tinnitus

looksee

Mod: Ok folks this is getting a bit diagnostic now. If you have tinnitus and it bothers you, see a specialist. We have no idea what all the background was to some of the answers here so don't jump to conclusions. I don't think there is any harm in discussion, just bear in mind that circumstances differ and you really need to get professional advice.

Amzie

Ok sorry, im not looking for a diagnosis... just hearing above that the guy would of gone deaf is slightly alarming! but any way i'll forget about it

Solair

It would only lead to deafness in later life if the tinnitus were a symptom of something more serious i.e. an ear problem that might need to be treated.

That's why it's worth getting anything like tinnitus or distortions to your hearing checked out by a specialist.

Once you've ruled anything sinister out, you can move onto ignoring the sound, looking into ways of masking it / filtering it out etc etc.

However, the main thing is that you GO TO A DOCTOR (preferably an ENT specialist) as tinnitus could be a sign/symptom of lots of things.

To put it into another context, if you had a slight visual disturbance you would probably be rushing to get it checked out! So, don't neglect your ears.

Amzie

Solair wrote: »

It would only lead to deafness in later life if the tinnitus were a symptom of something more serious i.e. an ear problem that might need to be treated.

That's why it's worth getting anything like tinnitus or distortions to your hearing checked out by a specialist.

Once you've ruled anything sinister out, you can move onto ignoring the sound, looking into ways of masking it / filtering it out etc etc.

However, the main thing is that you GO TO A DOCTOR (preferably an ENT specialist) as tinnitus could be a sign/symptom of lots of things.

Right I better get onto my doctor again and ask him for a referral to a specialist (ENT), I worry too much that he probably think's im making it up as im young and I dont know how I got the stupid thing:o

Solair

That's what an ENT consultant's job is!

It quite probably will be absolutely nothing, and if it is he/she would be delighted that you turned up and had it checked out.

An ear check up is pretty straight forward - the ENT consultant will most likely just look into your ears using a powerful microscope. They can see in vastly more detail than your GP can and they know what they're looking for.

They also usually run some tests like maybe an audiogram (hearing test) and a Tympanometry (bounces sound off your ear drum and measures how the drum reacts)

None of those are any worse than putting in iPod headphones

None of these are invasive, scary or painful so don't worry!

Also, a quick ear check up is probably something worth doing once in a few decades anyway. Much like the way you might go to the opticians!

In the meantime (and this applies to everyone) avoid listening to music with in-ear headphones, especially at high volumes and avoid very loud headphones generally.

If you are using headphones, the best type to use are on-ear open back ones i.e. the larger ear-muff type headphones. The in-ear ones can be quite hard on your ear drums / ear and loud noises can cause / exacerbate tinnitus.

Also, if you are going to loud music venues, get some ear plugs in the chemist first. They can be popped in quite discretely and you'd be surprised at how many people wear them.

Amzie

Thanks for the great advice @Solair, that dosent sound so bad and I will definitely be going for a check up! I'd say getting my ear syringed is way worse than what you've described. I used to listen to in ear phones but dont anymore as it's actually a bit sore, will defo try remember to bring the ear plugs with me when I go out as I know they would help alot!

Solair

Good luck!

With regard to ear plugs, there are little foam ones available. They're used by construction workers, bouncers etc etc.

Just chuck them after one use though as they aren't meant to be re-used and get a bit gross

They're quite cheap.

Amzie

Ah yeah I know the ones your on about! Im sure they would get a bit manky alright if you kept using them:p LOL!!

Gormal

Sorry didn't mean to alarm anyone with my last post :eek:, just thought it was worth a mention, obviously everyone should seek professional advice, preferably straight away to find out if there is any underlying cause........ should have put that in my last post.

Chiliroses

I too am a tinnitus sufferer, it's horrible but I deal with it. I have it now with the last 8 years at least. Loud noises being the cause, working near chainsaws, grinders and noisy equipment without ear plugs being the main cause, my own fault I know I should have been wearing hearing protection. Thing thats so annoying though is everyone else in my familys hearing is fine and they have worked in the noise without hearing protection too! I'm quite deaf to soft tones and sounds but when it comes to sharper higher frequencies, i can hear perfectly. Like bats squeaking!

Cathal_91

Driving me insane as we speak, also can't stand any noise, ruining my life

Had it bad since mid June and docs have been a waste of time and money so far, can't cope with it, reli bad ringing and hurts my ears and head aswell, I think it's coming from my brain.

