Does Your Tinnitus Make It Hard for You to Hear Things?

Hi all,

I'm new to the forums so apologies that I am starting off with a question (hopefully I will write an Introduction post soon) but there is something about my tinnitus that is really bothering me lately. I have had a high pitched screeching sound in my right ear only which started 3 years ago, but then I managed to habituate to it for 2 years. Unfortunately probably due to the stress at work it has come back and is quite loud and I am kind of back in the same position I was 3 years ago (on top of that my left ear starting ringing as well in a different tone). Trying to manage but it is quite hard at the moment, having to go into work every single day and pretend everything is fine.

My question is, for people with normal audiograms/hearing, can your tinnitus get so loud that it interferes with your ability to hear others? I don't quite understand how this is possible... I'm starting to panic by looking at the volume levels of my TV, from day to day, looking to see whether I need to hear what is on my TV louder than in the day before. Ugh.... this thing is so tiring... Would greatly appreciate anyone who is dealing with this type of tinnitus, how they are handling it / whether it is just a temporary thing etc....

Thanks

-Cass

 

I have also wondered about this question! Can tinnitus get so loud that it interferes with hearing, while having no hearing loss on an audiogram...

 

Using only a few words: yes, it can.

 

Hey attheedge,

How about using more than a few words ?

Is this something that you personally experience as well? Do you have such loud tinnitus all the time or does it fluctuate?

And maybe, when it does get so loud, is there anything you have found that helps to deal with such intrusive tinnitus?

Thanks a lot for any input

 

There are at least two dimensions to the sound of tinnitus: loudness and maskability. It is possible to have tinnitus which is not particularly loud, but which can nonetheless always be heard (or "felt") in the background - regardless of background noise levels. My tinnitus situation is different from that of most people. I have had tinnitus since birth/childhood, and when that happens, "noise in the ear" is recognized as normal. Even though the tinnitus in my right ear is quite noticeable/loud - especially at night time, I don't really hear it. I believe this is the kind of habituation which is only possible when "something" is experienced since birth. So while 100% habituation is possible, it most often does not happen - I believe. Which is why I am not a huge fan of TRT...

EDIT:

I should add that, I think (natural) habituation is definitely possible with mild tinnitus.

 

Very interesting answer, but is there evidence that strictly tinnitus volume can make hearing difficult. This terrifies me.
In any case I have not heard anybody testify from their own experience, unless they have some significant hearing loss in addition to tinnitus...

 

if your tinnitus is made of multiple tones in speech range, it might have a small effect on your ability to understand others but nothing serious.

 

I have intrusive and constant t and I believe I have habituated. I don't feel it has inhibited the way I hear, I do however have some hearing lose in my left ear, I do believe that has made hearing some sounds harder to hear. Just my personal experience.