Prednisone for Hyperacusis: Any Experiences? Natural Alternatives?

@goodfella032 -- You might find this post on tyrosine to be of interest, especially because of its ability to possibly reduce stress and/or anxiety.

 

@Lane thank you for the links on the atlas and the amino acid.

I know my neck and shoulders are completely out of whack especially on the left side, which ironically it's my left ear that has more symptoms.

 

@Lane @Orions Pain @Croaker @Bill Bauer @Zugzug @Michael Leigh @Juan

I tagged the above members as they were nice enough to take the time to offer their insight on my original question. I wanted to get their thoughts on a couple of questions I have through this process. Any one else is more than welcome to chime in as well.

I decided not to go to the audiologist for now as I found out he wanted to do all sorts of additional testing and my anxiety levels at the time were sky high so I canceled for now. I am currently listening to low level nature sounds (steady calm rain) when I sleep and doing my best to avoid complete silence but also avoid excessive noise. I have made some adjustments in my daily routine like trying to avoid the kitchen when anyone might be clanking something, taking very quick showers, and unfortunately trying to isolate more from my family as sometimes even their normal conversation seems too loud. I have also minimized my TV time to just about an hour or so before bed and I have the volume barely audible to where I can just understand dialogue type shows. I have not had any major progress as things are still pretty much the same. The only positives to report is that I don't feel as much ear pain as I did a month ago, and my severely exaggerated startle response is not as severe.

My question for the group is regarding the common suggestion to avoid loud sounds. What constitutes a loud sound that would inhibit progress? I live next to a busy freeway (just my luck) and the freeway seems super loud now as my limbic system has picked up on every little sound as a threat. On a normal day when I'm in my back yard the db level is around a steady 60-65. Of course I live in a car and motorcycle loving city so many cars can zoom by spiking the db level into the 70s and sometimes 80s. I try to stay in my garage as much as possible where the db level is in the 50s, and when one of the loud motorcycles or cars go by I plug my ears. So far that approach has worked but I'm wondering if I shouldn't even be in the yard exposing myself to the 60-65 db level. Also it makes it hard to try to tune out the freeway when I have to be vigilant to plug my ears when a loud vehicle passes. Being in the yard at the 60-65 is kind of like my day sound therapy and if I feel like my ears are getting a little fatigued I go in the house and rest for a while before coming back out.

So should I avoid being outside in the yard all together? Is it OK if I am occasionally exposed to a dish clank or a toy drop occasionally? What constitutes the loud sounds that most suggest to avoid? Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

This is something very individual, that depends on the severity of your hyperacusis. However, if you are saying that you listen to TV on minimum volume, then maybe it is better to stay inside, to avoid exposure to a roaring motorbike passing by, or to peak sounds of traffic, gardening tools etc

A dish clanking is loud but cannot cause a permanent setback. It can give you hyperacousic symptoms, pressure, fullness etc but it shouldn't be permanent. A roaring motorbike passing close by can give you a permanent setback, also exposure to power tools, impulse noise (firecrackers, for instance, car horns, sirens etc)

 

HI @goodfella032

Providing you have noise induced tinnitus and you're not experiencing: deafness, dizziness, problems with your balance or acute pain in you ears, then I agree with you not to see you Audiologist at this time and would leave things as they are until you are 6 months in. Your symptoms may have improved by then as you will be in the habituation process and an appointment with your Audiologist may not be necessary. Please be aware tinnitus and hyperacusis is not a quick fix and can take up to 18 months or longer for a person to fully habituate. This may or may not require specialist treatment with an Audiologist as I have mentioned in my articles in the links I sent to you.

Anyone new to tinnitus can find the first few months and beyond difficult to cope with, and if hyperacusis is present more so. If you are experiencing stress and anxiety to the point where they are affecting your mental and emotional wellbeing, it is important that they are addressed and not left as they can make your situation worse. In this instance I advise you to see your family doctor or Audiologist who may suggest medication to help reduce stress and anxiety. Please don't try toughing it out if you find things becoming too much to cope with.

