Noise-Induced Tinnitus; Years of Headphone Use

I don't know what to do. I've loved music for a long time, especially heavy metal and rock. I even recently bought some Bose noise-canceling headphones. Funny how I just wasted $300 to make my existing tinnitus worse (and thus, my hearing too).

I feel like such an idiot and I hate myself. I have felt nothing but despair and suicidal ideation since.

I can't live like this. I just can't.

 

Think only one day at a time. Things could change. Habituation can happen. All of us make mistakes. Learn and then avoid further mistakes. Mask your tinnitus till you are feeling better.

 

In time you should start to feel better. The initial months are the hardest after which your ears should start to settle, but you need to give it time and rest your ears. In 6 months you should be feeling in a much better spot.

 

I'm a little over 3 months into this with tinnitus (with a setback occurring about a month ago). Getting somewhat used to it, and getting tired of making myself depressed and suicidal.

But the ear pain, eardrum fluttering and fullness is a real drag. Does this ever get better? Please advise.

It might help to know I have also somewhat recently discovered a herniated disc in my neck. I'm mostly recovered with little to no pain, but residual numbness remains.

 

It gets better as long as there isn’t setbacks. I’m in month 2 and everything sucks but I’m somewhat managing, even though I get terrible sleep.

 

Hi @ALS.

Noise-induced tinnitus can be difficult to live with in the early stages but it usually improves with time. My advice is not to use any type of headphones even at low volume. Click on the links below and read my posts. Go to my started threads and read the following posts that I think will be of some help to you. Print them if you can and refer to them often, as this will help to reinforce positive thinking. Will My Tinnitus Get Worse? The Habituation Process, Hyperacusis, as I See It. Tinnitus and the Negative Mindset, Acquiring a Positive Mindset.

Try not to mask the tinnitus and instead use low-level sound enrichment especially at night. More about this is explained in the links below.

All the best
Michael.

New to Tinnitus, What to Do? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Tinnitus, A Personal View | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Pain and flutter go away, at least as long as you don’t get exposed to loud bangs...

 

I’m 17 months in, not sure why the hell I got this. I’m assuming it’s noise induced since I’ve had every test done. I suppose after time it gets slightly easier. I’ve been having a louder week (stress?) which makes those dark thoughts come creeping back in... but I have to force myself to stay strong. It has been a horrible experience, that’s all I say.

At 33 I’m in the prime of my life, tired of thinking about my ears all the time. So I just stopped and started to live again.

But I sure do miss silence. Think positive, we will get there... in time.

 

Give Betahistine a shot. I don't find it does much for the tinnitus, hyperacusis or distortions, but the ear fullness seems a lot better when taking it. The ear fullness is now mild for me. It's pretty benign as a drug. About 50 mg a day seems to work, dosing every 3 hours. Each time I've come off it the ear fullness becomes more aggravating.

 

I’m getting pain now 70 days in.

 

I've been a headphone ("audiophile" headphones) enthusiast for decades and recently developed tinnitus. I've never listened to them at high volume, at least I never thought so. My audiologist, as she reviewed my hearing test chart, does not believe my mild hearing loss (slight dips in the higher frequencies but nothing below the incapacitation threshold) was caused by listening to headphones... so use the headphones, she says. The question nags and nags at me... should I keep using my (open-back) headphones at modest volumes or quit them?

 

I would recommend to visit an ENT. If you don't have any hearing loss, try to calm down and just wait (no one can tell you how long).

 

If I were you, I would give my ears a good rest.

 

How are you doing?