I'm New Here — Worried About My Tinnitus

Hello,

I'm 26 years old, and have had some mild tinnitus for a long time. I first noticed it maybe when I was around 18, so about 8 years ago (very rough estimate, I could have been a few years older, but I've had it for at least 5 years). I've had hearing tests and had no problems there, and the ringing was quiet enough that I learned to not let it worry me.

However, I went to a particularly loud concert last night. It was so loud I felt uncomfortable in my ears. I didn't even enjoy it but I thought I should stay against my better judgement, since I paid. Afterward, my tinnitus reached a level that it hadn't before. I even feel like it might be covering up quieter sounds and affecting my hearing, so I've gotten worried.

More than 24 hours has passed, since the concert.. is there any chance my tinnitus will go back to normal levels? Should I go to a clinic and get another hearing test? (pretty cheap where I live). Even if I get a hearing test, is there anything I can do if I lost some hearing?

I'll be sure to wear earplugs in the future, I really regret not wearing them.

Thank you for any advice.

 

I’m pretty new here but I’ve done a lot of reading.

I believe your best bet would be to buy N-AC (N-acetylcysteine) and start taking it today.

You may just be having a spike (would affect non-T people as well in the situation you describe), so this may settle down to your usual levels in a few days or so.

N-AC has been shown to mitigate damage both prior to increased noise exposure and after-the-fact.

If you don’t settle back to baseline levels within a week or so, perhaps consider a short course of prednisone / prednisolone.

And in the unlikely event it persists longer than that, you might like to consider HBOT. I doubt it will be necessary though.

 

Your situation is similar to mine, the night it happened when i got home the ringing was just so loud i knew something wasn't right. Iv still got it 8 months later but i think i had it anyway just at a low enough level not to bother me. Its pretty much back to that point now after 8 months. Its impossible to say what will happen, but in time, probably quite a lot of time it will fade. If you notice fading then its reason to stay hopeful.

You could go to the doctors and see if you can get prednisone steroid as this may prevent any damage but your window of opportunity is only 48 hours or so to be most effective. It also has possible negative side effects too.

 

Thanks both for your replies. Not sure what I can get at the doctor's, but I might head to a clinic tomorrow and see what they say.

 

All acoustic trauma or very loud prolonged noise exposure guarantees some hearing loss
even if it does not show up on a 250-8000hz audiogram.


Protect your hearing and hope for the best recovery. No guarantee's but get a steroid to be safe.

If you had tinnitus mildly before did you suspect it had anything to do with concert,mp3 players, TMD, cervical issues, head concussion or something else?

 

Not sure what's caused my long term tinnitus, as I've had no hearing issues. I thought it could be related to my tense neck muscles or my teetch clenching during sleep but it's just a hunch.

As far as the more recent issue, I have some hearing loss around 4000 Hz and the doctor preapresribed me quite a bit of medicine for the next 9 days. Prednisolone, famotidine (to offset the steroid?), Vitamin B12, and Adenosine triphosphate disodium hydrate. I live in Japan where they tend to give out a lot of medicine. Hoping for the best.

 

Welcome to the forum.
There are many causes, single or combined, which can trigger or aggravate tinnitus including but not limited to drug side-effects from ototoxic drugs, ear wax build-up, ear-wax removal suction, inner ear infection, Eustachian tube disorder or ETD, ear drum injury, fluid build-up in ears feeling pressured or fullness, sinus infection & congestion especially with a bad cold, TMJ, TTTS, autoimmune disorders such as Lyme Disease & Fibromyalgia, high blood pressure or blood circulation problem, anemia, loud noise exposure or acoustic trauma/shock, head injury or TBI, neck injury or muscle problems, hearing loss from aging or other causes, Meniere's Decease, barotrauma from rapid pressure changes in flights or diving, especially with congested nose or sinus causing failure to balance the pressure changes, slapping of the ears, deep grief, untreated sleep apnea, extreme/extended stress, anxiety & panic disorder, depression, sleep deprivation, etc.

T can also be caused or made worse by unhealthy diet such as too much salt, sugar, caffeine, MSG, alcohol etc. or by lacking some mineral or vitamin supplements, such as Magnesium, Zinc, B12, D3 etc

 

@ChocoJoe Have you seen a neurologist for your neck?

 

Not sure if it's the medication, but my tinnitus has returned to normal levels thankfully

As for my neck, maybe I should describe more. It just feels like there's a constant small amount or pressure around where my neck meets my skull. Almost like a headache, but no pain.

