Keeping Things Simple with Tinnitus

Keeping Things Simple with Tinnitus

People have often told me the onset of their tinnitus felt like riding an emotional roller-coaster, because no two days ever felt the same. I agree with this analogy as I think back to my own experience 27 years ago. The sudden impact of severe tinnitus and hyperacusis filled me with panic and fear, as with each passing day I contemplated what my life and future would be like. With time and treatment, things did improve but must stress my journey to habituation wasn't easy. I am mentioning this to anyone that might think, I don't understand what severe tinnitus and hyperacusis can be like and the effects that they can have on a person's quality of life. Please believe me when I say I know, for I have been there.

Fortunately the onset of tinnitus for a lot of people beyond the realms of the tinnitus forums is nothing like I have mentioned above. They often learn to habituate to tinnitus within 6 months to a year. They may or may not require a referral to ENT for tests. Sometimes a referral to an audiologist is recommended that specialises in tinnitus management and usually some form of help is available. It all depends what has caused the tinnitus and how severe it is for the individual.

Tinnitus is more common than some people think. Talk about it to friends, relatives or co-workers and I guarantee someone will tell you they have it. They will probably say it was troublesome at first but now dismiss it as just a minor inconvenience that's occasionally heard in quiet surroundings. This is a typical response from those that have mild to moderate tinnitus. Some people openly scoff at the thought that anyone would complain about it, because to them tinnitus is nothing. They are blissfully unaware there are people that endure loud intrusive tinnitus to the point their quality of life is seriously affected. For now, I want to explain my reasons for keeping things simple with tinnitus and why I believe this is important; whether you are in the early stages of tinnitus, seasoned to it or a veteran to the condition.

Many people regard the smartphone as invaluable and will seldom leave their home without first checking it's on their person. It has morphed into something entirely different from its first inception as a mobile phone when it was merely used for telephony. There are over six billion smartphones in circulation. Approximately 86% of people have one or more. Apart from making phone calls, we use it for taking photos, streaming videos, paying for meals and goods when out and about without the need for carrying cash or cards. It can do a myriad of things but one of its main uses is for browsing the Internet; something I often do when wanting up to date information on a particular subject. With this handy device gone are the days when I trudged a long to my local book store or library in search of reference books on tinnitus. The Internet today is swamped with information on tinnitus and treatments for the condition, including potential cures that claim to rid a person of the cacophony of noise that has suddenly invaded their world and will restore their life back to peace and contentment.

This all seems wonderful but I see things a little differently. Some of information online about tinnitus is good but a lot of it can be misleading and even considered to be bad. Bad in the sense of it being too negative, especially on some social media sites, that can make some people feel vulnerable especially when their tinnitus is problematic, as they could find themselves spiralling down into a vortex of confusion and discontent, so one needs to be careful. With the amount of information available online some people tend to self-diagnose their situation without first being examined by an ENT doctor. This can create stress and cause insurmountable problems that could be difficult to overcome, because tinnitus and, to an extent hyperacusis, are intrinsically linked to our mental and emotional welling. Stress makes tinnitus worse and tinnitus can make stress worse and therefore it can become a vicious cycle.

I have read posts where some people who have not yet been seen at ENT but have gone to their GP/PCP after reading copious amounts of information online about tinnitus or downloaded and printed research articles, now feeling empowered to have the temerity to tell the doctor in minute detail what is wrong with them. Comments such as: I have reactive tinnitus, noxacusis, hyperacusis, photophobia, misophonia are not uncommon. I understand the fear and frustration a person can feel with tinnitus but I advise against this approach, as such actions could be seen as telling the doctor their job and consequently rubbing them up them wrong way. I recall one person that mentioned his doctor was very disgruntled and said: since you know so much, why come to me. Another doctor in my opinion rightly told his patient, tell me your symptoms and I will make the diagnoses or refer you to a specialist.

I suppose it's only natural with the vast amount of information that's easily accessible on our smartphone, the need to acquire as much knowledge and understanding about our health is just too tempting. If you find yourself constantly searching for statistics on tinnitus treatments or reading the latest studies into finding a cure for the condition, my advice is to try to reduce your perusing, as this can often make you focus more on the tinnitus and increase your stress levels which isn't good for our mental and emotional well-being. Although it's not easy, try to be calm and not self-diagnose or add additional medical conditions to your tinnitus, without first being examined by an ENT doctor, because there is no certainty that you are affected by what you believe may ail you.

