Chances of a Two-Month Long Tinnitus Spike Fading to Pre-Spike Levels?

Hey guys,

My tinnitus spiked after noise exposure two months ago. The first instance of noise exposure was due to loud music in a car, but a few days later a car alarm went off right as I walked by it.

I think my left ear has 80% recovered at this point, but my right ear, which was the ear closest to the car alarm, has not recovered at the same rate. However, I will say that even in my right ear I have noticed some improvement, as opposed to the beginning of the spike where it was exceedingly present.

Before the spike, however, I had habituated to a point where I had not noticed my tinnitus for over a year and a half.

Is it possible for the spike to continue to fade, or is this level where it will stay?

Thanks guys!

 

Hi guys,

I've posted on this forum a couple times about a spike I had from a car alarm over two months ago. I thought it was improving---I really did. But it's gotten so much worse in the past week and I have extreme sensitivity to all noises and a feeling of pressure in my ears.

To be completely honest, its difficult to even call this a spike in my tinnitus, because for nearly two years, I'd say my tinnitus was non-existent. I feel as though this is a fresh acoustic trauma, and I'm so scared that it will never fade. My right ear in particular, which was the one closest to the car alarm, has awful ringing. Oddly enough, however, I feel as though I have more ear fullness in my left ear.

My first go around with tinnitus, I never experienced sound sensitivity and fullness, so I'm having a lot of trouble dealing with that. I can pop my ears and that sometimes makes it feel better.

I'm supposed to go back to college in a few days, but I really don't know if I can handle it. I've avoided noise as much as possible for the last two months, but I seem to just get worse every day. I will say that my anxiety and stress has also gotten a lot worse, likely due to my steadily approaching college semester.

I'd appreciate any advice anyone may have. This forum has been my lifeline.

Thanks again.

 

I'm in a similar boat.

Been having trouble sleeping due to a spike since a week back and the past two nights it's been truly terrible.

What have you been doing since the car alarm-incident up to now?

 

HI @pinklights98

I would like for you to give me some more information about your tinnitus. Please answer the questions below as it will help me determine what I think is route cause of your problem and make some suggestions that you might find helpful.

1) You have had tinnitus for quite a while. I know your tinnitus was caused by exposure to loud noise, can you please tell me where this came from. Was it headphone use or going to clubs and concerts? I say this as these are common causes of noise induced tinnitus.

2) Over the 3 years that you have had tinnitus, have you been examined at ENT and tests carried out? Do you have any hearing loss? Did you have any treatment for the tinnitus via a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist. If yes what treatment did you have?

3) In your post you have said your tinnitus was nearly non-existent for 2 years? This is a good sign. Usually (but not always) when tinnitus returns there are specific reasons for this. Have you been a regular user of headphones even if the volume is kept low? Do you go to clubs or concerts regularly?

4) Over the course of 3 years that you've had tinnitus, have you used earplugs on a regular basis.

I await your answers.

All the best
Michael

 

Hi @Michael Leigh

Thanks for responding. My tinnitus emerged after a loud party. I’d say it bothered for me about six months then faded away. I have regularly used headphones for the past 3 years, at very low volumes, and it has never bothered me. This recent tinnitus spike was due to loud noise in a car for a very brief period followed by the car alarm(this is definitely what exacerbated my tinnitus). I also have regularly used earplugs whenever I was in loud places, but to be honest I don’t go to parties, clubs, or concerts at all. I knew my limits and used earplugs when I deemed necessary.

Had I not experienced the car alarm, I am confident that I would not be dealing with such a long spike. The brief exposure I had in my friends car aggravated my tinnitus for the first time in a long time, but the spike was very low and did not bother me. The car alarm sent it over the edge.

I of course now will never use headphones again, as I have read not to do on this forum.

 

HI @pinklights98

Thank you for the additional information because it helps a lot. I had suspected certain things that has caused your tinnitus to increase but didn't want to say anything until you had confirmed them. Unfortunately, your situation is something that I often see happening to people with noise induced tinnitus. They have habituated after a while and their tinnitus remains low. After a year or two perhaps longer, they encounter a loud noise and get a "spike" and it lingers on and becomes louder as in your case.

I want to say the car alarm that caused your tinnitus to "spike" was in fact the end result of something else far more sinister, I'm afraid this was your regular use of Headphones. You may not think headphone use was the route cause of the problem but I assure you it was - the car alarm wasn't solely responsible. By using headphones even at low volume, it left your ears and auditory system in a vulnerable state of hypersensitivity. You were able to cope with this due to habituation. Your brain comfortably dismissed the tinnitus as unimportant, which has always been there but remained at a low level. All that was needed for your tinnitus to increase and become full blown was a sudden loud noise which was the car alarm. I have been told very similar stories to your own by countless people with "Noise induced tinnitus".

When you were in loud environments, particularly if this was clubs, concerts or parties and for long durations. Over an one hour or two. Even though you wore earplugs you probably thought you were safe. This is not necessarily the case. If external sound is loud enough, it will pass through your head/skull and be transferred to your inner ear by bone conduction. This can irritate the inner ear namely the cochlea. It may or may not cause a spike but it can increase hypersensitivity and leave you more vulnerable to tinnitus spiking at a later date.

There are people in this forum that will tell you your "spike" had nothing to do with headphones because you used them at low volume. You may also agree with them. I am not here to argue with you I'm just giving you my advice based on many years experience and corresponding with people with "Noise induced" tinnitus. I assure you, headphones was the route cause of your tinnitus spiking for so long.

You may need a referral to ENT for tests on your auditory system then referred to Audiology for treatment and management of tinnitus by seeing a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in this field.
You have made the wise choice by not using headphones again even a low volume. Please click on the links below and read my posts, that you might find helpful.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

 

@Michael Leigh

Is there still a chance this spike can fade now that I have stopped headphone use? Or is this the level it will likely stay at? I know nobody can know for sure but you seem to have a lot of experience in this matter so I value and would like to know your opinion. Is it possible for a severe spike like this to fade after months?

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply and talk to me.

 

When I mention the dangers of headphone use for people with "Noise induced Tinnitus" There some forum members that laugh and ridicule me from the roof tops and say I am talking absolute rubbish. They tell people there's nothing wrong using headphones at low volume. This applies to some people with noise induced tinnitus but not everyone. More often than not, people with NIT are adversely affected by headphone use.

I am sorry to know you are having such a difficult time at the moment. Each person is different so I cannot say for sure how long it will take for your tinnitus to calm down. Hopefully this will not take too long. Please try and be patient. Use low level sound enrichment during the day and at night if possible and not sleep in a quiet room. Read my articles slowly and in full. If you are feeling stressed and anxious this is not uncommon, speak to your family doctor.

As I have suggested in my previous post: Get a referral to ENT for test then referred to Audiology to see an Audiologist or Hearing specialist that's trained in Tinnitus and Hyperacusis management. The tinnitus may calm down by then and therefore you may not need to be referred to Audiology, since you have previously habituated.

I hope things improve for you.
Take care and I wish you well

Michael

 

Hey Michael. What about T that is non-noise induced? Obviously not going to blast full volume, but does that lessen the risk of aggravating it? Cause was sinus or ear infection I think...not sure

 

My advice is for people with "Noise induced" tinnitus not to use headphones even at low volume. Someone that doesn't have NIT is less likely to have problems using headphones. However, I still advise caution. You have said you're not sure if your tinnitus is noise induced. Before the onset of the tinnitus, if you listened to music regularly through headphones or attended places where large music was played: clubs, concerts then it's likely your tinnitus was noise induced.

Michaek