I do not believe avoiding normal everyday sounds or distancing yourself from family and friends is a good thing to do, because it often instills negative thinking and can make tinnitus and hyperacusis worse for some people. Therefore, try to carry on with your life as you did before the onset of tinnitus. Of course be prudent and be aware of loud sounds but try not to focus too much on this. I understand certain sounds can be uncomfortable for you. Noise reducing earplugs can be quite effective in lowering external sounds so they wont cause you irritation or pain. They should be used in accordance with the advice given in my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it.

Take care
Michael

 

I think you did the right thing. My tinnitus might have been caused by one of those tests (my initial complaint was ear fullness).

Right now it is important to stabilize your tinnitus and hyperacusis. However, after a couple of months you will want to begin increasing the volume of your TV. You will want to use the loudest volume that doesn't cause any problems or feels too loud.

Personally, my answer to this question has always been "whatever sound bothers my ears or results in a spike".

Seems like a good policy (and probably better than wearing earplugs 24/7). You can use your fingers and not earplugs. The noise reduction is similar.

Consider being there less time. Leaving After your ears are fatigued seems to mean that you stayed there too long. You want to have a sense of what it takes to make your ears feel this way, and leave a lot earlier than that.

It's ok (no need to panic if it were to happen), but of course it isn't promoting your healing, so try to minimize those times.

 

@goodfella -- To me, if something feels painful, or irritating, or in any way makes a person cringe (inwardly or outwardly), then that's too loud, and you shouldn't be exposing yourself to it. It really comes down to listening and trusting what your ears and neurological system are telling you. In my book, not too much more complicated than that.

It took me a while to figure that out. By the time I was into my second year, I at one point just started to "forget" to put earplugs in my ears when going into a store. I was almost fanatical about that for the first year+, but when I started "forgetting" about the earplugs, I interpreted that as my ears telling me they had healed considerably from initial onset.

I just made a post a couple of days ago that touches on your situation. The following question was asked by @LindaS.

"If you do use protection does it hinder the timeline to sound tolerance? -- Any help would be greatly appreciated."

Here's a link to a post of mine that I left her, which expounds on my above comments:

Protecting? Overprotecting? Not Protecting?

 

Thank you @Juan @Michael Leigh @Bill Bauer @Lane for taking the time to offer your insight. I really appreciate your help as I continue to try and navigate this path.

 

@Lane @Michael Leigh

What types of ear plugs did/do you use? I have been using ear muffs(Passive 30db) for doing potentially loud things in the yard, but notice the occlusion effect is bothersome and sometimes irritates my ears. For instance, last night I was taking out the garbage and had a very heavy door on a push cart. I had my ear muffs on and just kind of let the door fall on the grass. The "thud" on the ground must've reverberated through the ground to the metal push cart I was holding and I kind of "felt" it in my right ear, causing fullness immediately afterward and upon waking this morning. This is frustrating to have a small incident when I though I was doing everything right at the moment and protecting.

I've tried the musicians plugs briefly but those don't seem to protect very much, although they do eliminate the occlusion effect.

 

@goodfella032

I only use hearing protection when using noisy electric power tools around my home, such as a drill or circular power saw. Also, when using petrol gardening equipment: Lawn mower, strimmer and hedge-cutter. I use ear-defenders which fit over the entire ear and block out most external sound.

I also have Noise reducing earplugs which I rarely use now. These reduce external sound but wont impair sound quality and don't tend to cause the occlusion effect unlike foam earplugs, earmuffs and ear-defenders that block out most external sound. They can be purchased in different levels of attenuation. Mine will reduce external sound by 18 decibels. Some will reduce sound by 12/20/30 decibels. I bought mine years ago from the British Tinnitus Association, and I believe they still sell Noise reducing earplugs on their website. Amazon normally stock a variety of noise reducing earplugs, so you might want to try there. Alpine brand are supposed to be good.

