Need Help. Please!

Hey everyone.

I have a lot of info about my case and question, I truly will appreciate anyone that takes the time to read this and reply to it.

I'm 21 years old. My tinnitus started last Wednesday (it's been 9 days).

- I've been using apple earbuds since 2010, listening to loud hip hop music every single day. When I'm at home, I'm listening to music all the time through the earpods. When I'm out, listening all the time. Loud.

- I've never really cleaned my ears, ever. All my family and friends tell me I have a lot of earwax, even my headphones have plenty of wax on them. When I put my finger in my ear, I always see some earwax when I pull it out.

- In March 2016, when eating a pizza, upon opening my mouth, I heard a loud 'crack' in my right jaw joint. I'm sure I have TMJ. Both my jaw joints pop and click when eating, speaking, muscles get fatigued and tensed, although this hasn't been much of a worry for me. Can deal with it very easily and have been.

- Finally, I was EXTREMELY stressed and anxious the week that my tinnitus started. I'm moving abroad to study medicine, so I guess you guys can understand why.

I mentioned all these things to say that I don't know what it was that causes my tinnitus. Could be any of the four, or maybe a combination.

My T isn't THAT BAD. When I'm out, i can barely notice it, unless I try to hear it..then I can, but when I get home, I can hear it a lot. Since I'm new to this, of course, being scared and anxious about it plays a huge part. Thankfully, I have no problems sleeping. But still, I hate it just like everyone else.

The main questions I want to ask are:

1) What are the chances that this disappears over time?

2) Do I need to wear ear plugs? I NEVER go to loud concerts or clubs. So for everyday living, do I need ear plugs?

3) Can i still listen to music? I've stopped using earpods for the time being, and since I'm a HUGE music fan, it depresses me that i cant enjoy something I LOVE. What about noise cancelling headphones?

5) Will it get worse? What can I do to make it better, and NOT GET WORSE

6) My GP gave me olive oil for ear wax, and wants me to come in next week to get my ears syringed... should I get this done? I read getting ears syringed could make it worse.


Any other questions or info you guys want from me, let me know. Thank you for even getting this far and reading. Hopefully it gets better for me and YOU.

 

Hi. It's normal to be stressed and anxious when you first get tinnitus. Glad you're feeling slightly more relaxed.

1. It disappears for many people, so it's possible. Don't lose hope. The average time for it fade away is 6-12 months, so it might take a while but that doesn't mean it isn't going to go away.

2. Wear earplugs when you're around sounds that are louder than 85 decibels (you can download a db meter app on your phone.) Bring earplugs with you when you go out. If you're in a loud situation, like you suddenly walk into a loud restaurant or store playing loud music you can wear them.

3. You can listen to music! I just wouldn't advise using headphones... You can still listen through speakers as much as you like at a low volume. Headphones can worsen tinnitus, but speakers are safe.

4. It's normal to feel afraid since this is so new to you but try not to worry about if it will get worse or not. Thoughts like that won't help you integrate this condition into your normal life. If you don't expose yourself to dangerously loud noises, your tinnitus won't get significantly louder and you'll be totally okay.

5. I had my ears syringed and I was fine afterwards. Some people experience negative effects but this is rare. But it can happen to some people. But if the ENT knows what they're doing and they're a good doctor nothing should happen.

Hopefully this gets a lot better for you. And remember, it will get easier to cope with as time passes.

 

thank you and god bless you! you'r words mean and have helped me a lot!

so, for the majority of people, does tinnitus end up going away? i remember seing a few threads on this site and another one, where people were saying that most of the people they spoke to in real life said that they had tinnitus then it went away... only the minority (people with long term tinnitus) are on forums, and talk about their situation. would you say this is true?

in terms of ear plugs, i did download a few apps about DB levels, and was walking around town today. pretty much every place was around 80db. outside, in stores, restuarant, high street.. i feel like it isnt neccessary to wear them in places like these. as a matter of fact, when i was out, i could barely hear my T because of the distractions... earplugs would be great at the places such as nightclubs, movies, theater, concert... but to be honest, i never go to any of them haha! what are yout thoughts on this? what about buses and trains?


thanks again!!!

 

Hi,

your tinnitus may fade or it may not. You need to protect your ears from now on. Most have their tinnitus start with a low tone/hiss. If your ears are not protected, it can become much louder. Stress can also increase your tinnitus, so try to reduce it as much as possible.