 

@ChocoJoe

I am pleased to hear that your tinnitus has reduced to normal levels. I am going to give you some advice based on my many years of having noise induced tinnitus. If you follow it I believe you will save yourself a lot of misery in the future and if you don't and continue on your current trend then you risk the recent spike in tinnitus returning fast, but this time it is likely to be worse and could become permanent for quite some time. So please treat your spike in tinnitus as a warning because that is exactly what it was.

You have had tinnitus for quite some time although it has remained at a low manageable level. My advice to you is this: If you use headphones I advise you to stop using them for at least 3 months. It would be better if you never use them again even at low volume but the choice is yours. I say this because even though your tinnitus has now reduced please don't think this is the end of the story and everything is fine, it isn't I assure you. The tinnitus is there, lying dormant and quietly waiting to strike, as soon as you expose your ears and auditory system to the next loud sound or possibly use headphones at too high a volume level or for too long a duration. Your auditory system has suffered and acoustic trauma, and you are very fortunate that it has made a recovery so quickly, so take extreme care over the next few weeks and months.

I advise you to keep away from concerts or clubs where loud music is played for the next 3 months and I'm serious about this. Please don't believe wearing earplugs even the best that money can buy will protect your hearing and stop your tinnitus from spiking or getting worse, because they won't. If external sound is loud enough it will pass through your head/skull and be transferred to your inner ear by bone conduction and spike the tinnitus.
Please read the post below.

Take care and I wish you well.
Michael

Are spikes from loud noise permanent?

Someone recently asked me, whether a spike in tinnitus caused by loud noise would be permanent? I don’t think there is a definitive answer, because tinnitus is a complex condition and if hyperacusis is also present it can complicate matters further. Some people habituate to tinnitus but their hyperacusis hasn’t fully cured and this can cause tinnitus to spike.

When a person first develops tinnitus and it was caused by loud noise they have to be careful in future. Tinnitus can and does spike for many people and this is not necessarily caused by loud noise or sounds. After a while it usually returns to baseline or into its normal rhythm. Danger can present itself after a person habituates and the tinnitus has reduced to mild or moderate levels for most of the time. If one isn’t careful, it can be easy to forget and slip back into the old lifestyle of: listening to music through headphones. Attending clubs, concerts and the cinema where sound levels can be quite high.

I believe a person with tinnitus should attend clubs, concerts and the cinema if they want to, providing they use noise-reducing earplugs to protect themselves. However, one should remember that nothing is one hundred percent safe. My advice is to stay clear of large standing floor speakers and if you’re at a concert don’t go to near the front stage where the music is likely to be booming out at high sound levels.

In many instances people will get a warning when visiting these places. If the decibel levels are too high their tinnitus might spike. Usually the tinnitus will return to baseline. However, some people do not pay attention to these warnings and continue to subject their ears to loud sounds and think they are perfectly safe because they are wearing earplugs. Under these circumstances the tinnitus might spike again and this time it might become permanent. I am saying might because nothing is for certain. In my opinion a person with tinnitus needs to follow the warnings their auditory system and tinnitus is telling them.

Regarding headphones. Many people have contacted me after they have habituated to tinnitus and returned to using headphones and listened to music through them at low volume. All of them have noticed an increase in their tinnitus. Some of them noticed their tinnitus spiked but carried on listening to music through headphones and then the tinnitus increased to a higher and more permanent level. It must be said that some people with tinnitus use headphones and have no adverse effects and that is perfectly fine. My opinion on this is, anyone that has tinnitus shouldn’t listen to any type of audio through headphones even at low level.

It saddens to say, if a person doesn’t heed the warning signs their auditory system and tinnitus is telling them, then they will eventually feel because tinnitus is very unforgiving. It is fine when some people are telling others what they want to hear: "listen to music through headphones because life is for living". “Go to the club as often as possible you’re safe with earplugs. If your tinnitus increases you will be the one that will be in the suffering.

I have read many posts in tinnitus talk, where people had habituated and the tinnitus is low. They returned to listening to music through headphones and clubbing during the week and weekends. Some are now regretting this because their tinnitus has increased and they are in distress. Just because a person habituates doesn't mean they can forget everything and carry on in some instances recklessly. You can of course do this but my advice is to do things in moderation and not to excess, because the end result is often returning to ENT for help and visiting tinnitus forums because you are unable to cope.

 

Sorry for the late reply and thank you for the informative post. Unfortunately, I really have no idea if my long term tinnitus if noise induced. Regardless, I have already intended to be more careful in the future.

For unrelated reasons, I haven't used headphones much over the past 5 months or so, but I don't feel any benefits from not using them. I'll keep it in mind though.

 

I'm wondering if I've just gotten used to it, because I was lying in bed in a quiet room this morning, and thought that my tinnitus is quite loud. I got off the medication 2 days ago, so that could be part of it.

