Acoustic Shock/Trauma — Help!

I've had it for over 5 years now and sadly it doesn't seem to be improving. It's actually gotten worse over the last year due to certain unavoidable sound factors (e.g., baby!). But it goes in cycles, there are days where I forget I have it and other days where you just feel baragged by sound. I used to think that a lot of it was psychological (and it certainly is) and so one should just try to live normally, but I've now realized that less exposure, rather than more, is really the key to healing. Still a lot to learn about this issue!

 

It's the dynamic range, the difference between the peak sound and the surrounding sound level, what is killing your ears. That's why it is better to have some background sound to soften the difference with sudden peak sounds. Actually, water gardens are based on this principle, the gentle sound of the water fountains etc

 

If I were you I would forget about that, VERY BAD idea.

 

Even with hearing protection ? I can’t deal with this if it stops me doing normal things :/

 

it's not worth the risk man, especially with the onset of tinnitus and acoustic shock.

Please don't engage in activities with drills and noisy equipment, let your ears continue to heal.

 

@Contrast ive read on some of your posts that your TTTS has gone/subsided now. How is it going for you at the moment and how is your H?

I’ll avoid those things and focus on the quiet jobs like painting etc

 

If you want to know the truth my TTTS from noise went away only like 1-2 months ago, but it was progressively getting better. (less spasms)

I still notice TTTS when I yawn sometimes, but noise doesn't trigger it.

I no longer have burning ear pain, I had that for 9 months, the first two months were hell, I had setbacks but I still have this numbness in my jaw and noise (trigeminal nerve irritability) from noise but my ear feels somehow don't feel pain or even fullness anymore.

That's why I keep saying there are different types of hyperacusis.

 

It’s good to know there’s hope that it will go away then! I only notice the fluttering when I have my phone on speakerphone which I think is quite a high frequency. Apart from that it doesn’t flutter it just contracts to sudden noise.

I don’t have the jaw numbness so I guess I should be grateful for that.

 

Hi All,

Quick update on my situation.

I have been to my local ENT and had various tests. My hearing is fine up to 8Khz (no dips below 10db) and my ear pressure is within normal levels. My speech in noise results were fine and I can hear up to 15khz when using an app on my phone.

My pain from noise has lessened and my ears only felt slight discomfort when listening to music for around an hour though a speaker system.

My Tinnitus seems to be much quieter in the mornings to the point I'm sometimes not sure I can hear it. It starts the day as more of a hiss more than a ring which then slowly becomes louder throughout the day. I don't really notice it at work anymore. Is this a good sign that I might recover from it? It’s been 2 months now and I feel im improving slowly.

I still have my thump sensation when I hear sudden noises in a quiet setting but think doesn’t seem to cause any pain. On the odd occasion I get some fullness.

What are the chances that it will continue to improve without treatment?

Thanks,

COYS

 

There's more to hidden hearing loss then just the human voice range, even in background noise. That's just the tip of the iceberg.

There needs to be test that play various forms of classic, guitar, music of various genres with high pitch acoustics, birds chirping, chimes in the background. The user will listen to a 8 second clip of clip of music with one of three high notes present. Then he/she will be played three high pitch musical notes and chimes in quiet.

The user will have to pick the exact high pitch acoustic that they heard in the song, apart from the other too.


This will show hidden hearing loss, because to them the high acoustics will sound blurry and undistinguishable.
It could also be the same way for low pitch notes, maybe they have low frequency hearing loss.


The problem is testing the full range of human hearing would be extremely complex, just like the cochlea. The user wouldn't understand the point of the test being so complicated. For example the louder the volume the blurry hearing perception will get.







sources on hidden hearing loss
http://www.jneurosci.org/content/31/38/13452
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378595516302507

 

That's like hearing fatigue, it happens to me sometimes. Your ears just get tired. Tinnitus can also react to the sound around, and peaks of noise.

It seems you are improving, recovering! It does take a lot of time, though.

 

yeah, the auditory system is complex. I wonder why people start noticing that they hear TV worse when they lose hearing, and human voice still sounds ok and is easier to understand. Or why some days one understands better some voices and other days it is harder to understand. It's a bit shocking..

 

Fingers crossed. I’m starting to sleep better which I think is helping. Just hoping now that my TTTS starts to disappear too!

 

@Tom Cnyc I’ve been reading some of your original posts and how you’ve recovered in time.

Did your symptoms arise from noise exposure ?

Thanks

 

Yes. Years of mistreating my hearing followed by one INSANELY loud concert as the anvil that broke the camel's back. I'm very cautious around noise now, but do attend concerts regularly.

 

@Tom Cnyc did you also have TTTS and fullness/tingling sensations ?

I’ve have mine 12 weeks and slowly getting more worried it’s with me for good:/

I’ve been trying to get on with my life as much as possible. Using ear plugs where needed.

Do you have any H or pain left ?

 

Not to cut in. But there's been plenty of people who with these things, they fade away when given enough time. I would say 12 weeks is much too short. Give your ears more time to heal and it can hopefully fade.

 

@GSC no worries at all I’m happy to get as much advise as I can

Did you have these fullness and tingling issues too?

 

I had the tingling, but it's gone. I don't think I ever had fullness though.

 

How long did it take to go?

I luckily have quite mild T so it’s the TTTS and tingling that’s getting to me

 

I'm coming up on two months this Wednesday, so it's gone. I do have TTTS too though, but that is also fading...

 

That sucks. Only normies learn to live with TTTS, the spasms can be loud and DO compromise hearing.

 

What do you mean by that? Like.. how does it compromise hearing.

 

I’d love the tingling sensation to go. It’s utterly random for me.

My TTTS is usually a single thump to noises

 

@Contrast whats a normie?

 

It ruins the controversation, flow of speech and music because of the noises and spasms the tensor typani and over facial muscles are actually loud at times.

Don't pretend mindfulness meditation can overcome it.

 

I wasn't pretending on anything. I just know people spoke on here it does go away.

 

I don’t really notice music etc sounding different ? Mine reacts as a thump to percussive noises . Is this not TTTS then?

 

Mine was like wind blowing out of my left ear and my right side of face would sometimes spasm. It was at times loud. Like early in the mornings it would get loud if I heard certain noises.

 

I don't get the spasms, but I do get the whooooooooosh wooooooooooosh wooooooosh and I'm like okay. Thanks, ig.