Wax in the ear can bring on and increase tinnitus, so do your best to get it removed. Tinnitus is s scary thing at first, all of us have been through it. It can become manageable over time, this board will support you

 

thanks!! when u say i need to protect my ears..against what? do u mean i should wear ear plugs everytime i leave the house? or only certain situations like concerts, cinemas etc (things i dont go to in the first place)

 

Hi @Potter, and welcome. To address your questions (as best as I can):

Everyone experiences tinnitus differently, but, since yours is new, there is a pretty good chance it will clear up on its own. @Bill Bauer wrote the following post discussing studies that show a fairly high recovery rate from tinnitus ( https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/spontaneous-recovery-stats-over-70-recover-3-studies.21441/ )

Ear protection is good if you encounter loud noises on a regular basis, including lawnmowers, etc.. If you are often in noisy environments, the you should use ear protection.

You should be careful with headphones. @Michael Leigh wrote the following post on headphone use and tinnitus:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/headphones-and-tinnitus.12062/

I listen to music all the time, but I have had tinnitus my entire life, and I do not listen at loud volumes, I use noise-cancelling (the kind that physically block sound) earphones. But, I would heed the advice that Michael gives over my anecdotal experience.

Everyone experiences tinnitus differently. For some it get better (see the response to your first question). for some it does get worse. But, do too worry about that right now, your chances are good that you will get better.

Please search this forum on the syringing question, many have had trouble and some believe that it caused their tinnitus. I have no experience with any earwax removal beyond the misuse of a Q-Tip.

 

It's no problem at all!

It's true. Most of what you find online are going to be horror stories. So please try not to read them! No one is going to post a positive story about their tinnitus going away. You're going to find more negative stories, so avoid reading about tinnitus on the internet. If you do, just read the "success stories" section.

You're right; most places do contain noise levels over 80 db. I've tested this with my db app and realized this as well. I think it's best to use your discernment. If it feels too loud, wear earplugs. Don't take the risk. But enjoy your life and don't let this condition hinder your ability to go outside and live your normal life. Avoid extremely loud noises (like you said, concerts etc.) Even with earplugs these noise levels can worsen tinnitus, but otherwise, you should be totally safe. And sounds above 80 db for long periods of times (hours) are damaging without earplugs but it's unlikely you'll encounter situations like this often in daily life (unless you're going on a plane ride etc.)

I wear earplugs on buses and trains or whenever I'm in the city but that's just because I have sound sensitivity and normal sounds are uncomfortable. Just be careful. If the train usually seems too loud or you feel feel discomfort in your ears, wear earplugs before you board. See them like glasses. Just something to put on before you leave the house or in certain situations. If you avoid unsafe noises you should be able to live your life totally normally.

 

I would never wear an ear plug every time i leave my house. I wear them in environments that I know are truly damaging to the ears. Concerts, sporting events (could be very loud) and possibly loud seminars.

loud noises could possibly occur on the streets, but they happen way more in concerts and other loud venues.

 

Hey there, I'm also 21 but i got my T from a rave but before that i always listened to earbuds too, i loved music.. i still do, and still listen to it... But not using any earphones or earbuds, i too bought earplugs incase i happen to be somewhere loud.
My T happened about 2 months ago so I'm still getting used to it and i know its scary.. my left is louder than my right. I had to give up my motorcycle, selling it soon.. i could still go on it but i do not want my t to worsen.
And about your ears and wax, mine get blocked up every 2 years or so and i have to get wax removed.. they say i have narrow ears or something.. i used to get it syringed but the last time i was at a specialist and they used a little vacuum pipe that went inside my ear and sucked it all out. In my opinion it felt like a much safer procedure, without water beign forced in your ear.

 

Protect your ears from mild noises like that of a hair dryier and blender. If you find that you get spikes after being near a door slamming, etc., then consider wearing ear plugs whenever you are outside of your home.

Don't use headphones. Use your speakers, and set the volume to low or low-medium. Keep in mind that noises that a healthy person would not even notice can cause a lot of discomfort for a tinnitus sufferer whose ears have been compromised.

Protect your ears from mild noises, and it shouldn't get worse, and will most likely will begin to fade by month three or so.

Ultrasonic teeth cleaning (and microsuction, see below) have been known to make tinnitus a lot worse [search this site if you want to read the horror stories]. Ask your dental hygienist to clean your teeth manually.

Whatever you do, don't let anyone perform microsuction, or other methods that have been known to turn minor tinnitus into debilitating tinnitus. Use those drops three times a day for 10-14 days, and then have the doctor use a wire with a loop at the end to remove your wax.

