What Is Going On? Do I Have Reactive Tinnitus or Hyperacusis? Needing Advice and Support...

Hi everyone, I'm new here... Sorry for the long post, I'm trying to get my thoughts organised and taking you along for the ride

I've been dealing with tinnitus since october 4th 2018. I experience it mostly on the right side, but it can also be "in the middle" of my head.

And I'm ashamed to tell you all how it started...

I was under extreme stress and feeling very down. Then, there was a horrible news item on tinnitus which scared me to bits. I had fleeting tinnitus (I had been having that fairly frequently for about a week) at night and for some reason the sound of my PC was bothering me, I thought of the news article, got scared, stuck my fingers in my ears and I guess I "tapped" into the buzz of my nervous system? In any case, I completely and utterly freaked out. My brain probably assumed right then and there that the buzz was important?

I've been to the ENT. Ears look fine, hearing is completely normal, no hearing loss.

I don't know what to do. I hear "static noise" or a whistling noise. Sometimes it's as loud as an old fashioned kettle...that always scares me. Right now it's the loud static type that has a slight whistle mixed into it.

The first month, I had panic attack after panic attack. I still have huge anxiety (mostly the fear of "will it ever get better?), but I also want to figure out how to improve things. Especially for my toddler's sake. Because we've moved in with my parents as I'm trying to cope with this. I feel like a terrible mother

Hence my message to you all (and especially to @Michael Leigh). Because I don't understand what is going on.

It is fluctuating a lot recently. I have moments where the tinnitus all of a sudden stops. Then it creeps up again. Or it spikes, like now after a car drive (so scary). Or it's in the distance. At night I sometimes wake up with the whistle-in-the-middle. I also feel pressure in my ear, but that may well be because I focus too much on it. Kinda like feeling your socks if you focus on them.

Overall, I've had several days recently where it was far into the background. But then the bad days completely throw me off and I forget about the good moments. I just don't know what to expect and that freaks me out.

It seems to get (much) worse from the car, TV, kettle, etc. But like yesterday, car and TV were fine...what the heck? I have no idea why this is? I sometimes wonder if I'm imagining it or not...as I have developed somewhat of a fear of (loud) sounds since all this.

Hence my question if it's Reactive Tinnitus? Hyperacusis? And if so, what should I do? Sound enrichment at night? How do I do that safely? Should I look into TRT or wait?

I've also noticed that when I'm in bed, reading or whatever, it eventually kinda leaves my awareness or something. Then I get startled and hear it again.

Btw, I don't mask the tinnitus. Though in the car I do turn the radio on, softly.

I don't know if there is a problem with how I process sound or if this is the start of habituation or if it's just dumb luck that it sometimes stops. It's that sensitivity to certain sounds that boggles me.

Sigh. You know, we moved house about two months before all of this started. From a noisy neighbourhoud and house to a place that is incredibly quiet. And to think I was complaining to my husband about the lack of sound at our new place

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for replying. I really need some support right now

 

Oh btw, I have no history of loud noise exposure. Except maybe for my son crying as a baby

I've been to a concert once in my life, years and years ago. And I don't use headphones. I'm the quiet type, I prefer to read, etc. Never been a party girl either, though in my teenage years I sometimes went to a pub, but not often.

When my tinnitus flares up from the car, TV, etc. it doesn't hurt...it just goes into whistling mode. Which feels so stupid, because none of those sounds seem loud to me. I even get it from the laptop fan sometimes and that is definitely not loud.

So I don't understand what is going on.

 

Do you have jaw, neck issues, head trauma, brain issues?

Do you experience ear pain, chronic ear fullness, do some sounds sound too loud or abnormally loud?

 

Hi @Contrast, I can't start or reply to private messages for some reason?

But look at my second post, I answer some of your questions there.

I have no ear pain, sounds don't seem loud to me at all. No history of neck or head trauma or brain issues.

Only thing is that my jaw makes a clicky noise sometimes when I yawn or eat.

 

new comers need to wait like 48 hours before they can reply to PMs, sorry.


Is there genetic hearing loss in your family?

 

Nope, everyone has normal hearing.

 

Hi Aegyo,

I also have variable tinnitus that goes from almost silent like yours to a loud electric hiss and tea kettle sound and some days somewhere in between. Today there is a snow front moving in at it is very loud, but there is nothing to do about it so....meh. Unlike yours I have hearing loss and it will never go away, But It seems yours has every chance too at this point. I too have a two little kids and sometimes feel like a bad parent, but they don't know any different and love you just the same. Don't be scared if everyday sounds like kids and such. I have had a transformer explode outside my house while I was drinking coffee and had no increase. This might not happen for every one but going down the road of fear of everyday sounds will do nothing good for you. Just have patience and try and not have anxiety about it. If I could do one thing in the beginning besides stopping tinnitus it would be to stay off the internet and relax as much as possible.

