Pregnant & Scared with Reactive Tinnitus — Your Help Requested

[Meinz89]

Hello,

It would mean so much if someone could take a moment to read my story.

I'm 24 weeks pregnant with my first baby at 36 years old, and what should be the happiest time of my life has been consumed by sudden unilateral tinnitus that began on April 13. Almost four months later, I still do not have a clear cause, and no doctor can tell me whether it is "just pregnancy." I have explored every possible explanation and undergone numerous blood tests, an MRI, and several medical exams.

I started sound therapy with Treble Health in June, hoping to habituate before November. At first, my tinnitus was quiet in the mornings and only reacted to specific sounds like fans or air conditioning. But over the past few weeks, it has escalated. Now it flares up loudly even in silence, has become multi-tonal, and changes by the hour. Some days are manageable, but most feel unbearable.

I can hardly eat because I am so depressed. I'm also considered a high-risk pregnancy due to a slight heart defect, my age, and now this.

We moved to Indiana in January, and my husband is my only local support. I'm scared of how I'll cope when my baby arrives, especially if the reactivity stays this intense. I feel lonely, lost, and unsure whether to focus on constant ear protection, sound therapy, or gentle sound exposure.

If anyone here has improved from very reactive tinnitus, please share your story, advice, or words of encouragement. I desperately need to believe there is a way forward.

I want to live life again. I want to smile again. I want to be a good mom. Please, someone give me hope that I can still have a good life someday.

Meg

 

[MindOverMatter]

Hello @Meinz89,

I am sorry to hear about your struggles, especially since you are pregnant, which already takes a toll on you.

Unfortunately, there is no set timeline for this. Healing cannot be rushed, and the more you stress about it, the longer it will stick around and the more intense it can become. That is what makes this journey so complicated.

If you read some of my posts on this forum (you can find them through the search function), you will see that I had very reactive tinnitus for a long time. Even today, five to six years after the incident that triggered it, flare-ups still happen. However, when they do, they are less intense, and I have less of an emotional reaction to them. This is partly due to acceptance and habituation, and partly because of lowered stress levels.

So, what should you do? There is no universal blueprint for this condition. In my opinion, reactive tinnitus is a subset of hyperacusis. Constant overprotection will likely lead to an even more sensitive auditory and nervous system. You need some sound input.

The trick is to find something you can tolerate, or at least tolerate better. Something that does not aggravate your reactivity. Just audible is enough, preferably through high-quality speakers. Experiment with this, and use it as background noise when possible.

If you can, spend time in nature. Ground yourself and shift your focus. Even if your ears react to rustling trees, running water, or other natural sounds (I experienced all of that, but it did not stop me), nature is good for your nervous system and can help improve your vagal tone. It will also support your ability to manage your stress response.

A major part of this is that your nervous and auditory systems are on constant alert, in fear mode, and in fight-or-flight. That circle of fear needs to be interrupted.

Perhaps your symptoms started as a result of pregnancy, or maybe you went through a lot of stress at some point. No matter what triggered it, there is a strong chance that you will get better with time.

You will love your life fully again, you will smile, and I am sure you will be a great, caring mum.

Things will get better, but you need to give it time.

 

[Meinz89]

It truly means a lot to me that you took the time to read and respond to my long post during such a difficult moment for me.

I agree there is probably no exact playbook for managing reactive tinnitus, and I know I do not want to spend my life in earplugs. My morning and evening walks have always been so therapeutic, even before tinnitus. Unfortunately, we are in the middle of cicada season here, and they are so loud that I often wear Loop Engage plugs just to get through a walk. Some days, I try to be brave and take in all the normal sounds of daily life, but I often end up paying for it later. I think I will follow your advice and reintroduce sound slowly and gently, a little more each day.

My doctors have suggested SSRIs and other antidepressants, but I am not ready to go down that path, especially knowing that some medications can worsen tinnitus. I am hopeful I can find a way to calm my nervous system naturally, so my brain can break free from this constant fear and worry, fight or flight loop. Unfortunately, the first ENT I saw told me the dreaded words: "There is no cure for tinnitus. You will just have to learn to live with it." That still haunts me.

I am truly grateful you reached out, as it makes me feel less alone. Your response gives me hope that, even if this stays with me, I can still find a way to get my life back.

 

[MindOverMatter]

My doctors have suggested SSRIs and other antidepressants, but I am not ready to go down that path, especially knowing that some medications can worsen tinnitus.

