Anyone Have Success Habituating to Fluctuating Tinnitus?

Has anyone had any success or experience getting used to fluctuating tinnitus?

I have bilateral tinnitus (x6weeks) at a really high frequency in both ears, although I experience it mostly in my right ear. I cannot mask it as the frequency is so high. Sounds like a high pitched hiss or at times a ciccada whine. Every once In awhile it will have a pulsatile aspect to it only in the am when changing positions in bed. I have one or two good days and then one bad day and then a good day and then two bad days. And I can’t find any rhyme or reason to it. I’ve tried adjusting my salt, alcohol intake, I don’t drink any caffeine. I’ve experimented with all the usual triggers that people report impacts their tinnitus levels and I cannot find a pattern. Mine even fluctuates wildly throughout the day.

Interestingly I also have one different tone in my left ear that presented about a month before the bilateral tinnitus. That is due to mild hearing loss at one low tone due to what my ENT suspects was a virus in my ear. The right ear is fine. The tone in my left ear is easily maskable, never changes and I don’t hear it if I’m outside or if there is ambient noise. If a room is on the quiet side I’ll hear more of an echo than a tone in my ear. Like the sound of a seashell maybe.

But the bilateral fluctuation is crazy. My ENT thinks it’s related to my neck and my jaw and the fluctuation may have a lot to do with how much I’m clenching at night while sleeping and the positioning of my neck. One sort of pattern I have noticed is that it gets a little bit worse as the day goes on and the ENT hypothesized that it may be related to the fact that I’m talking all day and eating (using my jaw)and the daily activities of work and putting more pressure on my neck working on the computer. My physical therapist seems to agree. I am trying to get a night splint.

Assuming this does not improve, I’m just wondering if anyone has had any experience in trying to habituate to somethimg that is more noticeable and louder at different times? Like how is the brain supposed to get used to that and push it in the background noise if it’s not always always very audible?

Thanks in advance.

Danielle

 

Hi,

I feel like I’m starting to get worse rather than better. I was hoping to be improving by now or maybe I’m just having a series of spikes.

In the interest of brevity, this is not my first rodeo. Originally got tinnitus after a loud concert in 2015, which resolved after about a year. I was 3 1/2 years or so T free. In May of this year, I developed bilateral tinnitus—a sort of a very very high-pitched hiss that I cannot mask and I hear over everything. Lately, it has developed into a high-pitched whine. It fluctuates constantly. Even within an hour. It comes and goes. I have good days and bad days. I just can’t figure it out. It’s so high-pitched it is driving me crazy.

I did not have an acoustic assault. I don’t use earbuds. Ever. I protect my ears with musicians earplugs when necessary. I have no idea what caused it. The month prior to developing this bilateral noise, I developed a ring in my left ear. Had a hearing test and there was some threshold changes at 2 frequencies and mild loss at one low tone in my left ear only. The right ear is fine. That sound I still have but it doesn’t change at all and it’s easily masked. Both the ENT and the audiologist think that I got a virus in my left ear and despite the mold loss, according to them I have almost excellent hearing for my age. A month later the bilateral noise started. Although it is bilateral, I experience it mostly in my right here rather than my left. It’s a lot of fun when they’re both going on at once.

I just came off a three week stretch of doing really, really well and all of a sudden in the last three days it’s been so loud and so high-pitched that I’m starting to get a pit in my stomach again, gee,ing hopeless. I thought I was doing so well. I wish I knew what was causing it or what makes it worse. Experimented with salt, caffeine, alcohol and there is no rhyme or reason to it.

I also experience a lot of pressure and fullness in my left ear and I just started using Flonase and that has helped a lot, but it hasn’t helped the ringing.

Has anyone habituated to a super high-pitched whine that you cannot mask that comes and goes? Is there any hope for me?

Thank you in advance.