 

Thank you so much for your kind words

The intensity seems to be strongly related to my emotions, amount of sleep and my focus too.

But I'm scared, so it's a vicious cycle at the moment. Which makes me feel like such a bad mother. I want to be happy, hopeful and upbeat for my son.

Instead of this nervous wreck I've been reduced to. That's why I was hesitant of posting here. There is a lot of negativity and it really affects me.

 

There is a lot....but rest assured you will be ok. Millions and millions of people live great lives with it, although at this point you may not have to.

 

Hi @Aegyo
I will reply to your post later today and in full. Try not to worry too much you will be fine in time.

All the best
Michael

 

Sounds like reactive tinnitus.
Also, I can empathize with how this all developed. Just reading up on a certain health issue lead to me developing a phobia that I had for decades and am 85% over with at this point. Tinnitus really can be caused by stress. If that's your cause I hope you can find a way to relax and stay calm. It might help?

 

Welcome to the forum. We here understand what you are going through with a new T. The unpredictability of it can scare a new sufferer so much. So the initial emotional suffering is quite normal. If you read the success stories you will find many recovering members were struggling much like you, myself included. So don't panic nor despair. I actually think you have a good chance to improve because you said there are stretches your T is not that noticeable. This a good sign. You obviously have a mild hyperacusis now, hence every normal sound seem too loud. In my case my severe H turned every sound so piercingly hurtful as if my ears got drilled. Gosh! But don't worry too much about your mild H (because you don't have pain from it), as most members including myself report that H tends to fade over time. Mine was gone in a year for good. So be positive. Your good life will be back. Give it some time and be calm and relax. This will help speed up the recovery as stress and anxiety will only make T worse. Perhaps if you have time, check out my success story below. God bless.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...w-i-recovered-from-tinnitus-hyperacusis.3148/

 

I forgot to mention, @Contrast and @Michael Leigh.

When I yawn, the tinnitus seems to go up in pitch and loudness. Is that common?

It's very piercing this morning

 

HI @Aegyo

I first want to say that I do not believe there is such a thing as Reactive Tinnitus. Tinnitus may indeed react to certain sounds but usually this is caused by oversensitivity to the auditory system and more commonly hyperacusis is present as a result of suffering "noise trauma". Reactive Tinnitus was a term made up in tinnitus forums but it is not an actual condition. Some in medical field have latched on to this term and my belief, is to make it a treatable condition using sound therapy purely for monetary gain.

The idea is to treat Reactive Tinnitus first with sound therapy, then treating the hyperacusis using the same method. The best ways to treat oversensitivity to sound is using white noise generators under the care of a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist as part of TRT as counselling may also be required. A lot can be achieved using self help and with time oversensitivity to sound can improve without specialist treatment such as TRT.

The last thing you want to do is to start any form of tinnitus treatment especially TRT. The reason is because you are very new to tinnitus and the best treatment at this stage is to do absolutely nothing. Starting treatment such as TRT at this early stage or any other, could make your symptoms worse as you are not emotionally equipped at the moment. Time is needed for you adapt to the tinnitus. Often people find they naturally habituate to tinnitus within 6 months without treatment and it can also go completely away so give it time.

You are under a lot of stress at the moment and this is quite understandable in the early stages of tinnitus. From the comments in your post, signs indicate that your tinnitus might have been caused by stress. Once your stress levels are under better control you'll probably find the tinnitus will subside and eventually go completely away.

Again, stress is a strong indicator that it's this that brought on your tinnitus or make you more aware of it. Putting your fingers in your ears and listening for the tinnitus was not a good idea. By doing this you allowed your brain and in particular, the limbic system to focus on the tinnitus and not let it go. The Tinnitus sound/noise lives and is generated in the Limbic system. It will take time for your brain not to perceive the tinnitus as a threat. Once this is achieved and your stress levels reduce you'll find the tinnitus will reduce accordingly.

You have said that you don't listen to audio through headphones and don't attend places where loud music is played. I therefore assume "noise trauma" can be ruled out as the cause of your tinnitus.

Have a word with your GP/family doctor and explain about the stress you are under. You may be advised to take an antidepressant and I suggest you take it. This will help lower your anxiety with time. The fluctuating tinnitus that you are experiencing is quite normal in the early stages of tinnitus and is an indication it will settle down. I feel you'll habituate without much problems. Leave at least 6 months preferably longer before starting any treatment such as TRT or CBT. However, if you are having difficulty coping in this early stage counselling with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist can be helpful.

I advise you to avoid quiet rooms and surroundings especially at night by using a sound machine by your bedside. More about sound therapy is explained in the links below to my posts and articles. I suggest you take time and read them and if possible, print them and refer to them often.