Please follow the advice I have given on how to use Noise reducing earplugs in my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it They shouldn't be overused as you could make your tinnitus and hyperacusis worse, by lowering the loudness threshold of your auditory system and make you more sensitive to sound.

You will experience some discomfort to sounds of the type you mention especially when you're caught off guard. Try not to become overly worried about this as being over cautious can instill fear and negative thinking. I can't express enough, how important it is not to become overly concerned about this, as it can lead to an obsession and will do you no good at all that I promise you.

I remember reading a member's post who became quite paranoid in my opinion over sound levels. Whenever going out for a meal, the person in question asked their partner to first attend the restaurant 30minutes before, to test the sound levels with a meter! I kid you not and believe this is totally unnecessary. I might add, this person had tinnitus due to hearing loss and never complained of hyperacusis which usually accompanies Noise induced tinnitus.

Please try and not fall into the trap of becoming obsessed over sound levels. Take your time and take each day as it comes.

All the best
Michael

 

I've had tinnitus about 10 months. I recently had new above neighbors move in who are doing plenty of "thudding." I have been experiencing more fullness and sound sensitivity since they moved in. I even had a brief spike/fleeting tinnitus after a particularly loud thud. Even though the sound isn't very loud, there is something about that "thud" frequency that is really getting to my ears and causing sensitivity/fullness. I've resolved to move to a new top-floor apartment.

I hope the sounds aren't not doing more damage, but with the fullness I know that it is not healthy for my ears. Since the onset of my tinnitus, my sound sensitivity (I won't call it hyperacusis, because my audiologist test results don't meet that criteria) has improved a lot over time. From this thread, it looks like if I'm careful it could continue to improve. This has been a good thread to read at this time, so thank you everyone for your insights.

 

I don’t think you will regret not seeing an audiologist. For the most part there’s not much they can do. They don’t even measure our full range of hearing but tell people they have no loss, so personally I think it’s a waste of time.

What you mention sounds like a good plan. I’m 7 months in or so and have been super careful. Like you I avoid the kitchen, family at times when they’re being loud, etc. I protect if I know I’ll be somewhere where noise is out of my control but there is always the risk of an accident happening. I’ve had close calls at my own hand more than from external noises tbh.

The important thing is not to freak ourself out if you have a loud noise exposure. You may not even experience a setback or a spike and you will learn what your limits are. Not saying go out there and bang pots and pans together, but if one day a plate falls outta your hand don’t focus too much of what’s “to come”.

Always be prepared with hearing protection. If you feel like your ears have had enough, rest them. If someone is talking too loud, let them know! I don’t think being in your yard is harmful unless there is a ton of noise. It’s important to get out once in a while though even with plugs, even if it’s a quiet park. You don’t want neck/back issues and honestly avoiding stores and the general public will leave you SO overstimulated when you go out again, it’s important to get out there and interact with society at least in some way. Unless you’re totally okay with being by yourself and indoors all the time.

Feel free to Pm me if you have more questions!

 

@Michael Leigh thank you for your insight on the hearing protection. I appreciate it!

@Orions Pain thank you for your response regarding my additional questions about noise exposure. I love being out in my yard so I'm trying to let my mind and body get back used to the 60-65 decibel constant levels without overdoing it. Of course it would be nice if I could just "switch" off the traffic for a few hours day lol. I agree with ya I'm 3.5 months in and I've had more close calls from things I am doing. Of course the moment one tries to do things quietly that's the moment things get loud(in my case anyway). I appreciate the offer to pm you as well, good to have advice from someone that's in the "shit" as it is happening especially in your case a few months ahead of me.

 

@Angela Riffe,

Hi Angela. I was wondering about hyperacusis and if I truly have that. I get a lot of reactivity. Like surrounded by noise I don’t hear my ears but I get really odd sensations sometimes after being around noise, it’s like this “loudness” that comes into my ears. I hope it’s not true hyperacusis because that’s scary but I am definitely sensitive to sound. Ugh. So many people have this but I always feel so alone. I just want silence again.