I get you. I never opted for those myself, even at my lowest, when I was in a really dark place.

"There is no cure, and you will have to learn to live with it" is a common saying among ENTs, unfortunately, and not a good way to meet people in despair. I completely agree. There is a lot that can be done, and there is a lot of hope.

Funny you mentioned those cicadas. We do not have them in Norway, but I recently spent ten days in Italy. They were loud there, but 90 percent of the time they were not bothersome to me. At times they were actually soothing. If you had asked me about this four years ago, my answer would have been totally different, so I know exactly how you feel.

You will find your way forward. Stay positive and have faith in better days, and by all means, stay away from negative counseling, negative stories, and too much Googling. It is pure fuel for the nervous system in a harmful way.

Feel free to reach out anytime.

 

[Rainer]

Meg,

Tinnitus during pregnancy affects one in three women. One could say it is par for the course, and in the overwhelming majority of cases it goes away on its own after the pregnancy is over. The technical term for "goes away on its own" is "spontaneous remission," which might be useful if you want to find scientific papers on the topic.

Speaking of spontaneous remissions, this is very common with tinnitus. This should lead to a re-evaluation of the success rate claimed by Treble Health. The proper thing for them to do would be to compare their success rate to the rate of spontaneous remissions. They probably know why they will not report such statistics.

One must also consider the possibility that "sound therapy" can make things worse and could reduce the chances of a spontaneous recovery. I completely understand the panic and the intense desire to just do something to make it all go away, but I also believe I made my own situation worse by trying to heal myself with this. My ears needed rest, first and foremost.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, I believe you should think long and hard about whether you should leave Indiana for the duration of your pregnancy. Thanks to the badly written abortion ban, healthcare for pregnant women is severely limited where you live, and you mentioned that you have a high-risk pregnancy. The maternal mortality rate in Indiana is one of the highest in the United States, and five times higher than in my own country. According to a paper from Indiana University (link to PDF), 77 percent of these deaths would have been preventable.

Take care.

 

[Jupiterman]

One must also consider the possibility that "sound therapy" can make things worse and could reduce the chances of a spontaneous recovery. I completely understand the panic and the intense desire to just do something to make it all go away, but I also believe I made my own situation worse by trying to heal myself with this. My ears needed rest, first and foremost.

The above is the most crucial paragraph of this entire thread.

 

[MindOverMatter]

The above is the most crucial paragraph of this entire thread.

You clearly do not know what sound therapy is about. But yes, I agree with @Rainer because he says it CAN make things worse, and it sure can. Traditional in-ear sound therapy should not be tried unless it is professionally guided and you can tolerate it.

However, the auditory system needs something to work with in order to hopefully desensitize and stabilize over time, both with many types of hyperacusis and with reactive tinnitus. One size never fits all though, and this is trial and error.

For me, natural sounds were the best way forward, as I could not stand artificial soundscapes at one point.

The most crucial thing with anything related to tinnitus, especially when people are in despair, is not to spread negativity. Negative counseling is fuel for a nervous system that is already out of control.

 

[BuzzyBee]

Meg, I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through. I'm almost 10 years in, and it's been really hard. Hopefully, Susan Shore's device or some sort of pharmaceutical intervention aimed at tinnitus will help, but for now, all we can do is take advantage of anything that makes life more bearable. If your doctors believe an SSRI could help you and that it would be safe, you might consider it. They make some people's tinnitus worse, but they also help others, so it's a tough call.

One interesting thing, and maybe this is a silver lining, is that there's a new postpartum depression drug called Zulresso, also known as Brexanolone. You'll most likely be able to get it if you experience depression after the baby arrives. Here's the thing: Zulresso seems to lower tinnitus. So if you take it for PPD, chances are it will reduce your tinnitus and those early years with your baby could be the happy years you deserve.

 

[Jupiterman]

You clearly do not know what sound therapy is about.

I quoted @Rainer, saying his statement was crucial (post #7).

You then wrote (in your next sentence):

But yes, I agree with @Rainer because he says it CAN make things worse, and it sure can.

My question for you @MindOverMatter; how can you tell a person that they "don't know" what they are talking about when all they've done is quote from a person that you "agree with"?

 

[MindOverMatter]

@Jupiterman, my point here was to make it clear for the original poster that sound therapy is not dangerous if done correctly, with appropriate counseling.

The picture is not entirely black and white, and sometimes we need to take a step back when necessary. It might not be the best approach for everyone, but it has certainly been an important component in recovery for many.