 

thanks! it's funny that you mentioned dental cleaning... i am going to university this month to start DENTISTRY! this also got me worried a little, since im sure during my 5 years, i will be exposed to loud noises from the cleaning machines. how should i go about this?

thankfully i never blowdry my hair so those types of noises i avoid. however, i do use a blender daily for smoothies... should i wear earplugs when using them? one thought that comes to mind is that, if i was to carry ear plugs with me all the time, wouldnt i subconsciously be trying to hear my T? every situation i would have to think 'should i plug them in or not'.. wouldnt this type of mentality make my t worse? i hope you understand what im trying to say.

also is there a good chance my T was go away? since i avoid loud places, (sporting events, pubs, bars, concerts, nightclubs) and stopped using headphones...is there a great chance mine can go away? i've only had it for a week. also, is it true the majority of people that get T stop hearing it completely after a while? if so, how long does it take on average?

anything else you'd like to say, i'd be delighted to hear

thanks!

 

hey!!

what are your sympotoms like? do u hear ur T all the time? or only in quiet places?

has is improved over the span of 2 months?

 

Most people end up habituating. I've heard a range of 6-18 months... It could happen sooner or take longer, it's different for everyone. Habituating doesn't mean that you don't hear it anymore, it just means that the sound starts to not bother you anymore so you pay it no mind. (If you didn't hear it anymore, there would be no need to habituate.)

I recommend that you follow through and get your ears cleaned out. A wax build-up is something that could cause tinnitus. Start with the obvious stuff. You may not need to get your ears syringed (though I think that it is unlikely that it would cause a problem), there are other ways to do it. When I went to an audiologist shortly after getting my tinnitus, they had a tool that was an otoscope (attached to a TV so that I could see inside my ear as well), with a wire thing attached to the end that could grab and remove the wax. That seemed pretty safe to use.

Even if it is the wax, you may not notice immediate improvement or resolution after getting your ears cleaned. This thing seems to take its time in going away. You may want to get in with an audiologist for a hearing test (hearing loss is one of the main causes of tinnitus, so go ahead and see if that it an issue or not), and then with an ENT who would be more knowledgeable about inner ear issues than a GP (ENTs have a long waiting period --- ask to be put on the cancellation wait list).

Also, avoid headphone use for a while, until you have a better understanding of what is going on. I was pretty freaked out when I first got my tinnitus, I love using the Apple earbuds like you and I was afraid that I had done something to cause permanent hearing loss that was the cause of the tinnitus, even though I never listened with the volume at a loud level. I was also freaked out by stories on here about headphone use making tinnitus worse. Once I came to understand that my tinnitus was not related to hearing loss, I slowly started using them again and nothing bad has happened (in fact my tinnitus is in decline). So, exercise caution, educate yourself, start back slowly if you decide to, and no matter what, keep the volume level reasonable... Loud sounds so close to your eardrum will cause problems over time, even if it's not the cause of your current issue.

Could it go away? Yes, it could. It is too early to tell. Even if it does not go away, it could change into something more mild over the course of the first few months, I've seen several stories of that happening. More people post panic stories than success stories online, so don't get too worked up about what you read online. In my case, it took nearly a month before I noticed that tinnitus had begun to decline, and even since then it has been another month and a half or so and it's still there, just getting a little quieter every week (very easy to manage at this point).

 

Thank you so much! I REALLY needed to hear those words. again, thank you

one question i have for you. do u wear earbuds? if so when? like i said before i never really go to loud places like cinemas, go karting, concerts. but what about going downtown with friends and family? walking to my local grocery store? there may be some construction going on, or maybe a traffic. in instances like these, when u are exposed to loud sounds for a small period of time...should i swear to moments? or is it ok? for example, a few days ago i went out downtown, it was loud, people giving speeches etc. but it hasnt made my T worse. matter of fact, i completely forgot about my T when i was out.

also what about when going on a car journey? since im young and all my friends love music too, we always play loud music in the car. should i wear earplugs then?

thank you so much again, and anything u'd like to add, please do!!

 

Dentistry has been a field that has been known to cause hearing loss within its community. I suspect you may be warned about this during your studies. Those drilling machines are quite loud and very high pitched. Personally, they drill a hole in my ears as well as my teeth. Maybe newer modalities like laser technology will render this a thing of the past.

 

I think in the future i will have to wear earplugs during treatments (me being the dentist) or some sort of hearing protection. i wonder how many dentists suffer from tinnitus...