Hope you start to feel better soon.
All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-ent-doctor-and-hearing-therapist.24047/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/inspiration.22894/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/a-change-of-lifestyle.20643/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-negative-counselling.26669/

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

 

Yes this is quite common so try not to worry. Give it time and you will start to feel better....

 

this is a common thing.

 

I don't have time to properly reply to you right now, @Michael Leigh, but I wanted to thank you for the extensive reply I'll post a better reply ASAP. Yoga lesson first

Quick question though. Is it because I sleep in a quiet room that my tinnitus is so piercing in the morning?

Does it matter what kind of sound and machine I use at night for sound enrichment? I don't want to do it wrong and make things worse. Also, I co-sleep with my son (and husband). I don't want it to affect their hearing in a bad way.

I still find the reactiveness weird, but I can understand that my hearing is too activated currently. Not sure if it's hyperacusis because the TV and car were fine again today. The stove and kettle set it off though.

I'm trying hard to just let the tinnitus be without freaking out. And when I hear it, stay neutral. But man, it's not easy...

Final question before I have to go: my toddler is going through the scream/no/no/cry stage. Should I be extra careful at the moment?

 

My kids have been screaming at me for a year and half with acoustic trauma tinnitus. We can't hide from life with little kids....they don't understand and you just gotta not worry about it.

 

HI @Aegyo

I am a little disappointed that you are putting your Yoga lesson before me. I was quite chuffed reading your request for my help. My grin has diminished significantly. I am kidding of course and just wanted to try adding a little humour and hopefully lessen the seriousness of what you're going through because we know it isn't easy.

It isn't good for anyone with tinnitus to sleep in a quiet room as it allows the brain to focus more on the tinnitus, and it will make it louder. More is explained in my article in the link: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

Any sound machine will suffice but I recommend sound machines made by "Oasis" Model S-650 is popular. More is explained in my piece in article above about sound machines.

I still find the reactiveness weird, but I can understand that my hearing is too activated currently. Not sure if it's hyperacusis because the TV and car were fine again today. The stove and kettle set it off though.

It will take time for your ears to settle and not be so reactive to sound. Please take your time and read through my articles as all the answers are there regarding sensitivity to sound and the habituation process. It takes time and you are in the very early stages of tinnitus. It is for this reason I recommend talking to your doctor about any stress and anxiety that you have. This is common with tinnitus especially in the early stages and needs to be addressed. There are a number of treatments besides medications that I explain in my articles.

Final question before I have to go: my toddler is going through the scream/no/no/cry stage. Should I be extra careful at the moment?

I don't think you need to take any special care but if you find your toddler's screams too irritating, then try using "noise reducing earplugs" temporary. More about noise reducing earplugs is explained in my article: Tinnitus, A Personal Veiw and my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

I hope your Yoga lesson goes well and this is a good form of relaxation.
All the best
Michael

 

Something else I struggle with is the fear of hearing other sounds. Take last night, I came home from yoga and went upstairs and I thought I heard beeps and went into full blown panic. I was convinced it was in my ear/head.

Turns out the dishwasher was on downstairs.

But I went to sleep still feeling so much panic and anxiety.

This morning as well, I thought I heard beeps and turns out it was the garbage disposal truck backing up further down in the street.

Instead of calming down after realising the mistake, I remain panicky.

How do I handle this? Is it common in the beginning?

Thanks again @Michael Leigh for your replies. I really appreciate it.

 

Everything that you are experiencing is quite normal with tinnitus in the early stages. It is something that the majority of people in this forum have been through and you will get through this in time. Try to keep calm and talk to your doctor as I have mentioned in my previous posts. Without sounding like a CD on repeat. Please print my articles and refer to them often, as they are a form of counselling and will help to reinforce positive thinking.

All the best
Michael

 

I've read your articles, thank you I have also purchased a Sound Oasis device for night time sound enrichment. How soon will I start to notice any benefits from it?

I'm very reluctant to take any medication for anxiety because of how addictive it can be and because I always read that it can make tinnitus worse.

The forum scares me, so I'm very careful what I read and click on. There are so many people on here who say it never gets better and only gets worse, etc. I feel so sad at the moment, that it makes it difficult to imagine I will habituate or that it will fade away.

The tinnitus still fluctuates a lot. Yesterday I had quite a few moments of (near) silence. Today, it's been up and down. About two hours of almost silence today though. Sometimes it just abruptly stops. And then slowly creeps back up again. I also have brief moments (seconds) where it's out of my awareness and then suddenly pops back in again, it's the strangest feeling.

Is that a good sign or just dumb luck? I don't know what to consider as first signs of improvement or habituation.