I think it is important not to discourage anyone from trying professionally guided sound therapy.

Anyway, let's not derail this thread from the original poster's topic.

@Meinz89, what worked best for me was gradually reintroducing surrounding sounds, both in the room and from natural soundscapes outside. When artificial sound is used, it should not be intended to completely mask the level of tinnitus.

 

[Meinz89]

I get you. I never opted for those myself, even at my lowest, when I was in a really dark place.

"There is no cure, and you will have to learn to live with it" is a common saying among ENTs, unfortunately, and not a good way to meet people in despair. I completely agree. There is a lot that can be done, and there is a lot of hope.

Funny you mentioned those cicadas. We do not have them in Norway, but I recently spent ten days in Italy. They were loud there, but 90 percent of the time they were not bothersome to me. At times they were actually soothing. If you had asked me about this four years ago, my answer would have been totally different, so I know exactly how you feel.

You will find your way forward. Stay positive and have faith in better days, and by all means, stay away from negative counseling, negative stories, and too much Googling. It is pure fuel for the nervous system in a harmful way.

Feel free to reach out anytime.

I wanted to reach out to you because I feel I can trust your judgment and advice. There are many longtime tinnitus sufferers here with incredible insight, and I'm so grateful for all the comments I've received on my posts. Yours, in particular, really stayed with me and meant a lot during a difficult moment.

I hope it's okay to reach out now. I was wondering if you've ever experienced an acoustic shock episode while managing tinnitus. Last night, a heavy door slammed suddenly right behind me, and even my family winced. I tried to stay calm, but it startled me deeply, and I wasn't wearing earplugs. Since then, I've been in a spike, and I'm worried this may have caused lasting damage or permanently worsened my tinnitus. I've been trying so hard these last five months, so this feels like a huge setback .

I know you didn't sign up to be my personal tinnitus mentor, but I have a feeling you might know about situations like this. Any advice or encouragement would mean a great deal.

 

[MindOverMatter]

I hope it's okay to reach out now. I was wondering if you've ever experienced an acoustic shock episode while managing tinnitus. Last night, a heavy door slammed suddenly right behind me, and even my family winced. I tried to stay calm, but it startled me deeply, and I wasn't wearing earplugs. Since then, I've been in a spike, and I'm worried this may have caused lasting damage or permanently worsened my tinnitus. I've been trying so hard these last five months, so this feels like a huge setback .

Unfortunately, this is the nature of tinnitus, and yes, I have experienced many such accidents. Usually, a spike after an incident like this can last anywhere from a few days to two or three weeks.

You have to remind yourself that these things happen and are often unavoidable. Stopping life is not an option.

A brief sound like this will not cause any permanent setbacks in my opinion. And it will happen again, one way or another. Try to view these as spikes and short-lived setbacks. Over time, you will learn not to be hypervigilant about them, and the spike might not even occur the next time. The more relaxed you are, the less it will spike, or at least the shorter it will last.

Hope that helps!

 

[Meinz89]

@MindOverMatter, thank you, friend. I've read many of your posts and truly value not only your sound advice but also the kind, considerate, and honest way you approach others.

I'm still in a spike today, but I believe it will eventually calm down. I don't have ear pain and only moderate sound sensitivity, so I'm hopeful no lasting damage was done. I had just begun taking small steps toward living with less fear—going to restaurants and small social gatherings without earplugs—and after Friday I worried that progress might slip away, leaving me back in isolation and wearing plugs everywhere again.

I'm also a singer, and ever since my tinnitus began in April, I've avoided singing because even my own voice felt too loud. I want so much to sing to my son when he's born, and I had just started easing back into it a little each day. I don't want this setback to take that away from me.

I've started following your advice to calm my reactivity by bringing more natural sounds into my day, rather than relying on my sound therapy devices for 10 to 14 hours straight (as directed by Treble Health, ugh ). Looking back, I think I rushed into inner-ear device sound therapy too soon, hoping for relief when my auditory system wasn't ready. I didn't even know reactive tinnitus was possible or how exhausting it could be. Now, I try to use the devices only a few hours and spend the rest of the time by my open windows listening to the birds, going for walks, or playing light background music. I believe those natural sounds will be more restorative than constant synthetic tones.

The hardest part is staying calm and patient, and not sinking into depression. Every morning I fight the urge to break down (and third-trimester hormones certainly don't help), but I know how much tinnitus feeds on the nervous system.

