Increased Tinnitus When Typing on a Keyboard

Hi everyone.

I have tinnitus which is bearable, but I also get increased sensations when typing. It feels like someone is blowing in both of my ears each time a finger hits the key, which is often as I type fast.

My GP said nothing can be done but I’m keen to hear if anyone else gets this sensation.

 

Sounds like TTS (Tensor Tympani Syndrome) - I have a similar feeling when I type on the keyboard if it's "clicky."

 

I would try searching for a more silent keyboard if that's the only thing that's noticeably causing it.

 

Yes, if it feels like your eardrum is thumping or fluttering, that sounds like TTTS (Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome), which is a type of MEM (middle ear myoclonus). I don't get it from typing or any sounds except sometimes from voices, which results in my left ear fluttering when the voice is speaking. And my right ear will spontaneously thump every 20 seconds to a minute at times without any sound stimulus. No pain is involved.

 

In order to find out what is causing your oversensitivity to sound while you type, it would help to know what caused your tinnitus because you have had it since 2022 as mentioned on your profile? Tinnitus can develop without a known cause but usually this is not the case.

One of the most common causes of tinnitus is exposure to loud noise. Before the onset of your tinnitus, if you regularly listened to audio through headphones, earbuds or headsets, then it's likely your tinnitus is noise induced. Similarly, if you attended places where sound levels were loud, such as clubs or concerts, or worked in a noisy environment, then the probability of your tinnitus being noise induced increases. Since your ears are sensitive to the sounds of typing, I tend to believe your tinnitus is noise induced but I could be wrong.

Since you have had tinnitus for quite some time, it would help to know what tests you have had done at ENT and whether you have any hearing loss? If you have been examined at ENT, then your doctor should have been able to tell you of any underlying medical problems within your auditory system. If none were found, this could be another indication that your tinnitus is noise induced.

When someone with tinnitus also has oversensitivity to sound or certain sounds, it usually is an indication that hyperacusis is present, and the original cause of the tinnitus was exposure to loud noise. If you have tinnitus with hyperacusis, then the treatment for oversensitivity to sound can be addressed in two ways. Either using self-help or seeing an audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management.

You might find my article: Hyperacusis, as I See It, helpful. It is available on my started threads.

As I've mentioned above, it would help to know what tests you have had at ENT in the two years that you have had tinnitus.

All the best,
Michael

 

Thank you. I’ve never worked in a noisy environment and never attended a lot of concerts. My daughter is a singer and worked clubs but they were never that loud. So I’m totally unsure.

I will do some reading on TTS as I think it sounds possible. I did get a new keyboard but to be honest it was rubbish and the keys got stuck but I will ask IT to organise one. I am also considering Dragon speech recognition to add to my PC.

 

Did you listen to audio through any type of headphones regularly before the onset of your tinnitus? This includes: earbuds, headsets, noise-cancelling and bone conduction headphones?

Have you listened to audio through any of type headphones regularly since your tinnitus started, even at low volume?

Have you had any tests on your ears at ENT since your tinnitus began? Hearing test or MRI scan? Have you been examined by an ENT doctor since the onset of tinnitus?

Unless you have undergone tests at ENT, it will be difficult to determine the cause of your tinnitus and the reason for your oversensitivity to sound from your keyboard.

Michael.

 

I’ve been back to the GP today. He has agreed to a formal hearing test next week but when I asked for ENT referral, he said he didn’t think there was any point.

 

ENT can just run tests (which can cause worsening), may not even see TTTS when you're there, and can't do anything about it, anyway.

Anxiety can make it worse. Some people think overprotection can make it worse. I've heard some people have said it was better with some muscle relaxers. And it may just get better over time.

After mine started, it hasn't gotten any worse over these last 6 months or so. I do also have moderate hearing loss, mild hyperacusis, and tinnitus.

 

You have had tinnitus for 2 years and you haven't been referred to ENT. I will assume that you live in the UK and therefore, I find it very strange that you haven't been seen by an NHS ENT doctor.

