Low Frequency Tinnitus Rapidly Variating in Volume

Hello everyone,

It's day 14 for me. One afternoon, I noticed a low-frequency noise, around 92 Hz, without being able to pinpoint its origin. Strangely, the volume changed rapidly, about three to four times a second, without any particular rhythm. It was far from a static tone. I initially thought it was some machinery from outside. My wife was on a trip, and she couldn't hear it when she returned. While my hearing is a bit more sensitive than hers, I scheduled an appointment with an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist after realizing I could hear the noise just as loudly in the basement.

The doctor performed a basic hearing test that showed no hearing damage. He did not explain any potential side causes, such as temporomandibular joint disorder, neck issues, or blood pressure problems, nor did he advise on how to treat it psychologically with distractions. He prescribed some Ginkgo biloba pills and told me to return in a week if the noise did not subside. I am fairly sure these are, at worst, a placebo, and at best, they take twelve weeks to have any effect. I took them anyway but also started taking Na-R-ALA, Acetylcysteine, and Vitamin B12, as I suspected but had not confirmed a deficiency. While I wasn't pleased with the first doctor, I couldn't get an appointment with another Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist until the end of July. I have a check-up and blood tests tomorrow with a general practitioner to see if there are any issues there.

In the meantime, the symptoms moved to my right ear only after six or seven days. I'm not sure if this is good or bad news. At least the volume seems to have stabilized more or less; it's almost static. Occasionally, I feel it tied to my pulse, but not always. I went back to the first doctor, and he suggested cortisone treatment. I expected it would go directly into the ear, but it went into my bloodstream via an intravenous drip. Anyway, I have had two out of three sessions (on consecutive days) and am not really sure if it has had any effect so far.

The symptoms are manageable during the day. Often, leaving a window open is enough to cover it, sometimes requiring a bit of music. Nights are often hard, even with a fan. I'm not sure if it's just the lack of outside noise that makes it worse in the evening or if it's an expected effect. I sleep in ambient mode with an in-ear monitor in my right ear to keep the fan noise and play rain sounds at a low volume. Full disclosure: I did this before the tinnitus, too, for years—it helps me sleep. That works fine, but the battery runs out at some point, and I wake up at 3 AM with very noticeable tinnitus. I'm still experimenting to see if the rain sounds or the in-ear monitor could actually be making it worse somehow.

I discovered that if I play a 92 Hz tone for 20-30 seconds, I get 100% relief for 1-5 minutes. However, I'm unsure if this is the right direction. It's a bit addicting and makes my brain fixate on it rather than ignore it. I'm experimenting with playing multiple frequencies simultaneously, seeing if it still provides relief while also not really "revealing" the problematic frequency. The doctor said this sounds like what maskers do, and he doesn't believe they work long-term.

I'm optimistic it will stabilize at a volume I can bear, but I can't lie—some nights are very stressful at the moment.

 

The beginning is always stressful. I advise you to start meditating, learn breathing exercises, and lower your salt intake. You have time for it to go away. It could disappear.

Please stay away from nasal sprays unless you really need them.

I would ask for a CT scan of the skull to make sure there are no underlying issues. Most likely, there aren't, but it's good to have it done. It will give you peace of mind.

 

Thanks for the reply! Thankfully, I haven't had the need for a nasal spray since the winter, so that's good. I was definitely going to ask for an MRI tomorrow at the check-up. These are more common here than CT scans - I think.

 

I've had low-frequency variable tinnitus in my left ear for several years. I've also had high-frequency tinnitus going back over 20 years, which has been severe the last 2 1/3 years. I also thought the low-frequency sounds were real external sounds at first. One day it hit me that it could just be me, so I easily tested to confirm that. Over some stretches of days, the volume is low enough or otherwise masked that I won't even notice it compared to my high-frequency tinnitus, but it's always fluctuating rather than a constant steady sound.

Sometimes, I notice the low-frequency tinnitus spikes temporarily after using the bathroom vent for a few minutes or getting home from a drive. Also, it's fairly easy to mask with low-frequency sounds, such as a box fan on low. The easyJet YouTube video works, too. The low-frequency tinnitus has only ever been in my left ear. It did bother me somewhat when I first discovered it was low-frequency tinnitus, but it's quite minor compared to my high-frequency tinnitus.

Use good ear protection if you get an MRI. Those have worsened some people.

 

If you are still within the 2-week window, you can ask an AuD to put you on a Prednisone taper. They say it can help if you have inflammation in your inner ear.

If it is tied to your pulse, it might be a blocked carotid artery. You might have them check that out.