 

You might ask your doctor about Meniere's disease or auto immune inner ear disease. I’d also get another hearing test to see where your hearing stands now after a few months. I’d advocate to try out a diuretic also. Just make sure it’s not a loop one as those are ototoxic. I know there are people who habituate to fluctuating tinnitus. It just might take longer.

 

Hi Danielle,

I am sorry this is happening to you.

You pose a good question.

Mine fluctuates. I think it was easier for me to H when my spikes settled.

Not the case now. back in your camp, so you're not alone

Terry (IWhoLoveMusic) and Silvene are inspirational in my eyes for what they have achieved with their described techniques. Have a look at the Back to Silence thread. This will give you some hope.

 

Hi again,

You are not alone. Many of us experience exactly as you describe.

Have you had an extended audiogram? Maybe you have losses at higher frequencies?

Do you experience residual inhibition (temporary suppression of your tinnitus by listening to sounds around your tinnitus frequency)? Is your tinnitus somatic?

If so, this is similar to myself, and from speaking with Dr. Shore, this type of tinnitus should respond well to her device. It's not available yet.

The only thing that helps me is sleep, white noise (not to mask but to get some relief with RI) and distraction.

 

@DebInAustralia,

Hi,

Thank you for your replies... I have not had an extended audiogram that I know of anyway. According to my ENT, they don’t find it useful because they have no benchmarks to compare it to. But I wouldn’t be surprised if I have high frequency hearing loss. I’m 53. I am a product of years of going to concerts. I mean I certainly didn’t go to 12 a year or anything but I have gone to my share without ear protection because nobody used ear protection. We had zero clue the damage we were doing to her ears. I was never an earbud person but I did use headphones when I went running. But beyond that I didn’t use them. I was never big night clubber thankfully so I had limited exposure in that regard.

I don’t know about the residual inhibition. It’s so high-pitched that I can’t really mask it. The closest I can come just like crickets for cicadas. But I can still hear it over that. Sometimes I think it’s actually reacting to some of those sounds near its frequency but I can’t really tell. I don’t think I have reacted to the test at least as I have seen it described on here.

I sleep with the sound pillow. That’s the only thing that helps me, with background sounds in the bedroom for the ear that isn’t occluded on the pillow. I’m s side sleeper so sleeping on my back is really hard. I also take a lot of medication to sleep because I am a poor sleeper and it is certainly worse now.

When you say that the only thing that helps you is sleep do you mean sleep makes it better for you?

And I see you’ve had tinnitus for a few years now. You’re still finding that it’s quite variable?

Thanks,

Danielle

 

@Forever hopeful

I have large fluctuations in my tinnitus since 2008 when it changed after a second noise trauma. I have written about this in my post: My experience with tinnitus, in the link below that I think you should read along with the other articles. I have read some of your early posts to this forum and see your tinnitus was originally "Noise induced". I also have noise induced tinnitus and the most common reason for this type of tinnitus to get worse is due to further noise exposure, providing no underlying medical condition is responsible. Stress and some medications can increase it too but usually, once these are managed the tinnitus will return to baseline.

Some aerobic exercises such as running on hard ground or on a treadmill are known to increase noise induced tinnitus for some people, resulting in it becoming steadily worse and not returning to baseline. It is due to impact with the ground, that travels up through the foot, legs and into the body head and towards the auditory system. Some people with NIT that engage in vigorous sports as karate for instance have noticed their tinnitus increase. I hasten to add not everyone with noise induced tinnitus will be adversely affected by the exercises I've mentioned but it's something to keep in mind.

By far it is using any type of headphones to listen to audio even at low volume including earbuds, and exposing oneself to further loud noise that causes this type of tinnitus to become worse. Some people with noise induced tinnitus use headphones and are not affected but many are so the risk is always there for it to get worse. I am specifically referring to Noise induced tinnitus and not tinnitus caused by an underlying medical condition. However, even when the tinnitus is not noise induced, I still advise caution when using headphones.