I don't want to ramble on, but I truly appreciate the way you've shared your wisdom with me—with such kindness and thoughtfulness—even though we're just strangers in this difficult corner of the internet.

 

[DimLeb]

thank you, friend. I've read many of your posts and truly value not only your sound advice but also the kind, considerate, and honest way you approach others.

I'm still in a spike today, but I believe it will eventually calm down. I don't have ear pain and only moderate sound sensitivity, so I'm hopeful no lasting damage was done. I had just begun taking small steps toward living with less fear—going to restaurants and small social gatherings without earplugs—and after Friday I worried that progress might slip away, leaving me back in isolation and wearing plugs everywhere again.

I'm also a singer, and ever since my tinnitus began in April, I've avoided singing because even my own voice felt too loud. I want so much to sing to my son when he's born, and I had just started easing back into it a little each day. I don't want this setback to take that away from me.

I've started following your advice to calm my reactivity by bringing more natural sounds into my day, rather than relying on my sound therapy devices for 10 to 14 hours straight (as directed by Treble Health, ugh ). Looking back, I think I rushed into inner-ear device sound therapy too soon, hoping for relief when my auditory system wasn't ready. I didn't even know reactive tinnitus was possible or how exhausting it could be. Now, I try to use the devices only a few hours and spend the rest of the time by my open windows listening to the birds, going for walks, or playing light background music. I believe those natural sounds will be more restorative than constant synthetic tones.

The hardest part is staying calm and patient, and not sinking into depression. Every morning I fight the urge to break down (and third-trimester hormones certainly don't help), but I know how much tinnitus feeds on the nervous system.

I don't want to ramble on, but I truly appreciate the way you've shared your wisdom with me—with such kindness and thoughtfulness—even though we're just strangers in this difficult corner of the internet.

I don't think it helps much, and sorry to say, but sound therapy or sound exposure is not a proven treatment for reactive tinnitus or hyperacusis. Not even researchers have confirmed this, and Treble Health, in my opinion, is a scam. If it truly helped, there wouldn't be so many members here who have had these conditions for years, despite continuing with their lives and being exposed to everyday sounds.

Cochleas and brains unfortunately do their own thing without caring what we think of it, so any talk about "positive thoughts" making a difference is just a fairytale.

Sound therapy may only help by keeping you occupied and distracted from the tinnitus or hyperacusis. It does not change anything functional in the auditory system. When reactive tinnitus or hyperacusis improve, it is because time and the body's mechanisms did something restorative, much like how a wound heals, not because of bombarding the system with more noise.

I've had my own experience with severe reactive tinnitus that came on suddenly, and what I did was retreat to silence and avoid poking at it too much. Thankfully, it went away on its own. My case is probably related to suspected vestibular migraine or hydrops, so I can't fully compare, but I just wanted to share.

 

[racedy]

There has been some research suggesting that tinnitus can develop from hormonal changes, which may be the case for you, and it might resolve after you give birth. (Also, once you have a baby, you may be too exhausted to care as much about the tinnitus, and your focus will likely shift so strongly to your baby that the tinnitus might lose its intensity.)

I experience OCD symptoms, with tinnitus and health concerns as a main theme, and I constantly have to remind myself that what I value is more important than what I fear may trigger an OCD or tinnitus spiral. Just like tinnitus, OCD can pull you away from things you love to do and people you love to spend time with. That is why I encourage you to keep singing and doing what you enjoy. In my experience, my stress over tinnitus was worse than the tinnitus itself. I still have tinnitus, but I no longer stress about it the way I used to, though I check here now and then in hopes of seeing a miracle cure.

As for medication, Sertraline is considered safe during pregnancy (though I am not a doctor). In my case, however, it actually increased the volume of my tinnitus at the therapeutic dose. I switched to a smaller dose and my tinnitus went back down. I felt great on it during the luteal phase—no PMS—but it disrupted my sleep too much, so I eventually discontinued it.

I hope you find support where you live, such as new mom classes and get-togethers. Nonprofits in your area may offer this kind of support group. Congratulations, and I hope your tinnitus improves or even goes away!

P.S. I would not worry at all about a door slamming behind you. That happens to me all the time. While startling, I just forget about it. I take magnesium daily to support ear health, try to include enough antioxidants in my diet, and avoid ototoxic drugs when possible. I have to believe that is good enough, because I want to devote my energy to other things.

