Intermittent Noises with Strange Patterns

I am only experiencing this sensation at work:

I work in an almost completely quiet office. The only thing I hear are laptop fans and another smooth fan-noise from outside when the window is opened. I experience this since the tympanometry has been made last Thursday:

Intermittently, on the right side with a lower tone, on the right side with a higher pitch (sometimes accompanied with a white-noise sound), the noise randomly starts to build up, but they do not do it at the same time, it is either left or right. The noise is there for a few seconds, up to 1-2 minutes, and then it suddenly stops completely. Then it randomly starts again. It feels like it is triggered by the fan noise.

It is like every second I listen to my ears, I am experiencing something else.

Has anyone ever had similar experiences? Could the pattern mean something? Like the cells are not yet completely damaged from the tympanometry and I should take steroids?

I am so confused and stressed right now and just don't want to miss out on something if there is still something left to rescue...

 

HI @chaLLas

Try to calm down and relax. I don't think the tympanometry has caused any damage. I advise you not to take any steroids as you don't need them. You have suffered a "noise trauma" from a rock concert and developed tinnitus and probably have some hyperacusis too. This is going to take time to heal and for you to recover. Use a small table top "sound machine" in your office and play this at a low level. Sound Oasis S-65o is good or the Oasis S-850 travel sound machine which is small and discrete. This will help take your attention away from the tinnitus and other sounds you're hearing in such a quiet environment.

I strongly advise you Not to use headphones even at low volume. It is up to you whether you wish to follow this advice but that is what I suggest if you want to get better. In fact, never use headphones ever again. Please click on the links below and read my posts that I think will help you.

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/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-ent-doctor-and-hearing-therapist.24047/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/inspiration.22894/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

 

Thank you very much for replying @Michael Leigh . I already read all the links and took your advice the first time when you replied to my initial post

I am not using headphones any longer and am using sound enrichment at home as you advise.

I still need to find a way to cope with it at work.

Yet the strange thing is, that every time I am experiencing any more than average loud noise exposure, I have been developing new sensations and sounds. If there has not been done any further damage, can just my anxiety create new sensations and sounds? Would the anxiety more likely just not make my existing sounds spike?

This all confuses me so much ... I know in any way that my anxiety and stress are involved in my problems, but still I need to know if anything physical has been damaged ... because it is said you have to act quickly in that case ... which leads to more anxiety and stress ... but not getting any meds when they could have helped might be a regret for life ... again more anxiety and stress...

Sorry, I do not want to be whiny, but this takes circles in my head all day long.

 

I know this does not mean so much, but at least a bit of relief for me:

I just got an audiogram up to 8 khz which showed no hearing loss at all. I know there might still be hidden hearing loss, but at least I know that nothing's wrong up to 8 khz ...

 

Thank you for your kind words @chaLLas. I know you are going through a difficult time at the moment. I am going to give you some advice and I hope that you follow it because I think it will help you. You are in the early stages of tinnitus and there is nothing that you can do to speed up the healing and recovery process. It takes time a lot of patience. If you try to rush things, it will cause you more stress and anxiety than you already have which has been brought on by the onset of tinnitus.

Although you have read my articles I advise you to Print my counselling articles and read them often. This will help reinforce positive thinking over time. Reading them once is fine but the problem with this the content is soon forgotten. Positivity needs reinforcing and this is what counselling does with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist trained in the treatment and management of tinnitus. By Printing and reading my articles in the links below often, they will reinforce positive thinking. I also encourage you to print and read posts/articles on the positivity Thread written by members of this forum. Recovering from tinnitus and hyperacusis requires patience and work which we must be prepared to do for ourselves to help the healing process. This is very important.

Buy yourself one of the sound machines that I have recommended and use it at work on your desk for sound enrichment: Oasis S-650 or Oasis S-850 travel. This will help take your attention away from the tinnitus and additional sounds that you are hearing.

The new sensations that you are developing is not uncommon with tinnitus in the early stages. By this I mean within the first 6 months to a year. In time they will settle down and go away. Stress can contribute to this, so you may require medication in the form of a mild anti-depressant. Talk to your doctor if you are having difficulty coping.

Do not concern yourself with Audiogram results and readings for they are absolutely pointless. Just listen to the advice your ENT doctor tells you about them. If you require hearing aid/s you will be advised of this. Start taking Gingko biloba in Tincture form, buy a good quality brand. Price is a usual indicator of quality. Ginkgo can help improve hearing over time as it has in my case. Also, take magnesium tablets as it can help repair the nerves in the auditory system. The auditory pathways are all made up of nerves.

As I said, print the articles in the links below and keep them in a folder and read them regularly to help reinforce positive thinking. It takes time but a lot can be achieved if you persist. Consider doing deep breathing and relaxation exercises for 30mins 3 to 5 times a week. It can help lower your stress. Links to relation videos on youtube are below in my article.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-big-picture.19308/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/positivity-and-tinnitus.12060/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/changes-in-tinnitus-and-how-to-cope.12067/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/standing-tall.12070/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-as-i-see-it.12073/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/i-would-rather-be-happy-than-right.12084/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-way-forward.12233/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/life-is-problematic.12317/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/try-and-help-yourself.12355/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-does-habituation-to-tinnitus-mean.12409/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-antidepressants-and-other-medications-help-tinnitus.18466/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/look-at-what-you-can-do-not-what-you-cant.20372/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/from-darkness-into-light.22234/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/