JupiterKid

I've had tinnitus on and off since 1994 - that's over 18 years now. I got it due to listening to loud music on my walkman in my teens and then, one night when I was 19 years of age, in my 2nd year of college, I was in a very loud nightclub and had severe tinnitus for several months afterwards. It drove me crazy and to the edge of despair - I was finally prescribed valium and it helped hugely. Ever since then I've had tinnitus but usually at a very manageable level.

Lately, my tinnitus has been really bad in my left ear for about 6 weeks now. I'm not able to sleep well and the noise is constant and very annoying. The only relief I can get is by listening to music or a running shower but it can't be loud as it will worsen the ringing.

I went to see an ENT specialist today who did a range of hearing tests on me and he's pretty sure I have an abnormality in my inner ear (cochlea) that makes me very prone to tinnitus.

Thankfully the sitaution in terms of treating tinnitus is not as grim as it was back in 1994 when I first got the condition. There is medication available and also ways to "trick" your brain into blocking out the tinnitus sounds via cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Research over the past 15 or so years, according to this consultant, points to tinnitus being both an inner ear and ear/brain condition of which there is an awful lot to still understand.

But I came away from my visit in better form and it's great to know that there is support out there now.:)

There is a tinnitus sufferer's association that many be of help to people posting here. Link to Irish Tinnitus Association Homepage:
http://www.deafhear.ie/DeafHear/irishTinnitusAssociation.html

Solair

Using your own brain as a filter is probably the best approach - techniques like hypnosis can really work for it.

It's basically just auditory feedback / 'noise' in the hearing system much like you might experience on a sound system in a studio.

You can't really fix it, so the next best approach is to filter it.

Mars Bar

I asked the doctor to put me forward for an ENT appointment way back in November 2010 when I was in a bad place and my Tinnitus was getting the better of me. I'd forgotten about it when I improved.

Got the letter to make an appointment mid last week. The thought of putting the headphones on makes me panic because I'd only be able to hear the ringing in my ears. Haven't made the appointment which is probably stupid. I'm thinking I should bite the bullet and do it. Have to hope they didn't put me down as a no-show already.

looksee

Mars Bar wrote: »

I asked the doctor to put me forward for an ENT appointment way back in November 2010 when I was in a bad place and my Tinnitus was getting the better of me. I'd forgotten about it when I improved.

Got the letter to make an appointment mid last week. The thought of putting the headphones on makes me panic because I'd only be able to hear the ringing in my ears. Haven't made the appointment which is probably stupid. I'm thinking I should bite the bullet and do it. Have to hope they didn't put me down as a no-show already.

Make the appointment! You will be so busy listening for the beeps and whistles you won't even think about your tinnitus.

Mars Bar

Made the appointment on Friday

whydoibother

Mars Bar wrote: »

Made the appointment on Friday

how did you get on?

Mars Bar

Well my hearing hasn't degraded as much as I thought it had. Just slightly down in the lower frequencies.

I'm going for an MRI just to be sure.

The doctor was all, "You need to wear a hearing aid to mask the tinnitus." I told him that I was doing fine up to now and the only time it bothers me is at night time and I have methods to get over that. He said he has had people wear hearing aids and not complain of tinnitus ever again. Surely they take them out at night?

I'm still very reluctant to go down the hearing aid route again.

Lardy

I suffered from really bad tinnitus until I got my hearing aids. Even when I take them out at night, its rare that the tinnitus comes back. Everyone will be different though, so what works for me, may not work for someone else.

Mars Bar

Lardy wrote: »

I suffered from really bad tinnitus until I got my hearing aids. Even when I take them out at night, its rare that the tinnitus comes back. Everyone will be different though, so what works for me, may not work for someone else.

I really thought he was trying to bull**** me because there is no cure for tinnitus. How does the hearing aid "help" tinnitus?

whydoibother

Lardy wrote: »

I suffered from really bad tinnitus until I got my hearing aids. Even when I take them out at night, its rare that the tinnitus comes back. Everyone will be different though, so what works for me, may not work for someone else.

After so many years of suffering with tinnitus and being consistently told by doctors and specialists that there is nothing to be done except relaxation techniques etc, I would agree with Mars on this but with Lardy's comment I would definitely feel tempted to try the hearing aid route now... Could any of ye advise me who to go to? Which specialist did you see, Mars? It is good to see some light at the end of the tunnel...