 

You need to do another audiogram, and when you do it make sure to do it above 8khz. Try to do DPOAE if you can.
No more loud concerts, cinema, clubs, loud venues, loud bars, etc and please no more earbuds/earbuds. Stay away from fire alarms, vacuum, hair dryer, hand dryer, blender, etc. Tinnitus can easily worsen when exposed to hazardous sounds.

Please update us on your journey

 

Does this also apply to ENTs who want to preform dangerous ear tests on us? I was told that there is no risk of 100db sound for 1 minute and bam here I am 8 months in suffering. My ENT said that the sound needs to be long in duration for damage to occur but I dont know honestly.

 

@dpdx

I disagree with your views that ENT doctors are performing dangerous tests on a person's auditory system and hope, that you stop writing this. It is very disrespectful, offensive and untrue of these highly trained doctors. You had an unfortunate experience but your vendetta which is now turning into an obsession, casting all ENT doctors as dangerous that want to perform tests, is of no help to people, especially newbies waiting to be seen at ENT. I had very severe tinnitus and hyperacusis. I had no problems with the hearing tests including Tympanometry that you are so much against. My MRI scan went through smoothly without a hitch. These are important tests that need to be done on a person's auditory system to try and determine what is causing the tinnitus.

The bedside manner of some ENT doctors needs to be improved but essentially, they are caring individuals that want to help their patients so please give them the respect that they deserve. I have always said the majority of ENT doctors do not know much about tinnitus, other than what their patients tell them. The reason being is that most have never experienced the condition and therefore, cannot really understand it.

However, the anatomy of the Ear and any underlying medical problems associated with it is their field of expertise and what they are skilled in. They are able to treat it medically or surgically and I believe most do this well. I cannot thank my ENT doctor enough for the care and consideration she afforded me, when I endured 4 years or sheer torture at times if it weren't for her comments: "I will never give up on treating you". After she told me I was the second worst tinnitus patient that she had met, in all her years of practicing Audiovestibular medicine. There are many people that I have corresponded with that have nothing but praise to say, in the way they were treated by their ENT doctors.

I wish you well.
Michael

 

"The reason being is that most have never experienced the condition and therefore, cannot really understand it. "

Honest question, shouldn't tinnitus be a vital subject in the training for an ENT to know? Considering how much it affects people? Anytime someone experiences a problem with their ears, an ENT is the first person they will see, no? So I don't understand how an ENT can know zero about tinnitus... if the only reason is that they haven't experienced tinnitus themselves.

That just doesn't compute with me. It's like a cardiologist who knows nothing about heart murmurs because they haven't had one themselves when they should at least have some basic knowledge.

I understand tinnitus is not a textbook issue, but from my personal experience, I spoke with 2 ENTs who made zero effort in trying to narrow down what may be causing my tinnitus. It's like the second I mentioned "ringing in my ears" they immediately shut down. I got the old, "get used to it" routine and they couldn't wait to rush me out of the door. And I quote: "your ears are perfect". No hearing test, no referral to another specialist, no nothing. Obviously my ears are not perfect, I have freaking tinnitus and my life has fallen apart!

Again, I know it's not a textbook/obvious issue, but perhaps ENTs could make some degree of effort in trying to narrow it down as oppose to going straight to "Get used to it" and "I can prescribe pills for sleep".

Just my two cents.

 

Michael, I like you and I respect you but you are right in regards to doing tests, however when there is enough evidence to do so, if you have ear pain or vertigo or balance issues or discharge from the ear then sure go ahead do them. You also have to understand that Ecog and acoustic reflex can exacerbate tinnitus and cause further damage. Another user here did the ECOG and he is in the same boat as me now, his name @Dizzyhead888 both of us are paying the price . You are against headphone use and so I am, but why wouldnt a 100db ear test test damage further our already damaged ear, just like the use of earbuds would for somewone who has T, even at low volume T can turn severe, then why wouldnt this 1 minute test do so? There are obviously risks of doing it, tinnitus suffers are at high risk of making their T worse by these tests. I am upset at ENTs/Audiologists because they are willing to make their patient worse by preforming these tests. My Audiologist knew that I had an acoustic trauma and he said I have damaged outer cochlea cells which is common during noise exposure, but still insisted I do multiple tests that the ENT wanted me to do because he was unsure whether it really was trauma. My ENT didnt say anything nice like that to me, she said "it is the best for me and me you both if you dont come back to me for some time" also when I told her I have H she yelled at me and said " go get a job, get money, ask for money and then do TRT". How is that nice? How is that professional? How is that caring? She diagnosed me with multiple diseases and brought me extreme stress.
When I went to see my audiologist, my hearing had dropped by 20db on 4khz, which he attributed to stress and anxiety, guess what he told me after that "not to come back anymore, he cant help me, we cant do anything to test Inner cochlea cells".
How can I respect them? I lost my faith in Medical community which only seeks to gain money from people's suffering.

