On My Way to Recovery from Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

Hello @IntotheBlue03, my tinnitus started 26 years ago, and I habituated.

However, I remember my tinnitus feeling as if it was in the back of my head but over time that resolved.

And I got on with my life.

It magnified eight months ago with hyperacusis following major surgery.

But I remain positive and it is getting better. It just takes time and prayers.

 

@Vassili, congratulations for your recovery, reading a success story always helps our morale.

Maybe I missed it, but what was the cause of your tinnitus and hyperacusis? And did you have burning/stabbing pain in silence?

Thanks!

 

A really loud rehearsal with a Heavy Metal band in a small room.

Yes, I had it all. Nowadays, when I'm in silence, I feel a bit pressure in my temples or forehead, or feel almost nothing.

I hope for a full recovery in the course of 4-5 years. Who knows? Time will tell. I am already extremely grateful for where I am now after 2 years and 4 months.

Have a great day, bro!

 

Thanks a lot for your answer. My case is almost identical to yours. Same acoustic trauma (music in a small room), burning pain even in silence, and I have also pressure in ears.

I hope I will recover, I did not spot anything special that you did to recover, so I guess it's time + silence (but not overprotection).

Cheers.

 

And heroin every now and then... nah, just kidding.

 

Hello @Vassili, great to read about you recovering!

I have a couple of questions.

-Did you have TMJ issues after the acoustic trauma?

-Did you have a heightened sensitivity in your skin, hands or feet (you wrote nerve pain all over your body)?

-Did you feel an airy feeling in your ears/Eustachian tubes? Almost like breathing with your ears.

Any other tips? I'm like 8-9 months into an acoustic shock...

 

Thank you!

No.

Yes, I had lots of strange stuff.

Yes.

No special tips. Just protect your ears in loud environments and take it day by day.

 

Did the "airy" feeling subside also?

Did you have a loud crackle when swallowing?

Did you use earplugs in the beginning? I started using them pretty late in and they seem to worsen my sensitivity.

 

Yes, it gradually did.

No.

During first 6 months I did not use any earplugs because my ears were in so much pain that I couldn't even touch them, not to speak of plugging them. Then for 1 year I wore old simple in-ear headphones when I was outside or in a public place. In loud environments I used musician's earplugs. Also, I never protected my ears at home because I started introducing everyday sounds straight away. Protected only when vacuuming. After 1.5 years I stopped using ear protection (I still only use ear protection if it's loud and I'm uncomfortable).

Overprotection can cause that. Do not wear earplugs 24/7.

 

How long did it take for the "airy" feeling to subside, and would you describe it like breathing through your ear?

Problem is I have a VERY loud 6-month-old at home. I don't know how I should tackle that. Now I use musician's earplugs and earmuffs on top when playing with him.

You are the first I have spoken to that suffered an acoustic shock but didn't get TMJ issues, that's weird!

 

It took about a year for sure, maybe more. I wouldn't describe it like breathing through my ear.

That's fine. Only you know what works best for you.

I would say I had very severe muscle spasms, yes. I never had TMJ-related problems in my life. Explain to me how can one occur after a noise trauma? Not a spasm but a particular problem with a joint? Anyway, I've been to the dentist surgeon and I was told that I do not have this problem. But every case is special. Maybe you had this problem before your acoustic shock?

 

@Vassili, how are you today?

 

Nowadays my condition is very livable.

 

Hi Vassili, can I ask if you have done a hearing test and if you have hearing loss at certain frequencies?

Also, can I ask what supplements or medication you have been taking and are still taking?

Thank you,
Gary

 

Hello, Gary!

I've done hearing tests two times. First one was done 3 weeks after my acoustic trauma and second one two years later. Both times my ENT doctor did not find any problems with my hearing.

As for supplements and medications, everything I've taken did not help me at all, there's no medication, no magic pill for this. So don't waste your money. Only time and avoidance of loud environments plus a healthy lifestyle help. If you have hearing loss then, I'm afraid, tinnitus is here to stay but do not make fast conclusions at this early stage. Miracles do happen. Give yourself at least two years time. It's a long and tough ride but there's no other way, unfortunately. Try to stay positive.