I have habituated to my tinnitus and it took over 4 years to do so. It ranges from: complete silence, mild, moderate, severe and can reach very severe levels. I take clonazepam when required and haven't had a problem with it in 9 years. I take it once perhaps twice a month for 1 or 2 days and stop. Please read my articles in the links below which I think will be of some help. Consider seeing an Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment and management.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/my-experience-with-tinnitus.12076/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

 

Good to hear from you...

Yes, my tinnitus is worse when I'm tired... so I work on getting plenty of it...

Residual inhibition isn't masking. It's not well understood, but some people are able to suppress their tinnitus by listening to sound around their tinnitus frequency.

To test this out, you could find some sound files on YouTube, or use the tuner on AudioNotch to ascertain if this is the case for you.

I'm fortunate that most nights, I sleep well without masking etc. Actually stopped doing this years ago because my tinnitus is reactive and the white noise annoyed me as well.

 

@Michael Leigh,

Thank you for your response. I should note that I gave up running after I blew out both of my Achilles Tendons and required surgery. So I no longer use headphones and haven’t in over six years.

I am also unaware of any real acoustic assault. So I don’t know where the noise trauma would’ve come from.

I’m glad to hear that you were able to habituate although I’m disheartemed to know that it took 4 years.

So when your volume increases do you just notice it for a minute and then move on and not notice it at all? I have definitely found that staying busy helps a lot. Keeps my mind off of it. But I really miss being able to relax and just watch a TV show. Yesterday, I was at a graduation celebration and we were sitting outside and I was having a conversation and my tinnitus volume went up and I was of course, immediately distracted and had to explain to the person that my ears are ringing. Is that your experience?

It is very disappointing.

 

Michael Leigh,

One more quick question: Can you modulate your tinnitus? I can make it louder by pushing my lower jaw forward, sometimes moving it side to side, pulling on my ear lobe and sometimes when I turn my neck a certain way. It also gets louder when I open my mouth wide to eat something or yawn.

Just wondering if you have the same experience?

 

HI @Forever hopeful

I have only seen your post by chance and didn't receive an Alert message. The reason could be that you wrote my name adding a comma, that way I wouldn't have received a message.

To answer your question about 4 years to habituate. According to my ENT consultant I am the second worst tinnitus patient she has met in all her years practicing Audiovestibular medicine. My Hearing Therapist has said the same. They have both said I have an unusual form of tinnitus with large fluctuations in intensity. As I type my tinnitus is completely silent - there is no noise at all. Tomorrow morning I could wake-up and it could be mild, moderate or severe. When mild it doesn't bother me in the slightest or when it is moderate I'm still able to cope. I hear the tinnitus but because I have habituated I'm able to do anything I want to: concentrate on reading and writing. When it is sever I'm still able to cope for a while but tend to use my white noise generators at low volume below the tinnitus. Sometimes it will reduce by itself but if it doesn't and last longer than 2 or 3 days or should increase, then I need to take clonazepam.

Please don't think what applies to me will necessary apply to you. Each person's tinnitus is different. As already mentioned, exposure to loud noise is the most common cause of tinnitus. Something usually causes it. If your tinnitus wasn't noise induced then it likely to be an underlying medical condition and therefore you should see an ENT doctor for tests and possible treatment. If you are sensitive to sound then it's likely you have noise induced tinnitus. Tinnitus can start for no reason but this is not usually the case.

When the tinnitus is mild, moderate or severe it will usually stay this way for 1 or 2 days then change, it is completely random. It can also change throughout the day. Silent for a while perhaps 1 to 3 hrs then suddenly change to mild or moderate even severe then calm down again to moderate or mild even completely silent. I have no hyperacusis and the tinnitus isn't affected by sound. Stress can make it more noticeable but most of the time stress doesn't bother me.

