Any Tinnitus sufferers out there?

I've lived with for about 10 years now. I experience the same noise as Pelkey "the cicadas". I never could get my wife to understand what it was like until we were sitting at the dinner table a few months ago and she says "I have to go find that cricket outside and shut him up,he's driving me crazy?" I asked her "what cricket"? She never realized how loud the sound in my ears is. I thought she was going to cry when she understood it. I use a fan at night for the noise,but I may give one of the white noise machines a try. Who knows,maybe it'll help some. It's sad to know so many people suffer with it,as it's quite maddening at times.

I am 67 presently but tintinitus started for me at about the age of 50. It is a constant ringing about 95% of the time. After doing some research on it, i just decided to not let it bother me. it does not effect my hearing but can be irritating if for some reason I am focusing on it. Like now.

Some are saying it does not bother them or effect their hearing. That was what I thought until I had a hearing test and found out about a high frequency hearing loss in both ears. This is sometimes not noticed because of the ringing since it sounds high pitched.
Just thought i'd mention it. Also it can be corrected with hearing aids.
{Not the tinnitus}

My white noise has been to leave my stereo receiver in my room, usually on the phono setting, which results in a very low and faint buzzing noise that drowns everything else out. Much better than a fan, in my opinion. It's kind of similar to the subtle drone of a fridge motor - which I also have in my room.

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Originally Posted by ccgnet

I am 67 presently but tintinitus started for me at about the age of 50. It is a constant ringing about 95% of the time. After doing some research on it, i just decided to not let it bother me. it does not effect my hearing but can be irritating if for some reason I am focusing on it. Like now.

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I have it since 40, on my birthday actually. I don't let it bother me either.

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Originally Posted by paco

Some are saying it does not bother them or effect their hearing. That was what I thought until I had a hearing test and found out about a high frequency hearing loss in both ears. This is sometimes not noticed because of the ringing since it sounds high pitched.
Just thought i'd mention it. Also it can be corrected with hearing aids.
{Not the tinnitus}

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I have the high freq. hearing loss in my left ear. After a battery of tests I was told it was typical hearing loss for a person who shoots a lot to have in their strong side ear.

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Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

My white noise has been to leave my stereo receiver in my room, usually on the phono setting, which results in a very low and faint buzzing noise that drowns everything else out. Much better than a fan, in my opinion. It's kind of similar to the subtle drone of a fridge motor - which I also have in my room.

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I fall asleep with the TV on which is my white noise. I use the sleep function so it turns off.

I guess we all come up with ways to cope.

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Originally Posted by ChrisL

I've had Tinnitus since birth or shortly thereafter. Rather than a "ringing" in the ears, mine has been a continuous high pitched tone that is ever present and impossible not to be noticed. Yep, 24/7 all of my life. It's something I have learned to live with and try not to focus on.

Does anyone else have Tinnitus, and if so, when did it start, what does it sound like to you? How is your hearing otherwise? Mine is fine, it's not related to hearing loss.

Chris L

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Hi Chris,
I just saw your post...I work at the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, CA. As you may or may not know, this is known as the "Mecca" of hearing science/treatment. I do not know where you live or even whether it's a viable option for you to come down to LA, but if you do, I know fantastic clinicians here that I can recommend.

Tinnitus is one of those elusive things that we still don't have a good handle on...Most researchers think that it's a central auditory/nerve defect (logically so) and some think that it is more of a middle/inner ear problem. The jury is still out on which camp is right, but we have a lot of research going on here.

Anyways, let me know if interested and I will put you in touch with the right doctor(s).

Cheers,
-Robert

Thanks for the offer, Robert. It's appreciated. I live in Minnesota, so a trip to L.A. wouldn't be possible at this time.

I think most of us that have Tinnitus learn to try our best to ignore it or work around it. I've thought about Tinnitus maskers, but they seem like they're significantly behind in sophistication in comparison to ultra small inner ear hearing aids. It's not debilitating enough for me to have a desire to wear over the ear Tinnitus maskers.

At work I have a fan operated air filter next to me and the drone it creates is subtle and sounds like jet engines when flying in the cabin at night. It helps.

Also, oddly enough I've found that when I put cotton balls in my outer ears at night (I only really do this on the occasions that I use earwax drops) it of course amplifies the ringing considerably, but.........I can very clearly hear the sound of my breathing and believe it or not, that sound is soothing and distracting enough in a good way to have a positive effect.

Thanks again for the offer and info.

Chris L

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Originally Posted by ChrisL

Thanks for the offer, Robert. It's appreciated. I live in Minnesota, so a trip to L.A. wouldn't be possible at this time.

I think most of us that have Tinnitus learn to try our best to ignore it or work around it. I've thought about Tinnitus maskers, but they seem like they're significantly behind in sophistication in comparison to ultra small inner ear hearing aids. It's not debilitating enough for me to have a desire to wear over the ear Tinnitus maskers.

At work I have a fan operated air filter next to me and the drone it creates is subtle and sounds like jet engines when flying in the cabin at night. It helps.

Also, oddly enough I've found that when I put cotton balls in my outer ears at night (I only really do this on the occasions that I use earwax drops) it of course amplifies the ringing considerably, but.........I can very clearly hear the sound of my breathing and believe it or not, that sound is soothing and distracting enough in a good way to have a positive effect.

Thanks again for the offer and info.

Chris L

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No problem Chris...anyway, keep LA and my offer in mind should you (one day) decide to come here. I also have a very slight Tinnitus in my right ear (but very slight).

Hang in there
-Robert

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Originally Posted by Bruno

Sometimes (weirldy only in office environments) one of my ears will suddenly ring with a high pitche sound that will fade quickly.

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I get that. I had never thought about it in relation to this thread.

I think I will start wearing ear plugs on the bike again.

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Originally Posted by gregs656

I get that. I had never thought about it in relation to this thread.

I think I will start wearing ear plugs on the bike again.

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I get this too on rare occasion. For me it's not the same thing as tinnitus.

Chris L