 

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Somewhat late reply, but relating to your temporary tinnitus spikes from sound therapy/hearing tests, I had a few questions because I'm experiencing something similar currently.

I was searching for tinnitus relief after hurting my ear drums while cleaning them, and some of the white noise I used has created a residual effect whereby I can still hear the noise resonating even days after I've stopped listening to it.

I can only speculate this is due to some form of inflammation? It's difficult to imagine what's causing it, but this happened after I went to an ENT as well in which I could still hear the hearing test 'beeps' after it transpired. At first I thought it was upper frequency hearing loss and went out of my way to get a Prednisone prescription to be safe.

Anyway, how long did your spikes last, and did your spikes involve any new phantom sounds or frequency tones being created like mine? Also, I haven't committed to the Prednisone dosage yet since I'm still doubting what's causing my symptoms, do you think it might help?

 

Strange thing yes. But I had the same. For me it was even hard to discern the new beeps from the old ones as they were still echoing in my ears. But this could really be inflammation related. Since I am rigorously protecting my ears and pop lots of magnesium this has improved.

 

I remember reading other posts (there are very few of them) about being able to hear the sounds long after the sounds are gone. I don't think that's tinnitus. If it is tinnitus, it's a rare type.

Temporary spikes can last over three months (and I've had spikes like that). Normally they begin fading after at most 4-6 weeks.

No.

If I remember correctly, the mg dosage is your weight in kilograms or 60 mg, whichever is less. My posts from several years ago have that info (that was given to me by my doctor).

 

I experience phantom smells long after I've come in contact with that smell. For instance, my wife might cook something in the morning, and I can wake up that night with the smell still lingering in my brain. I do think it's a brain thing, just as I think hearing sounds long after they're gone is likely a brain thing as well. -- BTW, I no longer experience phantom smells as often as I used to. I did a lot of things over the years (including a lot of HBOT) that I think strengthened my brain and neurological system.

 

Just wanted to update those in this thread as to my progress up to this point. I am currently almost 16 months in since my incident. Up until about 2 weeks ago I was making improvements albeit not linear. Good days and bad days but the bad days not as bad and the good days better. I got to the point that I was able to do a lot of the things that bothered me in the past with no pain... dishes clanking, being in a room full of talking people, working in construction with no need to protect except tasks where everyone should protect, I could listen to music at moderate levels and watch TV with no pain or spikes. Ear fullness and jaw pain was minimal, tinnitus levels barely noticeable unless I "look for it".

Unfortunately a couple of weeks ago I woke up after a long day of working in the yard with bad allergies. My son and I were putting some rocks in a pot and I noticed the rocks sounded like gunshots going off. I tried my best to ignore it going forward but it progressed to basically back to square one as far as symptom go. Tinnitus has now spiked, ear fullness and popping when I swallow, jaw pain, all noises bothering me again, no music, no TV. I guess I've suffered the dreaded "setback" that I've heard so much of. I have an experienced hyperacusis trained audiologist who acts as my therapist that has counseled me through this process and has reassured me that this is a temporary setback that is sometimes "inevitable". I am in a completely different mental state this year compared to last so my stress levels aren't contributing as much as they were last year now that I have a good understanding of what is going on with this ailment. It is frustrating though as I didn't expose myself to a loud noise as this seemingly came out of no where.

The fact that I was making progress gives me hope that I can get back to those levels and that setbacks going forward are short lived. I am still trying to figure out why the setback so I can avoid it in the future. Was it waking up with bad allergies that affected my ears which in turn caused those rocks to sound loud which in turn scared my brain into now overprotecting? I didn't dwell on the sound at the time but it seems my subconscious did. Once you are free from the pain it is very disheartening to have it come back.

I hope this update finds anyone dealing with this affliction beneficial. This journey is for the strong.

 

@goodfella032, hopefully this is just a minor setback for you. I've gone through about the same as you, and as you say - progression is by no means linear. And setbacks, in some degree, is really unavoidable.

