Is This Tinnitus?

I've had tinnitus since about 1990. In fact, I'm not sure how long I've had it, but it's been a long time. My tinnitus is not localised in either ear, it's more of a sound in my head, like static on a radio and occasionally I get clicking sounds. As a child, in the 1950s and early 1960s, I had lots of really bad ear infections associated with colds and flu. My complaints that I couldn't hear properly were dismissed by my parents and teachers as just me not listening properly. Finally, about three years ago, I saw a hearing specialist and was diagnosed as having a 20% hearing loss in both ears due to inner ear damage, which he said was probably a result of those childhood ear infections, but was now fairly normal for my age.

However, for the last few weeks I've been getting a very different sensation, which is like a pressure wave passing through my head or in my ears. It actually first happened when I was in my doctor's surgery, but I thought it was something to do with the pressure in the room and just dismissed it. Now, I'm experiencing this very frequently, sometimes every five to ten minutes and sometimes it's associated with a wooshing or swooshing sound or a sound that I find difficult to describe but like pressure coming and going. I have a bit of a cold and this could have exacerbated the problem. It is extremely irritating and makes it difficult for me to concentrate. My usual tinnitus is particularly bad at the moment too.

Does anyone know whether this is another symptom of tinnitus, or is it something different? Is there any point seeing my GP about it? I found the Tinnitustalk website while trying to research this pressure-wave sensation.

 

Welcome to Tinnitus Talk Barbara.
It sounds like Eustation tube problem and its the ear pressure in and out and getting blocked that you are noticing now and a nose spray off your doctor will help and can spike tinnitus
Tinnitus in the head and ears does happen.
..lots of love glynis