Thread: Any Tinnitus Sufferers out there?

I assume there are. I've had it (constant ringing in the ears) since childhood. I've more or less learned to live with it (don't have a choice!). Recently I went in for a hearing test. My hearing is normal and even better than normal on the low frequencies and my Tinnitus is on the higher end of the spectrum in regard to its loudness.

One thing I learned that I never knew: Apparently Tinnitus signals the brain's fight or flight response. It was explained to me that in effect, Tinnitus puts your brain on alert.....all....the....time. No wonder I've felt like I've never been able to fully relax!

The audiologist wanted to hook me up with some iPod like device for sound therapy that if used for six months helps in many cases by rewiring the brain to lessen the volume of the ringing. There was a "good" unit and a "better" unit. The good unit was $2800 and the better $4600. No to either one. Crazy.

It did get me Googling though and I stumbled on a site that rather than just provide common masking sounds (white noise, nature sounds, etc) it has you determine, if you're able to, the frequency of the Tinnitus. Then, that frequency is removed from the sounds you have the choice of listening to. "Notched" therapy, apparently. $100 for customized sounds with the frequency of my Tinnitus "notched" out. I found that my ringing is at 7500 Hertz. There's a free tool on the site that helps you figure out the frequency of your Tinnitus.

Anyway, I've been trying to do the sound therapy (I'm doing it right now, actually) every day for about an hour total and I've been doing this for less than one week. I'm encouraged to say I think it's working. I'm less aware of my Tinnitus and I think the volume of it is a bit lower. A main thing I've found is that when I'm listening to the sound therapy, as soon as I put on the headphones, it's like my brain goes "Ahhhhhhhh". You know when you have a muscle cramp like a foot cramp and then the muscle just relaxes? It's like Tinnitus is a brain cramp all the time and I never really realized it whereas this notched sound therapy, for me, is the relief.

ChrisL

I would miss the birds chirping if I couldn't hear them 24/7 ........ they've been at it for 30 years. Between shooting 44 magnums with cigarette filters, or spent shells for ear protection, and 20 years of doing ironwork, beating pins through gusset plates, beams into place, I've got the tinnitus and it didn't cost me a dime.

Edit; Chris, I found that site. My 'sound' most closely corresponds to the "tea kettle" example. Still sounds like birds chirping to me.

Had it since I was young. Flight deck environment gave me the biggest part. Guns, loud bikes, machinery, and 3 million miles of truck driving added to it.

Don't notice near as bad with my hearing aids on. I'll check out the link you posted and see where my ears are vibrating at.

Thanks!
W

Jimmy, did you go to the ATA website? The site I found is called audionotch.

Who knew about earplugs back then. I grew up in the early seventies and even then, I never knew such a thing existed. For me even though I've had it since childhood, I don't think going to many loud concerts helped things any.

ChrisL

I'm actually deaf in my right ear unless it's a very loud sharp noise, and then I feel it more than I hear it. But, the tinnitus screams on in it and the left ear too. I wish it would quit!!

I got it. Deal with it. I have 2 different tones one on each side. Sometimes loud sometimes not so loud. Caffine will cause/affect it. And a few other things. When I get away from the city background noise for a few days...It goes away. When it gets real loud I know the mother ship is close :<0)

I spent many hours on the second deck above the flight deck just as an observer. It was constant noise with no hearing protection in the early-mid 60s. You had two A-4 Skyhawks directly below you being refueled while the engines were running, an F-8 Crusader slamming down on the deck for a landing and two A-6 Intruders firing up on the catapults. Noise baby............

I did a fair amount of shooting with little or no hearing protection. Then a fair amount of wearing earmuffs while working around a lot of loud machinery in later years and now at age 70, I wear hearing aids so I can understand what people are saying. Hearing aids are generally around $5000 / PAIR. I am on my second pair.

Ringing in the ears is not enjoyable at all. Whatever age you are, wear hearing protection.

I've had it for several years Not ringing but hissing. If you don't think about it you don't hear it. When you think about it you hear it. That is a fact.

I don't think it has anything to do with brain activity and it does not affect your hearing in the least. If yo have hearing loss too that's a different issue.

I was told if you are on certain medications that can cause it. Low dose aspirin and anti inflammatories can do the trick.

Yea, got it too and it comes and goes.

Bob

Other than vision,I think hearing loss is one of the most debiltating maladys a person can have (non-terminal)
Has effected my life bigtime