My therapist/audiologist also said the same.

But of course, it is disheartening and hard to experience these setbacks, but just think about how far you got. It may feel as you got set back to square one, but there is probably a lot of psychology to this. Seems like you've come along way, and this is a part of the journey for even better days.

 

Sorry to hear about your setback. I’d like to know though: how did you get better the first time round, and how long did it take?

I know you said you had good and bad days but the fact you didn’t react to clanking dishes and could be in a room full of noisy people seems like a dream to most of us here.

 

I am pleased that you have been making progress goodfellao32 but sorry to hear of your setback. It is good to know that you are having counselling with an Audiologist. Counselling can be very helpful so hope you are able to continue with it. I believe as your Audiologist does, that this setback will be temporary. However, I disagree that it was inevitable. Please note this is just my opinion but it is based on experience with noise-induced tinnitus and hyperacusis.

As a person is recovering from these conditions things can be going so well, there is a tendency for one to forget that they are still vulnerable and need to be careful. I have written about this in some of my posts. You have mentioned working in construction. These environments are often noisy, if you were not using noise reducing earplugs it would have been prudent to do so. Similarly, when you were working with your son and the sound of the rocks were like gunshots. This suggests to me your auditory system is still hypersensitive even though you are recovering. Therefore, I advise, when doing work around the home that might generate a lot of noise or using power tools, to use noise reducing earplugs. Only use them in noisy situations and not to suppress normal everyday sounds or become dependent on them.

Hope you start to feel better soon.
Michael


Will My Tinnitus Get Worse? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Hyperacusis, As I See It | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

@MindOverMatter, I appreciate your encouragement and kind words. I agree there is definitely a large part of this that is psychological, at least for me. It's a fine line between dealing with the physical aspect of this and not letting it get the best of your brain while you heal. I hope that you find progress in your journey as well and ultimately get back to your life before this affliction. In the end that is all we really want.

 

@Aaron91, the first six months were pure he'll. The 6-12 month period was bad but slow barely noticeable improvements along the way. Little things that bothered my ears weren't hurting as much or sounding as loud. From 12 months up until this setback I was watching TV with normal volume levels and listening to music on the car at low levels. Driving wasn't bothering me as much and raising my ladder up and down at work wasn't as bothersome. In other words more bothersome sounds came off the list along with the reduced physical symptoms.

As far as what I did... I've always played ocean sounds at night when I sleep and still do. I basically just listened to my body and did what it was telling me. Not thinking about my ears every second of the day and not feeling sorry for myself definitely helped as well. This is not easy while we are in constant pain but once your subconscious brain detects that you are no longer in fear than recovery can begin.

There is no magical method, and as many others on this forum have said, the journey to healing is and will be painstakingly slow. I have accepted that there is no quick fix.

One thing that I advise us to get your body out of the fight or flight state. If there is a physical path to recovery for the individual (which for some there is not) then I believe that your body and mind must be in balance for that recovery to happen. In my setback I am trying to determine how my balance got out of whack and how I can avoid setbacks going further. Good quote from Frederick Douglass applies: "If there is no struggle, there is no progress".

Good luck in your journey.

 

@Michael Leigh, thanks for your insight as always. You've been helpful through this entire process to me and many others.

I agree that as progress is made there can be a tendency to assume that everything is OK with the auditory system and to go back to life as usual. For me I know this will be a long recovery process and I advise and agree that steps should still be taken to protect ears when necessary. I work in light construction, more specifically home improvement, and I control the sounds in my work environment so I am still diligent to protect when hammering, sawing, etc.

I have some theories as to why this setback occurred seemingly overnight but will not postulate until some time passes and I make some adjustments. Obviously I didn't want the setback but I have to honor it so I can know how to deal with it again in the future if it should arise.