I don't know how much your tinnitus is affecting your quality of life since you have just joined Tinnitus Talk. If you haven't been seeing your GP regularly, complaining about your tinnitus, this could be the reason he believes there's no point in referring you to ENT. Tinnitus is a very common condition that many people are able to cope with. When it starts to interrupt with a person's quality of life, most GPs will refer their patient to ENT for the tinnitus to be investigated.

Please click on the link below and read my post: Tinnitus, a Personal View. It explains in-depth the procedure when someone in the UK is referred to an NHS hospital for tinnitus investigation, and treatment if required. Not all NHS trusts operate the same. However, some basic procedures are, like when a patient is first seen by an ENT consultant and they recommend a hearing test and an MRI scan. In some instances, they will be referred to Audiology. This usually happens when your ENT doctor is satisfied there is no underlying medical problem within your auditory system that is causing the tinnitus.

For this reason it's important for a patient to have a full hearing examination and an MRI scan. If your tinnitus is noise-induced and you have some oversensitivity to sound or hyperacusis as I suspect, then you could be referred to Audiology for treatment. I explain some the the treatments available under NHS.

If you want to be referred to ENT because you are having difficulty coping with tinnitus, or certain sounds are making your ears more sensitive, then I suggest you do the following. Make an appointment to see your GP. If you are having difficulty with your tinnitus or sound sensitivity or both, tell them. Mention that you have had this for 2 years if that is the case. Then say the following words exactly as I write them below but remember to keep calm:

"Doctor, I would like to make a request to be referred to ENT for tests."

I don't think your doctor will refuse. If he does, then you have the option of writing to your MP. I don't think it will come to that but if it does, remember to advise your doctor that you intend to do this.

Best of luck,
Michael

Tinnitus, A Personal View | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Hello again.

I’ve been for an audiology test, it wasn’t an ideal environment in GP surgery with clock ticking and traffic noise but my thresholds are both above so I have no impairment.

The audiologist just said tinnitus and that nothing could be done. She had no experience of the sounds I get when I type and to be honest minimised the impact by saying it doesn’t happen all the time. She said there was no point in seeing ENT as I have no other symptoms. I made reference to my ears at times feeling full and having a stiff neck but these are not important according to her.

Let’s hope others here have some ideas as typing is 80% of my job and it’s very aggravating when it happens.

 

A detailed history of your tinnitus needs to be taken by an ENT doctor, because you have had tinnitus since 2022. At ENT you will be properly examined and assessed and, if necessary, you will be referred to Audiology for further treatment. This is the right and proper thing to do.

An audiology test in the environment you have mentioned is not a proper examination of your auditory system. I suggest that you talk to your GP and request to be referred to ENT, as mentioned in my previous post. If your GP refuses, then write to your MP, or make an appointment to see him/her at their surgery and ask for help. Explain you have had tinnitus since 2022 and the distress that you are having with your tinnitus. Mention that you have asked your GP to refer you to ENT for tests, but he has refused to do this.

As I mentioned in my previous post, if your GP refuses your request to be referred to ENT, then politely say that you will be writing or make an appointment to see your MP in surgery.

Michael

 

I will write to my MP as I have already requested ENT and been told that they would not be able to do anything.

 

I suggest that you talk to your GP again @JoJo2024 before writing to your MP.

If he refuses your request to be referred to ENT, then advise him that you will be contacting your MP.

Best of luck,
Michael

 

As it was said above, this sounds like TTTS where some muscle (tympani tensor or stapedius muscle) in your ear flutters/spasms/thumps when the ear receives a short/clicky/high-pitched/unexpected sound. It also usually happens with kitchen stuff, light knobs, but also with human, especially female, voices, some vowels etc. I don't know for sure if that's what is happening with you, but I've had many of these sensations over the past 3 years along with tinnitus (both TTTS and MEM) and they fit your description.

Search for TTTS and MEM. Nothing much can be done, except try wearing an earplug to see if those sensations keep happening. "Someone blowing in the ear" probably means a sensation of flutter/spasm, and earplugs tend to dampen the movement of those muscles. Otherwise, try taking some Magnesium or maybe muscle relaxers (consult a doctor of course for those). Also check if any muscle stretch (head, neck etc) can change how those sensations are happening.