Best of luck.
Michael

 

Hi Michael,

I did a quick keyword search of your comments but wasn't able to find an answer. I wanted to ask, when your tinnitus reaches severe levels can you hear it above the shower? The shower for me has been quite a useful metric. There's one tone to my tinnitus which is extremely high pitched but being in the shower does mask it. Be interested to know how the tones of your tinnitus compare in that respect.

 

HI @UKBloke

When my tinnitus is severe nothing can mask it and I don't want to try either. I use sound enrichment usually classical music played at a low level during the day or use my white noise generators, setting the level slightly below the tinnitus. If the severity continues and find it annoying, I will take my clonazepam 2x 0.5mg tablets and this usually calms it right down over a 4 to 12hr period. Sometimes I wakeup and the tinnitus is severe I don't immediately reach for clonazepam and able to cope for a while even a day but it can become difficult especially if I want to read or write both I like to do. I will then take my tablets.

Tinnitus shouldn't be masked even when it is severe otherwise a person will never learn to habituate or get used to it. You'll always be afraid of the tinnitus. It's better to set sound enrichment slightly below the tinnitus so the brain can hear it and learn not to fear the tinnitus. It's not easy that's why it took 4 plus years to get used to the fluctuations in my tinnitus something I hope I never have to go through again.

Hope this helps.
Michael

 

Yes I can modulate my tinnitus by doing some of the things you describe but I don't and advise you not to either. Cranial nerves surround the neck and some nerves entering the ear and auditory pathways first surround the jaw joint. This is the reason some people with TMJ develop tinnitus. Manipulating your jaw twisting your neck and earlobe I think you could cause yourself problems and make the tinnitus louder if you're not careful.

Take care.
Michael

 

The shower does mask the tinnitus when it is severe and the shower is turned up full. The noise is in both ears (bilateral) and in my head.

 

I think this is quite an important point. I've actually found, certainly for sleeping, that sound enrichment set just below the tinnitus level really helps my brain to tune the ringing out in that, it's there but it's not there, kind of way. Anyhows, thanks for responding.

@Forever hopeful my tinnitus fluctuates in pitch and volume intensity quite a bit these days as well. As @DebInAustralia has said, it can be helpful to find some files on the Internet, and perhaps some audio notch etc, to see if these help during the quieter times of day and especially at night. Personally, having a laptop and mixing up the sounds has been really helpful my side. Interestingly, at one point when I started to experience a kind of spiking reaction to audio notch I mixed in some talking-heads set at low volume and this mitigated the situation. It's just trial and error for the most part.

 

Just joined this minute, so thanks for the add! I also have fluctuating tinnitus, and am wondering the very same thing. Louder, less loud, pressure-y, less pressure, tones, no tones... it's quite the "playlist," but not one I would choose. Definitely understand where you're coming from, and hope you, and all of us, find an answer soon. This variation started so recently that I am still flabbergasted and, frankly, thrown, by it, and have no answers as of yet, other than hoping for more moments of respite.

Today, strangely, has been relatively quiet all day, and that is a serious change from what I've experienced over the last few weeks, which I can only describe as "hellish," for the most part. Not sure what's going on - I haven't really changed anything - but hope it lasts.

 

@Psych

I see that you indicated that you’ve had tinnitus since 1989. Have the fluctuations just started? Is this something new?

I cannot find any rhyme or reason to mind. Doesn’t seem to be impacted by what I eat or drink or do. Very frustrating.

 

Hey Michael,

When you say you're habituated, are you referring to your emotional response to tinnitus?

 

@DebInAustralia

I have only seen your post by chance. Please write may name using the @Michael Leigh then I should receive an Alert message.

Habituation and the process of habituation can be complex and no two people will experience it the same. Many factors are involved but ultimately it is as you've mentioned one's emotional response to tinnitus, because it's intrinsically linked to our mental and emotional wellbeing and cannot be separated from it. Why is this important some may ask? Some might say this doesn't lower the actual noise but I disagree because it does or at least one's perception of it: Tinnitus is linked to or mental and emotional wellbeing, therefore, stress and anxiety must be kept under control because they directly affect the tinnitus. The more stressed a person becomes the louder and more intrusive the tinnitus, the opposite is true the calmer and more relaxed we are. This is the reason good quality counselling with a tinnitus therapist can be so helpful. It helps takeaway and demystify the negative thinking that is often associated with tinnitus over time. Medication can also help with this process.

