Back Again, Unfortunately: Tinnitus Left My Perception Twice, Returned After Using In-Ear Headphones

Sadly making a post I hoped I never would have had to make.

I developed tinnitus in 2014, after a bad six months or so, it calmed down and I returned to normal.

After a loud concert in 2016, I was thrown straight back to where I was with obtrusive tinnitus however again after 6 months it seemed to have calmed down and then left my perception. I had my tinnitus free life back and life was good.

Fast forward to just over 2 weeks ago. Last couple of years I have taken up running and now with hindsight being a stupid move I would run to music with in-ear headphones. After a session I noticed the ringing was back and now it's very obtrusive again and I'm quickly sliding into the bad place with suicidal thoughts.

I'm so angry at myself for letting this happen. The truth is for the most part I "forgot" about tinnitus and the suffering that came with it. I realise now I had totally blanked those previous two times from my memory. However, I should have known better. Far better.

My tinnitus is back to how it was when I suffered from it, perhaps worse, I can't be sure, and I don't know how to cope. I know it's very early in but I'm convincing myself this is never going to go back to how it was and right now I feel I can't live with it.

If anyone can reach out and support I really need it right now. Success stories from people who have been through similar would be really appreciated right now.

I am quite frankly, in tears and terrified. In my mind I'm convinced I've damaged my ears beyond a point they wont recover like before.

Thank you.

 

I had the same experience, I got it twice from headphones. The first time I got it, it was mild now considering but still felt devastating. I vowed to never use headphones again but slowly after 6 months it got quieter and quieter. I thought well, I should be fine now.

I used headphones for a year with no problem till one day a friend bought me new wireless ones and they could go way louder than my previous ones. No problem since I listened on half volume but then accidentally one day I clicked my music on without checking volume and they were on loudest setting. I was on my bicycle so I couldn't turn it off right away through my phone. It took 15 seconds of that volume to set me back and even worse.

I'm now 8 months in and must say it became less intrusive again but the sound is still there.

Try to remain hopeful, the 1st 3 months are the worst but after that it became more manageable for me. Good luck.

 

Three weeks and no improvement.

I don't know what to do, I desperately want my tinnitus to go back to its previous baseline level. I'm really beginning to panic.

Has anyone got any positive stories of noise-induced tinnitus being increased and going back to its previous level? I need to believe there's still hope.

Really need some support.

 

Hi eludedebro,

Talk to your GP and ask to be referred to ENT. Since you've had tinnitus for quite a while and I'll assume you have previously been seen under the care of NHS for tinnitus? Once ENT are satisfied there is no underlying medical problem causing the increase in your tinnitus, it's likely you will be referred to Audiology and see either a hearing therapist or audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment.

For now I suggest you start using low level sound enrichment at home, and use a sound machine by your bedside at night.

All the best,
Michael

 

Hey @eldudebro, @Bennl: Did it go completely away for you after 6 months?

 

No improvement yet, though it’s coming up to just six weeks.

Still early days, not giving up hope yet it’ll improve.

 

Just ringing still?

 

Still early, hang in there.

 

Sorry, I meant the first two times. If it went away completely the first two times?

For the case now, I wish you of course full remission!

If you don't sleep well, I can recommend Melatonin. One can take up to 5 mg, and it helped me to sleep better.

 

Ah sorry, yes.

Both noise induced tinnitus that I encountered in 2014 and again in 2016 faded away over the course of 6 or so months. No indication this is going to happen again though yet though, but it's only been 6 weeks.

Luckily I've started to sleep a lot better in the last few weeks, so that's another positive.

 

Thank you very much for your answer. It encourages me to hear that it went away twice for you!

I'm having it for the first time. The things that feels like having the most effect is sleep. Plenty of and deep sleep feels like one of the most important things with tinnitus.

In the beginning, when it was really though to sleep, I took Opipramol and it helped with the sleep. Since then, I'm regularly using Melatonin, GABA or Baldrian, which are all available over-the-counter.

I'm sleeping good and long with those aids, and I feel that it helped with the tinnitus.

I wish you all the best and that the tinnitus fades completely away again for you.

Best wishes.

 

Sorry to hear about the increase. I have recently been in a similar state of mind after an increase of my own. It’s amazing how ideal our old tinnitus baseline seems after it gets louder.

Have you had any signs of improvement in volume or habituation to the new levels?

 

Don't wake a sleeping bear!

 

Amen @Theezy. I'm near four months into my own increase. More good days than bad at this point. Best of luck to you my forum friends.

 

Yes!

 

I tried Melatonin and somehow it made my tinnitus louder the next day.

 

So true!

 

It has backed off in severity a little, but it's not gone back to where it was before, which is quite disheartening.

However, I'm still hopeful as time goes on it will fade back or I will habituate to the point where I don't care so much.

You are right, my old tinnitus seems perfect in hindsight, almost like I didn't have it!

 

Same here! Oh what I'd do to have that back right now.

 

Earbuds are not good. It is very difficult to accurately gauge the decibels you're injecting directly into your ear. It's easy to overdo it and play them too loud which can lead to more damage.

As for regular headphones, it's easy to measure the volume with those. Just take a dB meter (not a phone app, a real standalone dB meter - you can buy them on Amazon for less than $30), play some music through the headphones, stick the meter's microphone inside the headphones and press them tightly together so the speakers are as close to the meter's microphone as possible and see what dB level you're at. If it's under 70 dB you should be fine.

That said, it's probably impossible to say whether your current level will be your new baseline or will get better after a while. My spike has lasted roughly 5 months and doesn't seem to be getting any better. It's annoying and is starting to interfere with my QoL.

 

I’m curious if 30 minutes listening to this, at a volume slightly lower than your tinnitus, might help you?

4 Hours of High Pitched Tinnitus...

 

How is the tinnitus since the last update, @eldudebro? Any improvements?

 

In some respects yes, in others no.

The constant eeeee in my left ear has gone down a bit, so that’s good.

Unfortunately, I have developed this Morse code like sound in my right ear. Not particularly loud and only noticeable in silence but disheartening that it’s showed up.

Tinnitus is wonderful!

 

Sorry to hear that @eldudebro it really is one wonderful condition! Morse code is probably one of the worst sounds I've come across.

 

Don't put yourself in jail over this. It's perfectly OK, we just can't always predict everything. The cool thing is that TWICE your tinnitus essentially went away, which is 2 more times than mine has. It may sound dumb, but learn from this. No loud events, no headphones unless they're very low volume and vented (and even then I don't think I would do it). Running increases blood pressure, so that's not good for tinnitus. Do all the right stuff: eat right, exercise only moderately, stay busy and avoid stress, avoid weed... boy, did that amp mine up.

It's best not to focus on the past, that's no longer happening. It's not about what you did, it's about what you're doing right now.