The term reactive tinnitus is regularly mentioned in tinnitus forums but it's not a recognised medical condition, as told to me by an ENT doctor. Tinnitus can react to sound. Most (but not all) people that complain of reactive tinnitus have developed noise-induced tinnitus. Hyperacusis often, but not always, accompanies this condition. Therefore, it is my belief the underlying cause of reactive tinnitus is at best a subnet of hyperacusis. No two people will experience hyperacusis the same and it can manifest itself in many ways. One of the best treatments for noise induced tinnitus with or without hyperacusis, is counselling and sound therapy which is best administered through the wearing of white noise generators. It is advised this treatment is done under the care of an audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management.

By keeping things simple with tinnitus, I believe helps to lower stress which often has a beneficial effect on tinnitus. I am not suggesting a person shouldn't express the way tinnitus makes them feel, quite the contrary, but if one isn't careful, there is a risk of making your situation more complex than it already is. 27 years ago when I developed severe noise-induced tinnitus and hyperacusis, caused by listening to audio too loud through headphones, there was no mention of reactive tinnitus in any of the tinnitus books I bought or those borrowed from the library. I have also seen a gradual change in the way tinnitus is talked about online, which I don't think is particularly healthy because its effect can be contagious.

There are people not content to just say they have tinnitus and possibly hyperacusis any more. Now everything has to be explained in graphic detail, to convey their tinnitus and what they are going through, is much more serious than anyone else. At times it seems there is direct rivalry between people. The more medical conditions one can add to their tinnitus, the more credence it gives that they are really suffering and in dire straits. It seems incredulous to me some people behave in this way.

I was recently explaining my experience with severe hyperacusis 27 years ago, that thankfully was cured with treatment. Someone immediately piped in saying, it wasn't as severe as noxacusis, which they defined as a more serious form of hyperacusis. They described it as a piercing, stabbing, excruciating pain in ears to any sort of sound. Back then when I read books on hyperacusis, there was no mention of noxacusis. However, I did experience the piercing, stabbing pain in my ears and a lot more.

I explained to this person: in addition to having severe tinnitus and hyperacusis, the whole of my head felt completely numb. I could hear but it felt like my head was under water. It was very frightening and lasted about 6 months. I met a herbalist who knew a lot about tinnitus. She said the numbness was caused by noise trauma and recommended I take Magnesium tablets, to help heal the nerves in the auditory system. An ENT doctor said this was good advice as he recommends Magnesium tablets to all his tinnitus patients. The person I was corresponding with was a little contrite, saying that must have been absolutely awful.

There is no doubt tinnitus can be difficult to live with when it is severe. If you are experiencing this, try and seek the best medical help you can get. If you have additional medical conditions, it can complicate things, so it's important to see a doctor. Try not to self-diagnose and put even more pressure on yourself.

Michael

 

This is something that I need to do.

 

I think there is definitely the need to distinguish it further than just tinnitus and hyperacusis.

I'm currently experiencing extremely severe hyperacusis from benzo withdrawal. All sounds cause burning stabbing pain, this is much different from things just sounding too loud.

I also have very reactive tinnitus. A conversation with a friend who visited me spiked my tinnitus for days and caused extreme pain for days.

"Keeping it simple" is great for people with "simple tinnitus", but putting everyone in a box and giving them the same advice can be harmful.

Generally I think what you're saying is good advice but for the whatever small percentage of people who do have these issues, it makes them feel left out and forgotten by medicine.

 

It's not about putting everyone in the same box. It's about trying to be calm, seek treatment and not to self-diagnose as this can cause stress and make tinnitus more intrusive.

Try and direct your thoughts to other things and in time, you won't focus so much on tinnitus. Take it slow and try not to worry.

 

You really can't keep tinnitus simple until 6-12 months in.

Most peole go to their PCP, ENT, Therapist and still feel lost.

Time heals 90% of tinnitus.

I think everyone mostly goes on their tinnitus adventure over the course of the months outlined above.