 

If you're talking about noise-reducing earplugs, no, I do not wear them. My tinnitus is not due to hearing loss so I'm not so worried about it at this point, but I do take care to avoid situations with loud sounds.

 

@Potter I can hear it mostly in quiet places so it doesn't bother me that much but it's still a little hard to fall asleep.. when i cant I actually listen to it on purpose and try to relax, usually works and the T in my right ear that sounded like a PC working (it went on for like 3 seconds...Stops.. another 2...Stops.. it was irregular) gas faded a lot to the point where it's a very slight ring.. my left is still a little loud but nothing major.

 

My feedback:

- Yes, get the ear wax out. Some people's T has gone away after that.

- Find a local ear testing place that will test your ears for free (depending on where you live, many give a free consultation). That way you will know if it is hearing related from the music.

- Address the worry and anxiety. There is an online article called "Ringing in the Ears and Tinnitus." Google it. Anxiety can make T worse. Perhaps start with calming tea and/or see a counselor for talk therapy.

 

This is messed up...

There is a chance that you will be ok if you are in the next room to the room where an ultrasonic cleaner is being used.

I guess you should see what effect the sound of a dental drill has on your T, when you are wearing ear plugs. You might have to switch your medical specialty...

 

I also got tinnitus (left ear) from listening to music (earbuds) and sitting next to a speaker at a festival. The first two days were bad, the rest of the first week was OK. Second week was not good for me as it increased. Today marks the starting of third week with tinnitus! I wear ear plugs when outside, also I am making sure to give my left ear time to heal.

 

This is what I have been doing, and it had worked for me.

 

Bill,
A few days ago my phone (landline) rang, it was loud but I had my ear plug. Now for a few days I hear a high pitch, do you think I have another (second) acoustic trauma?

 

It always sucks when the sound is pumped Directly into your ear canal. Since you had an ear plug in, your trauma must not have been as serious as the one I got in a similar situation. Hopefully it is just a temporary spike (temporary spikes often last longer than a week). If it is not, there is still hope that your T will continue fading and getting less intense.

 

I had high pitched ringing for about three days, today marks the fourth day.
I wonder whether being young is also + when it comes to the healing process as I am only 27. Last week it was not so bad, the tone was 3/4 but this week it spiked back to a 6 and it became hard to sleep again. Prior that telephone exposure, I had no problems sleeping except the first two days when tinnitus occurred.

 

During dental school, whenever I will be using machines or devices that generate loud noises, i'll make sure to use earplugs or some sort of hearing protection (there are certain products made specifically for dentists for hearing protection).

Once i start working as a dentist, many years from now, I will always using hearing protection.

surely, i should be fine? I was reading stats about average noise levels in a dental clinic and found this.

"Mean sound levels in the working clinics ranged from 63.0 dB[A] to 81.5 dB[A]. These are within the recommended range for dental equipment. (2) With suction and either low/high speed handpiece combination, the PG clinic was significantly noisier than the UG clinic at several time periods."


This is for dental schools
The noise levels registered vary between 60 and 99 dB(A) and are similar to the data of other international studies. The results recorded differences in sound levels when the equipment was merely turned on and during cutting operations. Differences between brand new and used equipment were also noted. It appears that hearing damage risk may be lesser amongst dentists who use brand new equipment.


Of course, no one is arguing that dental school and clinics are not noisey. The noise levels shown are loud, but not extremely loud. With the correct earplugs/ear protection, I feel like I will be safe when using all the instruments.

what are your honest thoughts on this?

 

I know that now that our ears have been compromised, noises that a healthy person would not even notice can really hurt us.

You should listen to your body. If you don't get a spike after being exposed to those sounds for a full day, then you are ok. But if you get a spike under those circumstances, and you get it repeatedly, then it makes sense to do something about it, as it won't just go away.

 

I wont let my tinnitus dictate my life. since its only been a week, im hopeful that it'll go away or i will habituate to it very very well. With the correct ear protection i am sure I will be fine. i will also talk to dentists regarding this issue, to see what they think, along with ent's and audiologists.

I'd love to hear what everyone else thinks about this too

 

Protect your ears now. Tinnitus is unpredictable it CAN go away completely or it can FADE away. If I were you I would make sure to wear earplugs in public places. I wear a earplug in my left ear when I am out in the public. There are just too many sounds which are too sudden! Treat your ears like any other injury, it takes time for the ears to heal.

 

Thanks for this! i've taken precaution already. i used to listen to LOUD music through my headphones DAILY FOR 1-2 HOURS. i havent listened to a song since the past week. tried to avoid loud noises too.