- Aug 9, 2024
- 7
- Tinnitus Since
- 2024
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Noise Induced (Long term noise exposure + Acoustic Trauma)
Hi everyone! I hope you're doing well. This is my first post, and I'm reaching out for advice about a specific tinnitus sound. I've been trying to follow the Back to Silence method (which has been helping me habituate), but this new sound is strange, and I can't ignore it.
Nearly three weeks ago (about three months after an initial acoustic trauma in a loud basement club, standing near a speaker, which resulted in permanent moderate, multitonal tinnitus), I experienced a brief, loud sound directly into my ear from a phone speaker. At first, I thought I was fine, but it seems I had a delayed reaction, resulting in some acoustic shock. I've since developed hyperacusis, but it's pain-related, not loudness-related. The strangest part, however, is a new sound in my left ear that I noticed about a week later while lying in bed. It startled me because it was so different.
This sound resembles a tiny, mid- to high-pitched rhythmic vibration, almost like a very small road drill in my ear. If I focus on it, the rhythm actually slows down. If I tilt my head to the left and look down, it also slows to a steady "tick, tick, tick." This happens consistently every time I try it. If I don't focus on it, the vibration speeds up to the point where it becomes a single, continuous sound. Although I try not to dwell on it because I want to habituate, I can't help but find it curious. It almost feels like a game to see if I can make it slow down.
I've read posts about middle ear myoclonus (MEM) and tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS), and I know they can occur after acoustic shock. Could it be one of those? I did experience a physical flutter in my ear about five years ago, though I didn't have tinnitus back then. That flutter was much more noticeable because I could feel my eardrum moving, but it stopped eventually. Thankfully, I don't experience that anymore, except for the occasional flutter when I yawn. This current sound feels different—it's a tiny sensation in the ear with hearing loss, and I swear something inside is moving back and forth at various speeds throughout the day. I don't feel a flutter, though.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? I know this might be more related to hyperacusis, especially considering my ear pain, but I'm curious if anyone in this community has had a similar experience. Thanks!
Nearly three weeks ago (about three months after an initial acoustic trauma in a loud basement club, standing near a speaker, which resulted in permanent moderate, multitonal tinnitus), I experienced a brief, loud sound directly into my ear from a phone speaker. At first, I thought I was fine, but it seems I had a delayed reaction, resulting in some acoustic shock. I've since developed hyperacusis, but it's pain-related, not loudness-related. The strangest part, however, is a new sound in my left ear that I noticed about a week later while lying in bed. It startled me because it was so different.
This sound resembles a tiny, mid- to high-pitched rhythmic vibration, almost like a very small road drill in my ear. If I focus on it, the rhythm actually slows down. If I tilt my head to the left and look down, it also slows to a steady "tick, tick, tick." This happens consistently every time I try it. If I don't focus on it, the vibration speeds up to the point where it becomes a single, continuous sound. Although I try not to dwell on it because I want to habituate, I can't help but find it curious. It almost feels like a game to see if I can make it slow down.
I've read posts about middle ear myoclonus (MEM) and tonic tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS), and I know they can occur after acoustic shock. Could it be one of those? I did experience a physical flutter in my ear about five years ago, though I didn't have tinnitus back then. That flutter was much more noticeable because I could feel my eardrum moving, but it stopped eventually. Thankfully, I don't experience that anymore, except for the occasional flutter when I yawn. This current sound feels different—it's a tiny sensation in the ear with hearing loss, and I swear something inside is moving back and forth at various speeds throughout the day. I don't feel a flutter, though.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? I know this might be more related to hyperacusis, especially considering my ear pain, but I'm curious if anyone in this community has had a similar experience. Thanks!