I'm 14 Years Old, and Encountering a Tinnitus Scare.

Hello, everyone. It's been a little over a week since my tinnitus developed, and after my second big spike, I felt I should reach out to those who have experience with this sort of thing beyond the time I've endured. I would also like to mention, I'm still waiting to see a doctor about this. Another mention: I tried to bring a clinical tone of some sort, or maturity, into my text to match the situation others may be facing and fearing. Above most of this, I want everyone who is suffering from the trouble I have faced off with for this short length of time to feel safe. However, in this, there is both positivity and negativity, mostly because I wanted to unload and writing gives me that opportunity. I don't want to focus on just my fear of this possible fate.

To start with, I had tinnitus much, much before the recent weeks. I don't have a definite date for it, but it was at least 2 years ago. I never thought it was a problem, because it was always very faint. In fact, I only remembered I had it after the start of my experience, 8-10 days ago. I feel it's important to preface it with this: I have had tinnitus, of some sort, for a very long time, but it wasn't at all dangerous. In actuality, it was so quiet it was soothing.

I don't have too clear a memory of the start of that day, but sometime during it, I had my headphones on, and I was watching a video. I would like to mention, just for my own integrity, around 5 months ago I started to monitor and moderate the volume of videos. Not by much, but still. Either way, I paused my video, I believe because I wanted to distinguished whether the ringing was part of the video, or something in my room. Needless to say, I ended my, "escapade" with the revelation that the sound was sticking to me, like some type of tiny music box that forgot it plays music.

After that, I discussed on multiple different days, with multiple different family members, what to do. The only solace I could gain to help me through this situation was articles I stumbled upon on Google and, above all, interaction with someone and telling them about it. The more I self-diagnosed, the more I feared the condition. The more I thought about it, the more my anger welled up against my willingness to let it happen. Yet, throughout this, I've come across so many positive things in my life, that helped me when I felt sad, and gave me the peace of mind to cry it all out with a smile on my face.

Now, this is beginning to sound like I'm just putting myself up on a pedestal, and patting myself on the back for breathing air every day. Maybe that's what it is.

I found sites like TinnitusTalk and helpful tips for dealing with such constant ringing/hissing(?), and they've really calmed me down. I want to help others in such a way that soothes those effected by this slaughter of peace and quiet, but I also want to be comforted as well by others who have gone through and are going through the same situation I am. So, I signed up, and gave myself the opportunity.

I may use this site for, say, fifteen minutes total after clicking, "Create Thread." That's just how it is. But, after such a wake up call to my health, and the hazards that come with carelessly running wild in the fields of blissful ignorance being unpredictable and merciless, I don't want to leave someone in a deeper ditch once I crawl out of mine. I want what came around to me to go around the masses.

I can only hope for the best for my case, not that I wanna jinx it or anything. I've accepted that hope is the best I can manage for something like tinnitus. Hope is all I have to help it, but I don't plan to stop hoping if unexpected blows come to pass. If I do, then so be it, but I don't want other people to relinquish their hope in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. If I can form a sentence I'm confident will help, I'll do it. Thanks for listening to me, this was much longer than I thought it would be.

 

HI @ConcernedTeen

Welcome to the forum.

The onset of your tinnitus is not uncommon and is probably a result from using headphones at too high a volume and for too long a duration. As you mentioned in your post, you have noticed the tinnitus for some time but managed to live with it as it was relatively low.

My advice to you is not to use headphones even at low volume. I know this can be difficult for some people to accept. If you continue to use them even at low volume then you seriously risk increasing the tinnitus, despite what any doctor or anyone else tells you in this forum, that is safe to use them providing the volume is low. I promise you this is not the case. It is true some people with "noise induced" tinnitus are not affected by using headphones. However, ask yourself do you really want to take the risk of using them after what I am about to tell you?

I have had tinnitus for 23 years that was caused by using headphones at too high a volume without realising it. Over the years I have corresponded and counselled people with "noise induced" tinnitus caused by headphones. Some of these people stopped using headphones and their tinnitus improved and eventually reduced to a low level. Unfortunately, some returned to using headphones keeping the volume low. After a while noticed their tinnitus increase and remained this way.

Just before last Christmas, a member of this forum contacted me who had returned to using headphones after 6 years. Her tinnitus was low and thought it would be perfectly safe. Even though she kept the volume low within one week her tinnitus increased to a level, that she cannot return to work and now she's in distress.

This is a very familiar story that I have been told by people in this forum, other forums and people that contact me by email and on the telephone. I have written about this many times because I know the dangers of headphone use for people with tinnitus that was caused by "exposure to loud noise" There are people who's tinnitus was not caused by exposure to loud noise - their tinnitus was caused by an underlying medical problem which is completely different. They will be quick to tell you it's safe to use headphones at low volume. These people know nothing about "noise induced" tinnitus.

Listening to the wrong advice and using headphones carries a risk. If things go badly then you will be all alone in your suffering, so please listen and act upon what I am advising because I know what I'm talking about. I have mentioned all of the above because you are young might find it difficult to believe what I'm saying regarding stopping the use of headphones. I would prefer that you never use them again but it's your choice. Please click on the links below and read my articles that I have written on tinnitus that I think will be of help to you.

Take care and 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/

 

ConcernedTeen, my heart goes out to you, being faced with this problem at such an early age.

I think Michael is correct about headphone usage and noise induced tinnitus. Using headphones hurts my ears nowadays so I don't do it any more. I have a symphony of tinnitus in my head which cannot be masked any more. From the way you write with such insight and optimism, I am hopeful that you can still avoid further damage.

 

@Mister Muso

Headphones are the most dangerous devices on the planet for causing "noise induced" tinnitus closely followed by attending clubs, concerts and other places of entertainment where loud noise is present. Working in a noisy environment can cause and make the condition worse too. Earplugs are no guarantee that one is safe from noise exposure so caution is still necessary.

The fact that you have come to the realisation that headphones are not good for you then it's likely the tinnitus will improve, although it may not seem so at present. If you are able to get professional help with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist, using sound therapy as in wearing white noise generators, will likely help you. Please follow some of my suggestions in my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it and my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View, in the links in the above post.

I hope things improve for you. If you're not using sound enrichment at night, then please consider using it. Give at least 6 to 8 weeks to get used to using sound enrichment. Keep the volume low. The idea is provide the brain and auditory system with sound enrichment while asleep, in order to help prevent the brain increasing its background activity, which can also increase the tinnitus.

All the best
Michael

 

Thanks again Michael. I have been trying white noise/natural sounds etc for about 6 weeks. I started with white noise, moving down to pink and then brown. Lately I've been preferring natural sounds like river sounds at night time, and the same with added birdsong during the day. This was working well for a while, and my sounds were returning to their April baseline. My hyperacusis is also much, much better, though still not completely gone.

However lately I've been developing new tones in my "better" ear, due to another acoustic shock. These tones tend to get louder when exposed to any of the attempts at masking I've described above, even at low volumes, so I've fallen back on my Spotify playlists of quiet ambient music for falling asleep, which seems to be working better for me now.

I've discovered an Amazon app for notched white noise, so I may try that once I determine the frequency of my new tones. But anything that makes their volume increase can't be good can it? It's definitely real and not just imagined. So there's still a lot of trial and error going on for me here.

I'm seeing an ENT privately this week who specialises in tinnitus and nasal congestion, which should make him perfect for me - here's hoping.

 

There needs to be more education at school etc. so it’s not your fault. You don’t really know how you’ve got it and nobody does. I’m is wise to be careful around sounds and headphones though.

You seem very wise, hope you can reach out to your family to get you through this and start the process of habituation. x