Do You Get Sudden Spikes in Tinnitus and Change in Ear Pressure?

[dakotafred]

Doesn't happen to me much, maybe 1-2 times every 2-3 months. But my tinnitus will go from being masked by the environment to being very loud (almost always in my tinnitus ear but it has happened to my non-tinnitus ear as well) and I sometimes feel a change in pressure as well which causes me to fear that I may just go deaf all of a sudden. The change in volume and pressure only lasts for like 5-10 seconds.

Just wondering if you all experience this? I wonder what causes this to happen. It's not like I'm doing anything differently.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Just wondering if you all experience this?

Yes, most people with tinnitus experience that. Search this forum using "fleeting tinnitus" or "fleeting T" as the keyword. Many people remember experiencing this even back when they didn't have tinnitus. However, once one has tinnitus, one gets to experience fleeting tinnitus a lot more often. Who knows, perhaps it is the body's way of attempting to recalibrate and to get rid of tinnitus. So try to feel good about these experiences.

These episodes are scary, but try telling yourself that you won't worry unless the spike lasts longer than 2-3 minutes. Even when you get a spike that lasts longer than that, it makes sense to worry about it being permanent only after it doesn't fade for months. Temporary spikes can last for over three months...

 

[kmohoruk]

No worries @dakotafred I remember that happening to me before I got tinnitus. I've also heard from a couple other people who asked me about it when they found out I had tinnitus - so it seems to just be a natural part of the auditory system.

I've had them since getting tinnitus as well, and while they can be scary. They usually pass within 1-3 minutes. Sometimes I do a little slow neck and jaw exercises, and that seems to help (maybe just because it relaxes me as well).