 

[BuzzyBee]

I don't think it helps much, and sorry to say, but sound therapy or sound exposure is not a proven treatment for reactive tinnitus or hyperacusis. Not even researchers have confirmed this, and Treble Health, in my opinion, is a scam. If it truly helped, there wouldn't be so many members here who have had these conditions for years, despite continuing with their lives and being exposed to everyday sounds.

Cochleas and brains unfortunately do their own thing without caring what we think of it, so any talk about "positive thoughts" making a difference is just a fairytale.

Sound therapy may only help by keeping you occupied and distracted from the tinnitus or hyperacusis. It does not change anything functional in the auditory system. When reactive tinnitus or hyperacusis improve, it is because time and the body's mechanisms did something restorative, much like how a wound heals, not because of bombarding the system with more noise.

I've had my own experience with severe reactive tinnitus that came on suddenly, and what I did was retreat to silence and avoid poking at it too much. Thankfully, it went away on its own. My case is probably related to suspected vestibular migraine or hydrops, so I can't fully compare, but I just wanted to share.

100% true. Sound therapy is great for distracting yourself, but if your tinnitus is reactive, the only real fix is a quiet environment. @DimLeb, you are so lucky yours went away. I wish we knew how and why. I'm at the ten-year mark with reactive tinnitus and can't walk past a fan without it starting. Sometimes it goes back down after a few hours, and sometimes it just gets louder and stays elevated. Sound makes it worse.

On the other hand, if tinnitus is tonal or comes from deep within the ear and sounds like music or electric buzzing, sound therapy is very effective. You can mask that type of tinnitus with other sounds and follow the old-school advice given by ENTs and audiologists: "Turn on a fan," and so on. But reactive tinnitus is a subset of hyperacusis, and sound makes it worse.

It also seems almost impossible to sing professionally with severe reactive tinnitus. If not impossible, it would at least be painful. Severe reactive tinnitus can be so loud that you sometimes feel it vibrate.

 

[MindOverMatter]

100% true. Sound therapy is great for distracting yourself, but if your tinnitus is reactive, the only real fix is a quiet environment. @DimLeb, you are so lucky yours went away. I wish we knew how and why. I'm at the ten-year mark with reactive tinnitus and can't walk past a fan without it starting. Sometimes it goes back down after a few hours, and sometimes it just gets louder and stays elevated. Sound makes it worse.

On the other hand, if tinnitus is tonal or comes from deep within the ear and sounds like music or electric buzzing, sound therapy is very effective. You can mask that type of tinnitus with other sounds and follow the old-school advice given by ENTs and audiologists: "Turn on a fan," and so on. But reactive tinnitus is a subset of hyperacusis, and sound makes it worse.

It also seems almost impossible to sing professionally with severe reactive tinnitus. If not impossible, it would at least be painful. Severe reactive tinnitus can be so loud that you sometimes feel it vibrate.

What do you mean by "quiet environment"? Do you mean sitting in complete silence? I don't agree with that. I've had reactive tinnitus for about six years now, and I am in a much better place. I've had counseling on and off since 2020, more than 25 sessions in total, though very rarely now. My initial tinnitus started back in 2004. Having background sounds and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy have been major components of my recovery—or whatever you would call it.

One size does not fit everyone. I understand that you may feel this is impossible right now, and I know how rough it can be. But there is always hope.

From my personal experience, the ears need some form of auditory input. Without it, facing the world becomes much harder. With no input, the ears usually become overly sensitive over time, which makes them prone to setbacks. That has been my experience.

The key is that you cannot rush it. It took me a long time to figure this out with professional help. It also takes time to build tolerance by finding a soundscape or sound level that is just audible, one that doesn't aggravate you or does so as little as possible. Preferably, the sound should be in the room and not directly in the ears. Start slowly. I remember beginning with just five minutes and then gradually increasing the time.

What worked best for me, after the initial shock and especially after the first six months, was going for walks in nature. Being physically active, grounding myself, practicing mindfulness, shifting focus, and surrounding myself with natural sounds helped me. It was not easy in the beginning, as I reacted to almost everything—even my own footsteps, other people's voices, and the sound of sheets.

On bad days, I can still react to certain sounds, but it no longer affects me in the same negative way. I know what it is, and I know it will pass. I ease my stress, stay in more soothing environments like nature, and let it settle. The brain no longer fears it.

I've also had a couple of major spikes in the last five years, but they always went down within six months at the worst. Many of them were triggered by high stress levels that left me stuck in fight-or-flight mode, where the central nervous system would not regulate properly.