by zzand » Wed Jan 23, 2019 5:59 pm

After 40 years under headphones I too have it and use fans to keep the noise at bay..



tapeisrolling
Posts: 257
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:07 pm
Location: go ahead, I'm listening

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by tapeisrolling » Wed Jan 23, 2019 9:00 pm

I turn up the volume..... Over 20 years of listening to the bad 'fly-back transformer' whine in my ears. I find it's not as loud in the AM if I leave electrical items off as long as possible and use ear plugs at all concert and sporting events.
I heard of some work on hearing aids that inject a counter sound to try to blank it out.

Just wait till you have 'phantom odors' syndrome. I got lucky, it was the smell of cigarettes and I never smoked. Some folks have such wonderful items as sulfur and worse.



User avatar
Turkeytop
Posts: 8854
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:27 pm

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by Turkeytop » Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:43 am

I worked more than twenty years in a plant that manufactured fire alarm equipment. The entire day was a constant din of sirens, bells, buzzers and horns. During part of that time I also moonlighted at a bar, where the Saturday night bands compensated for their lack of talent by cranking up the decibels.

But it wasn't until about a year after I left that noisy environment that the tinnitus developed. I had a really bad cold that went into to an ear infection. Even after the cold was over my ears stayed blocked for about a month. One night, while I was out for a walk the crickets were chirping, when it suddenly dawned on me. "This is late November. There aren't any crickets. I've had it ever since. It doesn't sound like crickets. It's just a high frequency sound.

Sometimes, when I can get into a quiet, peaceful place in the countryside, it feels like it would cure, if only I could stay there. But of course, it wouldn't or couldn't.

The only thing that brings temporary relief is when I'm flying in a plane or driving through the mountains of Kentucky. When my ears start popping the noise goes away for awhile.


I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.

stopnswop2
Posts: 3106
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2015 2:08 pm
Location: Novi, MI
Contact:

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by stopnswop2 » Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:18 am

Turkeytop wrote:
Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:43 am
I worked more than twenty years in a plant that manufactured fire alarm equipment. The entire day was a constant din of sirens, bells, buzzers and horns. During part of that time I also moonlighted at a bar, where the Saturday night bands compensated for their lack of talent by cranking up the decibels.

But it wasn't until about a year after I left that noisy environment that the tinnitus developed. I had a really bad cold that went into to an ear infection. Even after the cold was over my ears stayed blocked for about a month. One night, while I was out for a walk the crickets were chirping, when it suddenly dawned on me. "This is late November. There aren't any crickets. I've had it ever since. It doesn't sound like crickets. It's just a high frequency sound.

Sometimes, when I can get into a quiet, peaceful place in the countryside, it feels like it would cure, if only I could stay there. But of course, it wouldn't or couldn't.

The only thing that brings temporary relief is when I'm flying in a plane or driving through the mountains of Kentucky. When my ears start popping the noise goes away for awhile.
You seem to be possibly suffering from Meneire's Disease (Maybe, if you also get vertigo), or even plain eustachian tube dysfunction, causing fluid to buildup in the inner ear which can cause tinnitus.

This can be treated.

If you can get to an ENT specialist, they can perform a couple simple tests: Tympanometry and Electrocochleography. Another test I would perform on you after those an ABR (Auditory brainstem response)... but that one looks for Auditory nerve damage. I don't suspect that in you right now, so just the first 2 for now.

Hope you get that looked into.
It could possibly be as simple as placing tubes in your eardrums to equalize pressure and relieve you of your symptoms for 6 to 12 months. ☺


Music is my life.

User avatar
Calvert DeForest
Posts: 780
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 5:14 pm
Location: The corner of US-16 and M-78

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by Calvert DeForest » Thu Jan 24, 2019 8:36 am

I've recently discovered that I have a condition known as Pulsatile Tinnitus. It can best be described as hearing a "squeaky" heartbeat in one or both ears. I notice it most when I relax after physical activity. Many times it's just a normal phenomenon that some people experience, although in some cases it can be an indicate underlying issues such as irregular blood vessels or arterial blockage. I began to really notice it in the past month or so. Being diabetic makes it especially concerning.

Yes....I have an appointment to get checked out with the cardiologist next week. Better to play it safe!


Shortwave is the ORIGINAL satellite radio.

bmw
Posts: 6723
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 1:02 am

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by bmw » Thu Jan 24, 2019 11:19 pm

I have a very mild case of it. 99 percent of the time I don't notice it at all, but I also know I could not sleep in a dead silent room. I only need minimal background noise to cover it up - the fans in my computer and a small 6-inch fan on the other side of my bedroom are sufficient. I suspect I got mine from playing drums in marching band - 4 years in high school and 6 years in college. I wore ear plugs in college most of the time while playing them, but not in high school. Ever since then I've been VERY careful about avoiding loud noises and it doesn't seem to have gotten any worse over the past 10 years.

The closest thing I can describe mine to is the 15.6 khz constant tone that older CRT tv's make. Mine is similar in pitch.

I also still have great hearing for my age. I'm in my late 30s but can still hear frequencies up to about 17 or 17.5 khz.



stopnswop2
Posts: 3106
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2015 2:08 pm
Location: Novi, MI
Contact:

Re: Tinnitus Coping Tips

Post by stopnswop2 » Thu Jan 24, 2019 11:29 pm

That reminds me of my Last hearing test.
The audiologist couldn't successfully perform it because I kept pressing the button in response to the noise in my head mistaking it for extra beeps, lol.


Music is my life.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic