Advice — Increased Volume of Ringing

Hi All,

Stumbled across the forum today as I was scouring the web looking for some advice. I've had tinnitus since I was 26 (Am 34 now). Probably caused by going to concerts for years without using any ear protection.

I would've described my case as mild, since I first noticed it I've done everything possible to ensure it doesn't get any worse. I've a constant ringing in my left ear but it was at a pretty low level, I'd only really notice it in the evenings. A few days ago there was a noticable increase in the volume, so much so that even when I'm watching tv or talking to someone I can hear it. I do have a bit of a cold at the minute and there is a bit of extra pressure around the ear, could this be whats causing it?

Has any long term sufferers ever experienced this sudden increase in volume of ringing in the ears?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Greg,

I would say it is very likely your T has spiked because of your cold. I had T about 11 years and mine always gets worse during a cold and I think most other members here would agree.

All you can do is try not to focus on it or worry and wait until your cold has completely gone...hopefully by then it will have settled back to its normal level.

Rhea x

 

Thanks for the response Rhea. Since you mentioned that you've had it 11 years, can I ask have you experienced change in pitch or volume outside of any type of illness?

Thanks Again!

 

Hey Greg,

I am not going to lie to you, my t was not too harsh years 1-6 then 6 - now it has increased by quite a bit - the reason why?...who knows....I do over protect my ears...I use plugs a lot the last 2 years especially so maybe it's that, maybe it just gets worse on it's own for no reason, maybe it's any one of a million other things. Most of the increase has been a gradual thing...like I can't really pinpoint specific moments where it has jumped up I am just 100% sure now that it is much louder/more tones etc than it was when it started.

I have had spikes after accidental noise incidents but in general they seem to calm down after a while or maybe I just get used to the new volume. All I can say for sure with me is there are good weeks and bad weeks and there are times i feel I can't go on...and then a few weeks later I will find myself having a nice day and not being too bothered by it.

Please realize this isn't the case for everyone, lots of people have t that stays the same or even gets better...so just because mine has got worse doesn't mean that will be the case for other people.

I have also become an expert in having hope lol ....I remain cautiously optimistic that one day they will find a way to silence this stupid noise...that thought helps to keep me going.

Wait our your cold...don't worry too much until then , it is very likely it will settle x

Rhea x

 

Thanks for the reply, that's all good advice. I'll try my best to get on with it for the moment and see how it goes.

 

This has been my experience too. 5 years now and getting worse very slowly.

A week ago I was exposed to 85-95 dB during Apple keynote and now I have a faint nightly morse code added to my orchestra. I don't know even know if that was the cause. I plug a lot but just to decrease the level 15dB. I don't live in silence.

I subscribe to that too. The cure is not on sight yet, but who knows. 10 years ago I spend some nights in constant physical pain and I learnt to live one moment at the time and blank my head. Count your blessings you could say. There are good and bad days, I keep living and get the most of the good parts.

 

Keep in mind increase can be caused by progressive hearing loss from noise, disease, age and ototoxic meds. You never know someones individual condition and lifestyle.

 

Hmm, everybody's experience seems to be different. I can honestly say for the best part of 8 years it's never gotten any worse really. I've worn earplugs when appropriate and seriously cut down on alcohol or anything else that may aggrivate it. We get a yearly medical in work and part of it is a hearing test, nothing has been noted in terms of loss of hearing as of yet so I'm a bit baffled in regards to the sudden increase in volume.

 

hey rhea... do you think that you overprotected before your tinnitus worsened as well?

 

I wonder when t is connected spifically to hearing loss, when hearing loss increases, at that point, so might the t.

 

IMO, T is related to anything where nerves are related especially in the head.

 

I agree with @Jay M ; the auditory system is incredibly complex -- especially in the neurological centers. In fact, it's rather amazing a bazillion other things don't go wrong.

 

@Mpt I have always been cautious but only started OVER protecting about 3 years ago.

I have zero hearing loss that shows on standard audiogram..in fact I have above average hearing -in the words of my ENT - "you have the hearing of an 18 year old" ....go figure

 

You also have the looks of an 18 year old

 

@dan LOL...haha you wally

 

yeah, it's the same for me. I hear EVERYTHING!!!

 

I had a test done and was told that i have slight (few db) lost at 4K, but at the same time I hear very detailed sounds that almost nobody can hear. My T is high freq, but as of today i still can hear above 16000 -18000hz so I wonder what freq the T coming from? Can you have T at lets say 16000hz and still hear at 16000hz?

 

Went to my Gp today. She said there was a "considerable" amount of fluid in my left ear and prescribed drops. She was of the opinion the tinnitus has worsened because of it and should return to normal. Anyone else experience this or have an opinion, thanks!

 

Fluid in the ears will definitely increase volume, but careful with the ear drops man make sure they aren't ototoxic. @Telis can tell you personally how sketchy those can be.

 

Rhea, just curious if you know what initially triggered your original onset? I too have zero hearing loss. My trigger was local anesthetic at the same time as a menstrual migraine. Doctors think it is centrally related rather than inner ear. But then again, who really knows. Sigh.

 

@Lisa88 My t was 99.9% caused by exposure to loud noise....it started immediately after I left a nightclub where I had been stood by the speakers for hours on end (idiot) I was taking a medication at the time - whether that played a part also who knows..but noise definitely was the trigger.

 

It would be very useful to know if your T is from hearing loss above 8000.

 

@Jay M - yeah but that would require me to have a hearing test and be exposed to super high pitch tones...I'm not really up for that sorry lol....#noisephobia

Well I am pretty sure my t isn't over 8khz in tone..so at least that blows the theory that t is at the same hz as the hearing loss.....

 

My experience is 'T' is going to do what it wants. I've had several relapses and have habituated to all of them. I am currently in my 4th month of a relapse. It usually take 12-18 months to calm down.

 

Feeling pretty desperate now. Day 6 of this new volume and have myself phyisically sick thinking about it. Would love to hear more from anyone thats experienced similar.

 

First relapse ?

 

Im not sure what relapse means here jay? My t has been a constant level 8 years, this is the first time its gotten louder. Is a relapse a permanent thing?

Thanks

 

Im not sure what relapse means here jay? My t has been a constant level 8 years, this is the first time its gotten louder. Is a relapse a permanent thing?

Thanks

 

T unchanged for me for 20 years. Plenty of noise exposure over that time with protection used. No discernible change in volume. Spike 8 months ago. T went from a 2 to a 5 (1-10 scale). Yet, over about 5 months it settled down to around a 3. I believe the signal is louder than pre-spike, but not by a whole lot. Like many say, you get accustomed to the new level and move on. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the reply mike, its given me comfort to hear it settled down a it for you. Id also say I was a 2 and am now about 4or 5. With any luck it might settle as yours did.