For convenience I will paste some of my above links below that explain habituation, the process of habituation. The importance of acquiring a positive mindset and incorporating positivity into one's life. If necessary and one is able to how, this can be achieved through counselling with a tinnitus therapist.

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-mental-health.21978/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/habituation-and-tinnitus-treatments.38091/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-happens-in-trt-sessions.18195/

 

Dear @Forever hopeful,

I also suffer from fluctuating tinnitus, Let me describe my cycle.

When I initially got tinnitus, the pattern/cycle was something like this:

BBMMG and then repeat
(B=bad, M=moderate, G=good)

after around 6 months to a year it goes like this:

BMMGG

there are variations like I only get one good day but my tinnitus follows a somewhat predictable cycle...

Lately after almost 3 years my cycle improves to something like this:

BMGGG

there can be an odd cycle where there is only 1-2 good days or sometimes I can get up to 4 consecutive good days.

So now about habituation...

Early on when I was in the worse cycles, I would say It is harder for me to habituate. But I am now getting better and looks to have this monster in control. I would say that I am close to being habituated to it. Sure, the time when I wake up and have the tinnitus goes thru the roof after a good day is somewhat devastating, but it appears that over time, I can get used to it and during the bad days, I can mostly function normally without thinking too much about my tinnitus. But I would still say I am still 50-70% aware of my tinnitus during those days but emotionally it doesn’t affect me anymore aside from the 1-2 odd moments when it gets in the way of the thing I am trying to do.

So yeah, these fluctuating tinnitus can be habituated I would say. Although I am not 100% habituated, I believe I can get there. I am sure you will too!

 

Yes, the fluctuations just started in the last couple of months, approximately. Earlier this evening, I noticed it was changing even in the space of a minute! What's driving the fluctuations and worsening, I believe, are the hormonal changes that go with menopause. So, not only do I get treated to this cornucopia of different sounds, pressures, volumes, etc., there are also nifty things like insomnia and pins-and-needles paresthesia that are happening at the same time. It's basically a nightmare at this point. I've heard women say that hormone replacement therapy helped them to turn down the volume - tinnitus is actually an official menopause symptom (Kupperman Menopause Index) that one can have, or have made worse by "the change" - but I'm trying everything else under the sun, like natural remedies, to avoid HRT if I possibly can.

I do find it can be louder after eating, too. And it does decrease sometimes, out of the blue, so there's that! I really hope we can all get more answers sooner rather than later.

 

I wanted to also add that the tinnitus fluctuation change could be due to something that's going on, ostensibly, with my HPA (hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal) axis. Whatever this thing is, and I am seeing an endocrinologist, etc., to try and figure it out, is making my metabolism much higher than normal, for one thing. I am now in the underweight category, whereas before I had trouble losing weight, and now can't seem to gain, even eating very healthy foods several times a day. One of the tests the endocrinologist had done said that I had a higher than normal amount of adrenaline in my system, although I'm not a "Type A" or hyped-up kind of person. I feel like this could at least, possibly, be contributing to the tinnitus "symphony." Side note: The tinnitus doesn't always change around - sometimes it's steady.

 

@Forever hopeful, how is habituation going for you? I hope that your tinnitus situation is improving. My tinnitus fluctuates as well. It's obnoxious and confusing. My tinnitus has a mind of its own.

 

Hyperthyroidism?

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

 

Thank you for the suggestion. Endo had thyroid tested more than once, and actually said it was "perfect," which surprised me. But, yes, you'd think hyperthyroid, based on the symptoms. Still trying to figure it out!