Have a great day, Gary! Take care!

 

Hi Vassili,

Thank you so much for answering my questions. Was your hearing test done for frequencies from 100 Hz to 8000 Hz? Have you heard of extended or ultra high frequency hearing test that goes from 8000 Hz to 20000 Hz? It's not common but I am just wondering if you have heard of this test or done it yourself. Thank you.

Gary

 

Sorry, I know nothing about test parameters because I didn't speak about it with my doctor. I've read about this ultra high frequency hearing test on this forum so I know it exists but I'm not sure which test I had.

All I can say is that with time my condition got much better and continues to improve but really slowly. I don't feel that there's something wrong with my hearing at all so if, presumably, there's some ultra high hearing loss, it doesn't affect my quality of life at all. Plus, I am 34 now and I'm sure that at this age my hearing differs from the one I had let's say when I was 18 years old. It's an ordinary thing. People lose hearing with time. Anyway, the brain is an amazing organ and it will sort things out.

Give your ears a chance. Protect them.

 

Hi Vassili,

Sorry just one more quick question. Did you try steroid treatment after your noise induced incident?

Thanks.

 

No, I didn't. If there's no hearing loss, there's no need.

 

I see some people take steroid after sound trauma. Anyways, I thought it was a precautionary strategy. Sorry to bother you. It is too late for me anyway. I'd I wish I knew earlier. I feel there is hearing loss that did not show up on my audiograms because things sound quite different after my sound trauma.

 

I’m going to be an exception to this rule. Watch this space! Very good journal you’ve got here. I should have done something similar. How are you doing now?

 

@Vassili, I've been reading your posts and taking some inspiration as I have some similar experiences to you, though I am less than 6 months in. Reading your posts and seeing your progress gives me hope.

Sending best wishes and support to all of you - Stay positive and we will all get through it in our own time.

 

@Vassili, can I have an update on your condition now?

 

Well even if you have hearing loss, your tinnitus can subside! I had a talk today with an audiologist. She had hearing loss (high frequencies) probably because of stress and she said to me that it took a long time to recover (1-2 years) but now she is tinnitus free and her hearing tests are normal again (even in the high frequencies).

I thing we need to be patient. Time is a great healer

 

You've got a very good attitude. If the cause of your tinnitus is unknown, then you can be an exception for sure. I know one woman who had tinnitus for seven years. It came suddenly and went away suddenly. The cause was also unknown.

 

This is great news!

 

Ok, a small update on my condition coming...

It's been 2 years and 10 months from my trauma. Now the loudness of tinnitus is usually something like 2/10, sometimes 3/10 in the evening after a long stressful day.

I still have mild headache and nerve pain every day but it's mild enough to not to think about it, to hold it somewhere in the background of my consciousness.

I think hyperacusis is 95% gone or even more. I usually don't notice it but when I'm tired or because of some other reasons it can come back a bit but it's not nearly as severe as it once used to be.

Very rarely some mild balance issues still occur but I am coping very well because it's not a full-blown vertigo anymore or a nasty feeling of falling into a trap door every second of your existence.

One more game changer for me is that I've started sleeping in absolute silence 3-4 nights a week. It is amazing. I thought I would never be able to do that again in my lifetime.

So, what can I say? I am coping pretty well. My condition is livable. Things are getting better but really slowly.

Have patience everyone, try to stay positive, visit doctors if needed and turn to God for help.

Have a wonderful day, everyone! Autumn is beautiful.

 

Sleeping in silence really calms my tinnitus down for the next day. It’s been a game changer for me too. If you give your body a rest, might as well give your ears a rest too.

I’m glad things are looking better man. I’ve read your posts so many time. Patience is key.

 

Good to hear about your friend @Vassili. I’m 14 months in now and some days are still a struggle.

Glad you are doing well. This thread has helped so many people through a such a dark time. Thank you for the consistent updates. Wish you all the best for the future.

 

It helps with habituation IMO too. Deliberately and actively seeking out the noise while sleeping has helped me trivialize the tinnitus to the point where I’m starting to view it as a part of me now.