Just Came to Terms with Tinnitus — Now It's Started All Over Again After a Walk on a Windy Day

Hi Everyone,

I’m in my late 40’s and I got tinnitus with sound induced hearing loss 5 years ago. I found it difficult for the first few years but the fourth and fifth year became easier and a month ago I could hardly notice it. I was happy again.

Then a massive setback, I went for a walk on a quite a windy day and when I got back, I noticed my tinnitus had gotten loud again. I left it for a couple of days and did a hearing test (mobile phone app). I was shocked to see my hearing had got significantly worse compared to previous tests.

I have mild hyperacusis, my ears feel full all the time and day by day my hearing seems to be getting slightly worse.

The tinnitus is bad, and I can just about cope with it but the thought of totally losing my hearing is destroying me. I can’t sleep, I’m getting terrible palpitations at night and am having totally involuntary anxiety attacks that last for hours of the night.

I have an ENT appointment soon but in the meantime is there anything I can do to help stop the hearing loss? Does ear fullness mean my hearing is deteriorating?

Thanks.

 

Perhaps you can schedule an appointment while you're at it, since your ENT will likely want you to take a hearing test. Hopefully your ENT can fast-track you to see an audiologist.

 

Hi Sam. I'm too new to this to give advice. I can share I have the same fear that I'm going deaf while suffering these crazy noises in my head... I would protect your ears with earplugs while out in conditions that will bother you. The stress and fear I now experience with this makes me dry heave/gag at least once a day. I hope you have ways to manage stress and that seems to be key in recovery. I hope your ear gets better from the wind attack!

 

Hi Sam, so are you doing better?

 

The only thing I have to add to this thread is that mobile phone app audiograms are not reliable.