At the end of the adventure, it's the person, their tinnitus and their mindset that helps with the healing.

I have awful tinnitus and I always think of the Beatles song ''Let It Be'' - it's doing its thing and I'll do mine.

I and my tinnitus live together and it's okay, it doesn't piss me off and it's there for all the goals I kick because it sprung me into action to change my life.

 

Thank you for your comments @Stayinghopeful. When you have the time, please print my post and read it again because it's long. Keeping things simple with tinnitus, means to not over complicate it the way that some people do. The key is to try and key calm and take things slowly. Whether a person is new to tinnitus, seasoned to it, or a veteran.

Michael

 

Practically all recognized medical conditions were at one time not recognized by the medical community. Lack of recognition by the medical community is not proof positive that a physical condition does not exist or should be taken with grain of salt. Not long ago the medical community didn't recognize fibromyalgia (some physicians still don't) or chronic fatigue syndrome & there are other rare conditions that are not well understood, therefore easily dismissed or overlooked by the medical community.

If someone has tinnitus which is reactive, then by default it should be classified as reactive tinnitus regardless of the cause. Hyperacusis is an umbrella term so it is not helpful to suggest reactive tinnitus is simply a form of hyperacusis. Reactive tinnitus has its own distinct characteristics separate from characteristics of those diagnosed with hyperacusis. Most people with tinnitus do not react to outer stimulus in a negative way where the tinnitus spikes for certain duration. Most have non-reactive tinnitus. Some may have fluctuating tinnitus throughout the day where it gradually seems worse but not reactive tinnitus. Some may have fluctuation & reactive tinnitus. Some have the characteristic type of hyperacusis along with tinnitus & reactive tinnitus. Some strictly hyperacusis.

This is a field that desperately needs more research & discovery before someone can make conclusive diagnoses.

 

You are entitled to your views and opinions because I started this thread. You have highlighted the reasons why I believe keeping things simple with tinnitus, is the right approach and not to overcomplicate it with terminology such as reactive tinnitus, which at best is a subset of hyperacusis. There is nothing to research in reactive tinnitus, it was a terminology made up in tinnitus forums many years ago.

Making tinnitus more complex than it already is, often increases stress and can be psychologically damaging. My advice to people, is seek treatment that is currently available for your tinnitus and hyperacusis via your GP/PCP/ENT doctor, audiologist. Try not to become embroiled in constantly reading statistics on tinnitus treatments and studies into potential cures.

Michael

 

So first of all you've created this fallacious circular reasoning that since reactive tinnitus presumably was a term which was first introduced online, it therefore has no value. That's an appeal to authority fallacy. In other words, how can a bunch of laymen tinnitus sufferers create a category based on their own personal findings? Therefore, it should simply be dismissed because it complicates tinnitus treatments which in itself are at the embryonic stages. But yet you do claim it is a subset of hyperacusis. So why should it be dismissed? Why shouldn't it, even as a subset of hyperacusis, be explored further & therefore entitled to a different set of protocols & treatments to manage it? How is dismissing or placing it under one large basket (hyperacusis) a progressive approach to treating tinnitus? It's like saying let's not complicate arthritis or diabetes & let's simply treat all the different forms of it under one classification with one holistic treatment plan. Sorry, but life & health conditions are just more nuanced than that.

 

I made a typing error and meant to write subnet, not subset, although they have a similar meaning.

This is a tinnitus forum so please stick to that and not bring in other medical conditions. Once again you have shown why I believe keeping things simple with tinnitus is the right approach. People that complain of reactive tinnitus have usually been exposed to loud noise and their auditory system has become hypersensitive to sound or certain sounds. The underlying problem is hyperacusis, which I have already said can manifest itself in many ways and no two people will experience it the same.

It is not complex to treat this so called reactive tinnitus which is actually hyperacusis or a subnet of it. Treatment is best done (as with hyperacusis) wearing white noise generators and having regular counselling with an audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management. Some people may require medication as part of the treatment plan.

By making tinnitus and hyperacusis more complicated than they already are, it increases stress and puts more pressure on the individual.

Thank you for your comments and I wish you well,
Michael

 

In that case, Michael, please spare us your long-winded, orotund postings about your sciatica / lower back problems.