 

The tests above you did not mention in your post @dpdx nor am I familiar with them. If they generate sound levels of 100 decibels then that is cause for concern, and something I would not advise anyone with tinnitus to have. Therefore, I agree with you and wouldn't recommend these tests.

Michael

 

The oVEMP I had done involved putting electrodes on my face and emitting a sound of 100db for 1-2 minutes. I have lost hearing right then and there. I had no issues with my right ear whatsoever now I am dealing with Mild T and Severe H there, with T on the opposite ear (left) going from a 2/10 to a 7 or 8, it is fairly loud. If i had listened to you I would have habituated by now and been a success story, but I ended up listening to the medical proffesionals whom i trusted. I emailed Vestibular Audiologists and researchers and they told me that the test is totally safe FOR PEOPLE, but for people who have T & H it might not be as they can be more susceptible to damage.
ECOG Is 100db
Acoustic Reflex is 95db
oVEMP is 98db with peaks 105-110db.

This means that our ears are damaged and we are prone to more damage if not careful.
P.S I am listening to Smetana to calm me down

 

I would assume that doctors choosing to specialise is ENT, will have some knowledge about tinnitus as it is associated with the ear and auditory system. Please remember, ENT covers: Ear Nose and Throat. Although separate they are all connected and each one a specialised field of medicine.

ENT doctors are "physicians" not tinnitus specialists or counsellors. By this I mean, if there is no underlying medical or surgical problem within the auditory system or elsewhere in the body causing the tinnitus, a patient (in the UK ) is referred to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in the treatment and management of tinnitus, including hyperacusis. This can cover a wide area of treatments listed below or a combination of them.
Many Hearing Therapists and Audiologists that treat tinnitus patients especially with counselling, were either born with tinnitus or acquired it at sometime in their life.

Counselling
TRT
CBT
Medication
Sound Therapy
Hearing aids.
Mindfulness.

Michael

PS: I believe for a person to be able to counsel someone with tinnitus effectively, or to be able to empathize and understand them and what they are going through daily with this condition. They have to have experience of tinnitus themselves.

 

"By this I mean, if there is no underlying medical or surgical problem within the auditory system or elsewhere in the body causing the tinnitus"

That's what I'm saying. I guess in the U.K. it's different. At least here in North America, ENTs made no effort to find the underlying medical problem.

 

I don't know how your ENT doctors practice in your part of the world but will finish by saying this is what I believe should take place when there is no underlying medical problem causing the tinnitus.

Most tinnitus patients whether in the UK, USA or any other part of the world who are sent to ENT for tests will have: a full range of Hearing Tests done, including MRI that I mention in my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

As is often the case, many patients do not have any underlying medical problem causing the tinnitus. Such as meniere's disease, otosclerosis, ETD, TMJ, acoustic neuroma, etc. Many people in this forum developed tinnitus due to "noise trauma". Often caused by headphones or going to venues where loud music was played. Under these circumstances, when the tinnitus is caused by "loud noise" there is no underlying medical condition responsible as mentioned above. A patient should be referred to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist for the treatments that I have mentioned.

Michael

 

I agree with everything you said, but just so you know therapy is costs an arm and leg here in Murica.

 

Where are you located? You used to be in northern Europe if I'm not mistaken. Have you moved to the US?

 

Always lived in the US but my heart is in Northern Europe.

 

It sounds like you had an unfortunate experience. I went to my ENT and they did a medical exam of my ears, an ear drum pressure test, and an audiogram in one visit. He said give it two weeks as all was well and said if I wanted he could then order an MRI. So he did do a check for the most obvious issues and since I know the issue is from noise trauma and not a tumor, I don't need the MRI. I now made an appt with an audiologist at the tinnitus and hyperacusis clinic at a nearby medical college.

 

Yeah I waited a really long time for the appointment. He comes in and I tell him my ears are ringing out of nowhere and it hasn't stopped for a month. He looks into my ears and says I'm perfect, then looked at me dumbfounded with a "what else do you want me to do" look. I bring up MRIs and all that and he said there was nothing to give him a reason to go that route.

So FML.

 

There are bad docs in every field. Often times those are medical colleges do a bit better. Do a search for ENT and tinnitus or hyperacusis.

 

I hear you @dpdx and understand your situation and know treatment for any health condition can be expensive. At this moment the main treatments for tinnitus are as I've mentioned above. Depending on what type of healthcare plan a person has will be a deciding factor on the treatment they will be able to get.

All the best
Michael

 

Where are you located in the US?