 

Thank you for your kind comments goodfella. You have the right attitude and you will get through this setback. When around loud sounds at work, just remember to use noise reducing earplugs. In time you can experiment by using lower attenuation earplugs. If you are using 25db at the moment work towards 18 dB and see how you get on.

Best of luck.
Michael

 

I was doing some internet searches on red light therapy and low-level laser therapy and it led me to a couple of posts on Tinnitus Talk so I figured I'd offer an update to this post as to my progress since this began in March 2020.

I am doing much better mentally and this has in turn helped my hyperacusis greatly.

The setback that I mentioned in this thread from May 2021 lasted a month or so and then began to normalize.

I have found that the more I dwell on this condition, the more it will debilitate me. The brain is a very "plastic" organ and can be easily molded into acting and reacting a certain way based on our thoughts. Reading some of the posts in here I see what a terrible place some are stuck in If you are reading this know that there is hope. I am a functioning hyperacusis individual... I own my own small business in home improvement, I have a family I spend time with, and I do my best to live my life as normal as possible while knowing that this condition is and might always be a part of me. I go to stores, I meet with clients, I watch movies with my kids, I go to my sons soccer games, my daughters swim meets, I take my wife to restaurants. I just took the whole family to an amusement park for a whole day.

Do I experience discomfort in some of these situations? Yes I do.

Do I have to make certain concessions in these situations? Yes I do.

Do I put myself in situations where I know it will be too much for my ears? No I don't.

The key is finding the line in the sand and then ever so slightly pushing that line as time progresses. Also I've realized that like my bad back, I'm going to have good days and bad days. This is an annoying ailment but ailments are part of life. If I am constantly in a negative state then I will never progress. I think that misophonia becomes a much bigger part of this then most who suffer realize. It's the brain reacting negatively to the sound, and in turn making that sound intolerable. It's as simple as the Pavlov conditioned response experiment.

I think acceptance is the first step to recovery in cases like mine. Learning the physiological capacity of this condition helped me as well. To know what is happening inside my head physically helps.

I also know that in my case there is no pill that I am going to take that will solve this ultimately. Feeling sorry for myself also has no place. Regretting the past also has no place. Thinking about my ears constantly has no place. I listen to my body and when it's time to rest than I listen. When a setback occurs, I use it as an opportunity to recover quicker than the last one. I must tap into my inner strength to beat this mentally while also doing my best physically. That includes eating a low sugar, anti-inflammatory diet. I make sure I get the sleep and rest my ears need. I listen to rain sounds every night. I listen to my body and although I push the line in the name of progress, I do my best not to push it too far.

I started this post mentioning red light and lasers and that's where I'll end. I'm currently trying to nail down some regular maintenance that will help cellular repair in my head, ears, and back.

And as an example of how plastic the brain is,my ears are more sore finishing this post then they were when I started it. This is a great site with soldiers fighting a battle, but in my case the less I think about my ears and the less I'm on sites like Tinnitus Talk, the better. One must focus their energy on something else. We have been blessed with this day and we must make the most of it. The strength I need to beat this is from within.

Each one of you reading this has the strength within as well, you just have to find it. And you will.

 

Thank you for posting. Do you wear earplugs to a lot of these places and has the tinnitus improved?

 

I do not wear earplugs in most situations. I do wear ear protection at work while hammering, which isn't too often. In my personal life I usually have earplugs with me wherever I go but rarely do I use them. If I get into a situation where I feel my ears are being taxed, I remove myself from that situation. I don't stress those moments. I don't stress when my sore back prevents me from lifting heavy objects so I equate the same to my ears. It's just listening to your body and staying positive. In my case over protecting my ears just makes things worse. It's more a mental game than anything. That being said there is still a physical aspect of this ailment and I'm hoping with time continuing to pass and a proper mental attitude and lifestyle, that this will finally end.

As for the tinnitus, it's always there but always more noticeable when I'm having a flare up. In my case I believe it's inflammation related as well as the Tensor Tympani contracting that exacerbates the tinnitus. Again though, if my mind is right then it's barely noticeable unless I "look" for it.