Living with Relentless High-Pitched Tinnitus at 64

[TraceyNLa]

I woke up back in 2023 with a high-pitched screeching in both ears that has never stopped. I went to an audiologist and an ENT doctor in August and found out it's due to hearing loss in certain tones and frequency ranges.

I tried high-end hearing aids for a week with no relief, so hearing aids are a no-go for my tinnitus. It's so hard to get my spouse to understand the impact of living with extremely high-pitched tinnitus 24/7. I cry a lot because it's a lot to deal with at 64 years of age.

There are days when I even think about having surgery to clip the nerve endings, but that would mean being deaf, and at 64 I can't imagine how I'd cope with not hearing at all. It's such a vicious circle. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep dealing with the noise. That's my story.

 

[LukeYoung]

I woke up back in 2023 with a high-pitched screeching in both ears that has never stopped. I went to an audiologist and an ENT doctor in August and found out it's due to hearing loss in certain tones and frequency ranges.

I tried high-end hearing aids for a week with no relief, so hearing aids are a no-go for my tinnitus. It's so hard to get my spouse to understand the impact of living with extremely high-pitched tinnitus 24/7. I cry a lot because it's a lot to deal with at 64 years of age.

There are days when I even think about having surgery to clip the nerve endings, but that would mean being deaf, and at 64 I can't imagine how I'd cope with not hearing at all. It's such a vicious circle. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep dealing with the noise. That's my story.

Sorry to hear that, Tracey. It's very hard for people to understand—tinnitus is similar to hidden disabilities. Only those going through it can truly sympathize with you. I think the hearing aid option isn't too bad, though my guess is that a week probably isn't long enough to have a meaningful impact. If you have the funds, it could be worth trying for longer.

As for the nerve-ending idea, I don't think it would work. I believe tinnitus is similar to the phantom pain that amputees experience. Based on my own research, I don't think it would help; in fact, it could make things worse if your brain is compensating for lost input at certain frequencies. Adding more lost input could make it even worse.

 

[Bill Arsenault]

No, no—please, no surgeries just yet.

Many of us have had those thoughts before, so I completely understand. I realize you're not exactly new to this, but without a doubt, the first few years can be extraordinarily hard for many reasons.

Eight years later, my tinnitus is much more severe than it has ever been because I still have to work in noisy environments, and relying on ear protection is a constant struggle. But my stress and depression levels are much lower than they were in the beginning, because somewhere along the way, I accepted my condition and slowly went back to living a relatively normal life instead of destroying myself with stress over how I would ever make it through the rest of my days like this.

Try to relax and let time do its work.

Best wishes.

 

[hubast]

Hi @TraceyNLa,

I'm right there with you! I'm experiencing the same thing, but don't give up hope. Together, we can make it through until things get better.

 

[Gedat643]

I posted in the past few months on this forum about testing Lipo-Flavonoid from CVS Pharmacy and possibly using Flonase if you have nasal pressure that contributes to tinnitus. This combination has provided some relief for me. I also recently discovered that Metoprolol, a medication prescribed for heart patients, can cause loud and unrelenting tinnitus!

 

[Nesty]

People who don't have tinnitus don't understand the disability you live with inside.

I have high-pitched tinnitus that sounds like a loud hiss. I also have digital hearing aids because I suffer from high-frequency hearing loss. I used them for a short while and then stopped, since I work in a quiet office and found them too overpowering, especially while driving.

Anyway, I've decided to give them a proper try now. I'm in my third week of wearing them, and my ears are starting to get used to the sound. I take them out in the evening to give my ear canals a rest. You really have to persevere for a while to experience the full benefits.

I'm hoping that by giving my brain the missing frequencies, some of the noise might lessen. I'm not expecting the hearing aids to cure it, but I do hope they'll help.

 

[trevl]

I woke up back in 2023 with a high-pitched screeching in both ears that has never stopped. I went to an audiologist and an ENT doctor in August and found out it's due to hearing loss in certain tones and frequency ranges.

I tried high-end hearing aids for a week with no relief, so hearing aids are a no-go for my tinnitus. It's so hard to get my spouse to understand the impact of living with extremely high-pitched tinnitus 24/7. I cry a lot because it's a lot to deal with at 64 years of age.

There are days when I even think about having surgery to clip the nerve endings, but that would mean being deaf, and at 64 I can't imagine how I'd cope with not hearing at all. It's such a vicious circle. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep dealing with the noise. That's my story.

Tinnitus that develops after noise trauma is caused by the brain's response to the loss of input from damaged hearing cells. Cutting the nerves to or from the ears in order to induce deafness will not help. In fact, some deaf people also experience tinnitus.

Tinnitus can be viewed as a form of brain injury. The sound originates in the brain, but not solely from the auditory cortex.

Current tinnitus research generally focuses on two main areas:

1. The cellular changes that occur in the ear.
2. The changes that take place in the brain.

The introduction sections of most journal articles usually summarize what is currently known and unknown about tinnitus. However, the majority of research suggests that the source of tinnitus lies within the brain.

The following link leads to a thread about tinnitus research…

Research's Attempt to Objectively Assess Tinnitus

I just wanted to start a thread gathering experiences trying to objectively assess tinnitus (I did not find a thread for this subject in this forum). Tinnitus alters resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) in human auditory and non-auditory brain regions as measured by functional...

www.tinnitustalk.com

 

[Larkspur]

I woke up back in 2023 with a high-pitched screeching in both ears that has never stopped. I went to an audiologist and an ENT doctor in August and found out it's due to hearing loss in certain tones and frequency ranges.

I tried high-end hearing aids for a week with no relief, so hearing aids are a no-go for my tinnitus. It's so hard to get my spouse to understand the impact of living with extremely high-pitched tinnitus 24/7. I cry a lot because it's a lot to deal with at 64 years of age.

There are days when I even think about having surgery to clip the nerve endings, but that would mean being deaf, and at 64 I can't imagine how I'd cope with not hearing at all. It's such a vicious circle. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep dealing with the noise. That's my story.

Hi Tracey,

I am 65 and have permanent high-pitched tinnitus. Mine developed gradually from hearing loss and eventually became permanent. I've been told by more than one doctor that there's no cure, but there is help. I'm now debating whether to go to a tinnitus clinic to see if they can offer any relief.

I used to see an upper cervical–trained chiropractor who listed tinnitus as something he could lessen or possibly eliminate. However, his office was over an hour and a half away, and it would have required many more visits and a lot of money for travel and treatment. I may consider that route again if things become unbearable.

I'm also struggling with constant relationship issues with my spouse, kids, and grandkids who don't realize that this isn't normal. I can't hear properly, and it's taking a toll on my nerves and emotional health. It's completely frustrating, isn't it? It wears on the nerves and yes, it makes me cry at times too. I can totally sympathize.