Massive Improvement from Acoustic Trauma

Cause of Tinnitus and Hyperacusis: Acoustic trauma + Extreme anxiety

Age: 23

Date of trauma: June 3rd, 2019

Hi!

Just wanted to share what made me better.

Well, the first week my tinnitus was kind of loud but not loud enough to make me crazy or keep me awake so I guess my hearing wasn't too badly damaged.

My darkest moment came during the second week, when a mild hyperacusis appeared, surely because I didn't stop using headphones for gaming (not at a loud volume tho). In my case, it was the most annoying sh*t. Since that day, and thanks to Michael Leigh, I totally stopped using headphones and I'm sure that my hearing is very grateful. In the meanwhile, my tinnitus was fading slowly.

The third week, I learned that vitamins could help with healing process. So I began to take vitamin D, C and also magnesium. Also I bought pills made of plants for blood circulation, and it truly helped a lot! My hyperacusis has faded and now it has been gone for 3 days. My tinnitus is around 1 to 3/10 at its worst. It spikes when I wake up at night but instantly goes back to 2/10 when I step out of the bed. I don't know why. However, my ears still hurt sometimes, but tinnitus or hyperacusis aren't affected.

Today, It looked like my tinnitus was gone because I couldn't hear it in a silent room, it happened once but came back. A sign of remission? Who can tell... But at least I can live much better!

So if you're new and your tinnitus/hyperacusis is noise-induced, don't hesitate to give your body the power to heal itself.

Didn't see an ENT yet. No steroids, only rest.

 

HI @Blodorn

Thank you for your kind words. I am pleased that you are making progress and your tinnitus and hyperacusis has reduced. I hope it stays this way and you continue to make improvements. I would like to give you some advice. I hope you listen and put my words into practice; this way you will give yourself the best chance of preventing your tinnitus getting worse and your hyperacusis hopefully be completely cured in time.

I do understand that you are pleased and rightly so, especially what you are been through within a short period of time. However, please don't think your tinnitus cannot return with a vengeance and ferocity that you wouldn't believe is possible because it can and your hyperacusis too. I do not want to be a killjoy and burst your bubble but your tinnitus is still there, waiting in the background for you to do something "stupid". By this I mean using headphones even at low volume or going to places where loud music is played.

Your ears will take time to fully recover: 12 to 18 months, so take things slowly and don't rock the boat.

I wish you well.
Michael

 

Not even with earplugs? What about the cinema. I want to go to watch a movie.

 

I have not been to a cinema since 2009

 

Hi Michael I have a question for you. If you are saying using earphones is bad even at low volumes - which I agree with - how does this translate to using ear muffs?

Since some sounds make it through the earmuffs, isn't it the same as listening to earphones at low volumes?

Surprisingly I'm going through a bad spike / new tone after driving 2 hours with earmuffs + foam ear plugs.

 

My advice is for @Blodorn who is new to tinnitus and isn't quite sure what to do. He has followed my previous suggestions and thanked me, because his tinnitus and hyperacusis has reduced.

You have had tinnitus and hyperacusis for quite some time. I have corresponded with you on numerous occasions when you have asked for my help, in the forum and also by PM. I have written many posts and articles on going to clubs, concerts and the cinema which I believe you have read. Therefore you know my opinions, that is quite fine to go to these places providing a person takes precaution and is aware of noisy environments.

I hope your tinnitus and hyperacusis is becoming more manageable.
All the best

Michael

 

HI @Eric N

I am sorry to know you are having a difficult time with a spike at the moment. I have replied to you on more than one occasion, as to what I think you need to do to enable your tinnitus to become better managed. Spikes happen mainly for two reasons. A person has an overly sensitive auditory system which usually indicates hyperacusis is present. This needs to be treated by self help which I have covered in many of my posts, in particular: Hyperacusis, As I see it. The second reason is exposure to loud noise. If this keeps reoccurring there is a risk, of the tinnitus increasing to a new and permanent level, so a person needs to be careful.

The overuse of hearing protection be it earmuffs, ear defenders or earplugs is not the answer. This practice will usually lower the loudness threshold of the auditory system and can cause, the tinnitus to become worse and if hyperacusis is present that will get worse too. The answer is to reduce the overuse of hearing protection and try my self help, as I've advised in my post above or seek professional help with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist, who's trained in tinnitus and hyperacusis management. In addition to having tinnitus and hyperacusis, overusing hearing protection a person risks developing phonophobia and misophonia. I have covered these conditions in my post: The complexities of tinnitus and hyperacusis. The post is available on my "started threads".