Mars Bar

whydoibother wrote: »

After so many years of suffering with tinnitus and being consistently told by doctors and specialists that there is nothing to be done except relaxation techniques etc, I would agree with Mars on this but with Lardy's comment I would definitely feel tempted to try the hearing aid route now... Could any of ye advise me who to go to? Which specialist did you see, Mars? It is good to see some light at the end of the tunnel...

I dunno who my fella was. It was some fella in UCHG who wasn't Irish so I'm not even going to attempt his name!

Lardy

Mars Bar wrote: »

I really thought he was trying to bull**** me because there is no cure for tinnitus. How does the hearing aid "help" tinnitus?

From my own understanding of Tinnitus, it's not curable, because there isn't actually anything to cure. One of the theories is that the brain is always "listening" for sound, and if there is non, or very little, it will amplify your own internal sounds. Your heart beat for example. Why it doesn't affect everybody, I don't know. Hearing aids obviously amplify exterior sounds, thus the brain isn't working overtime to try find something to listen too. Eventually, when you're used to the aids, the tinnitus should subside. That's how it was for me, but like I said, it may not be like that fro everyone. But 9/10 hearing aid users that I've spoken too have all had similar experiences. Hope this helps.

whydoibother

Lardy wrote: »

From my own understanding of Tinnitus, it's not curable, because there isn't actually anything to cure. One of the theories is that the brain is always "listening" for sound, and if there is non, or very little, it will amplify your own internal sounds. Your heart beat for example. Why it doesn't affect everybody, I don't know. Hearing aids obviously amplify exterior sounds, thus the brain isn't working overtime to try find something to listen too. Eventually, when you're used to the aids, the tinnitus should subside. That's how it was for me, but like I said, it may not be like that fro everyone. But 9/10 hearing aid users that I've spoken too have all had similar experiences. Hope this helps.

Hi Lardy,
Thank you for your input.
Could you advise on where I should go to get an hearing aid?
Thanks

Lardy

I use DeafHear in Waterford. The link to the website is in the sticky at the top of the forum. It will tell you where the nearest office to you. DeafHear also offer classes which are really good for first time users.

whydoibother

Lardy wrote: »

I use DeafHear in Waterford. The link to the website is in the sticky at the top of the forum. It will tell you where the nearest office to you. DeafHear also offer classes which are really good for first time users.

I used DeafHear in Killarney a few months ago. All they told me was that I had to do Tai Chi to relax and there was no point getting a hearing aid. I was hoping you had found another organisation that would really help. While relaxation does help with other things, it does not help me with the Tinnitus problem. I said this to them and they said a hearing aid would not help either. I do not expect a cure but at least something that would help me cope. I don't understand why both of ye were offered the hearing aid option and I wasn't. I just don't get it.
I do remember once I had to go to my GP for a chest infection and met a foreigner dr. there who was replacing my GP, he did say there were treatments for Tinnitus but did not prescribe me any on that occasion as he said we were treating the chest first. Then, of course, I never saw him and don't even got his name, and when asked my GP was told the usual, that the only I can do about it is to forget it. But always in the back of my mind is this hope that someone somewhere may be able to help. When I read this thread I thought maybe that hearing aid could but since it was given by DeafEar and I was with them in Killarney and they told me a hearing aid would not help Tinnitus, I kinda lost my hope now.
Thanks

Lardy

whydoibother wrote: »

I don't understand why both of ye were offered the hearing aid option and I wasn't. I just don't get it.

I have hearing aids because I have a severe hearing loss, not because of Tinnitus.
Unless you actually have a hearing problem, I don't think you will get a hearing aid. I can't offer any other advice only you need to talk to a good Audiologist or speak to your GP about getting an ENT referral. You could be waiting up to 2 years for an ENT appointment though.

alanajane

I have my hearing aids a year now and while they are a great help with my hearing loss they have made no difference what so ever to my tinnitus. I think though it depends on the type of tinnitus you have. Mine is the constant high pitch tone..never eases but does occasionally get extra bad for no apparent reason.

Solair

Same high pitch tone here. I think it's down to ear surgery I had in my teens to repair a hole in an ear drum.

It basically never stops in my case, although I usually can manage to ignore it.

Mine is louder than most other background noise. I can hear it louder than say a radio on softly in the background or a machine-noise like a fan or whatever.

The only noise I could describe as similar to it is the high pitch whirr you get from an old-fashioned TV tube, only a bit louder.

Dude111

Hear is a test to see what freq you are hearing (IT LOADS A JAVA APPLET)

www.digital-recordings.com/cgi-bin/www-tt-pure-tone.cgi

I hear between 9 and 10Hz,i cant seem to find it!!