Someone that has "noise induced" tinnitus risks making it worse by using headphones even at low volume. It is true some people with NIT are not affected by headphone use. However, please be aware the tinnitus only needs to spike once using headphones, and it's likely the tinnitus will increase to a new and permanent level.

Using earmuffs and external sound starts to filter through and spiking the tinnitus, is a different matter entirely and has nothing to do with headphones. This I believe is a result of an overly sensitive auditory system which needs treatment as I have described above.

Hope you start to feel better soon.
Michael

 

It is probably temporary tinnitus that usually goes away on its own. Good luck.

 

Update: Well, this night and this morning, my tinnitus didn't spike as it usually does. Most of the time it is just a "hiss"...
Not gone yet!

Meanwhile, I will take good care of my ear!

 

Thank you for your kind reply. My T and H are manageable. I have moderate T and Moderate H. I cant endure dogs barking, brakes screeching, or women talking loudly or laughing. T is pretty loud but I cant explain it, it dosent bother me like it used to. On good days its a 5/10 which is really nice, other days it is 7/10 like today. On rare days it can be a 3/10 or 1/10. I fully accepted my disease(s), the black eye floaters, tinnitus, and hyperacusis, this is a part of me and who I am...even the grey hair hahahaa. I am happier than I was before

 

Wow @dpdx, this sounds much better than just a few months ago. I remember well how difficult things were for you, and am happy to hear you're in a much better place. -- Thanks for the update; it's encouraging.

 

HI @dpdx

I know you have been through a very difficult time and I'm pleased that you feel in a much better place now. It is clear to me that you are a more positive person and this is key to coping and managing tinnitus. I believe more improvement can be gained. Take things slowly and each day as it comes. Try to engage in the things you like to do as this helps to take the focus away from the tinnitus and push it further into the background. Regarding the hyperacusis, this can also improve so please don't think it can't.

If you are using hearing protection so the sounds you mention above don't irritate you then I have a few suggestions that I advise you to try. For now experiment using "high attenuation" noise reducing earplugs that will allow you to hear screeching brakes, dogs barking and people talking loudly. After a while change to "noise reducing" earplugs of lower attenuation that allows more sound to your auditory system. This is a gradual process. Use sound enrichment whenever possible during the day and at night. If you don't use sound enrichment at night then I advise you start, even if you find it difficult to do so at the moment. The idea here is train your brain and auditory system to adapt and accept more sound. Keeping away from sound or suppressing it is not the solution as this only prolongs the problem.

You could if funds allow, buy one or two white noise generators and use them as I have described in my TRT posts which I will paste below. Although I have advised WNGs should be used under the guidance of a Hearing Therapist/Audiologist, I don't think you need this now. Someone recently told me after seeing a Hearing Therapist that specialises in treating hyperacusis, that only one white noise generator is needed not two, so I'm not going to argue with that. The reason being, the brain only has one process centre for hearing.

This Therapist is adamant that only one WNG needs to be worn and goes on to say, that all forms of hyperacusis can be completely cured! The only people that do not respond to the treatment are the one's that don't follow her programme, which is very similar to what I have documented in many of my posts on using white noise generators. My hyperacusis has been completely cured for 21 years after wearing white noise generators for 2 years.

For now try self help as I've indicated above. However, if I were in your situation now that I'm a more positive person, then I would by "one" white noise generator and use that. I am fairly confident it will improve the hyperacusis and more likely cure it. At the same time it will help treat the tinnitus.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you continue to make progress.

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-is-trt-and-when-should-it-be-started.19024/

 

Hi. I'm glad for you. But you need to take care always. You have already damaged your ears and T can come back even after years. I was nearly recovered (only audible in quiet rooms) and after almost 3 years of "silence" it came back worse.

Keep reading some sites about tinnitus from time to time or read this forum to remember how ugly this problem was.

 

Hi Eric N, you said that you got a tinnitus spike while driving even with double protection. Did the spike settle down after that and how long that spike lasted? I was driving with double protection on Friday but it looks like I have a permanent increase from that. Today my tinnitus is still loud.

 

It's calmed down the first time, but then I drove again for 2 hours and got another spike. I'm not panicking this time.

 

How long did it take to calm down the first time? I am on my 3rd day but it's still not going down.

 

I'm not sure. My tinnitus has been so bad lately that I'm not sure what's causing what.

 

Hi Eric, just found why we are having worsening of our tinnitus even with double protection. Check this https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...uffs-stihl-weed-whacker-tinnitus-spike.35536/. We are not protected. I am not driving anymore but it is too late.