Also, I have a tooth cavity...can that have anything to do with this? I doubt it, but I'm also terrified of going to the dentist in this state.

 

Everyone is different so a time frame on noticing an improvement cannot be made. Give yourself at least 2 months to get used to the sound machine. Set the volume at a level that you can hear it and also comfortably ignore it. It should play thought the night until morning.

You are not helping yourself by not taking medication if you are stressed and anxious. Contrary to what some people believe, medication to help cope with tinnitus is not addictive when a person is properly monitored by their doctor which is what I suggest. Antidepressant can help a lot in improving a person's quality of life and enable them to cope with the tinnitus. The benefits far outweigh the negatives I assure you.

Michael

 

I'm just incredibly scared that medication will worsen the tinnitus

So sound enrichment will also benefit tinnitus which was stress induced?

Do you think the moments of silence are a good sign?

 

It is fear and anxiety caused by reading negative posts in tinnitus forums, by people that do not understand the benefits of medications for tinnitus. Medication help they do not make tinnitus worse when correctly used.

So sound enrichment will also benefit tinnitus which was stress induced?
Sound enrichment will help the brain not to focus on the tinnitus. Over time the brain will push the tinnitus further into the background making it less noticeable. Medication, relaxation and positive thinking help reduce stress.

Moments of silence are a good sign but try not to focus on this. Get used to using low level sound enrichment at night and during the day. Give it time.

Michael

 

Oh I remember the head buzzing sensations very well @Aegyo! It kinda felt like bees were flying around in my brain.
This settled down eventually. But I do have severe loud tinnitus in noise form rather than that sensation feeling.

Give this time before trying anything like TRT. Soft sound enrichment at night is a good start for you. Use whatever sounds seem to sooth you the most. It is sorta trial and error. Use it just slightly below the level sounds in your brain.

Many say that reactive tinnitus is a made up term. I disagree. Our tinnitus will sometimes react to different sounds. Everyone is different. But it is common among us. At first that "fear" will dictate your responses. Gradually, over time you lose that fear or most of it.

You really should have this cavity fixed asap. Interview different dentists and find one that is willing to understand your situation. Many here have great suggestions dealing with this. A cavity could tweak a nerve in the jaw area which puts pressure on other nerves.

Take care.

 

Tinnitus forums can be scary places especially for those new to the condition. Unfortunately there is a lot of negativity purported and much of it untrue. Sometimes treatment maybe required that can be very helpful. With time, patience and a positive attitude a lot can be achieved, allowing many people to carry on with their lives doing everything that they want to, so try not to worry. My post: The habituation process will hopefully allay some of your concerns in the link below. Please also read my post From darkness into light, which is about a member of this forum that was once in a very dark place.

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/from-darkness-into-light.22234/

 

@Michael Leigh I sent a message to you, and I guess I'd just ask here.

Currently, my T is doing quite well in general. However, two days ago, my voice, the dragging of a chair across the floor, or anything similar causes a reaction in my right ear(the ear that suffers from T). From what I've noticed about myself, my T mostly happens due to a tense neck/shoulder. Currently, I'm facing the same soreness, maybe a little worse than usual this time.

I will say that I've been using Bluetooth earphones for the last few months(volume no more than SIXTY percent), and two days ago as well, I realised that when I was talking on the phone via the earphones' mic, my right ear was kind of reacting to my voice. It also happened when I was playing music, and my ear reacted to certain sounds. I thought the mic may have been the cause.

Now, I've kind of been keeping track of this current issue. And what I noticed is that when I lie down(basically supporting my neck and shoulder), my ear doesn't seem to react(at least not as much) when I talk or hum. I have also used pain relief patches, but I feel like a massage is needed.

Is this reactive T? You said on this thread that don't believe that's a thing. So am I experiencing hyperacusis? This is the first time my own voice is causing a reaction, so I'm not exactly calm about this. You seem to be someone who knows a lot. What do you think is the cause of the ringing right now? And is there anything I might be able to do about it?

 

HI @Hariz Nonis

I read the message that you sent to me in PM. You mentioned that you wanted me to look at a comment you made on a "Hyperacusis thread". I have been unable to find your message and wish that you had sent me a link to it then I would have replied.

Tinnitus can be very complex and the symptoms that you describe in your post could be caused by one or a combination of things which I am unable to determine and advise you on. My advice is to seek medical help at ENT if the problem persists as I feel you will get the best help that you need.

On the matter of Reactive Tinnitus which you have mentioned. I do not believe there is such a condition and therefore my belief is unchanged: This terminology is often used in tinnitus forums and as far as I'm concerned it was made up there.

Tinnitus can and does React to certain sounds. As I have mentioned in my posts above, this is mostly due to oversensitivity to the auditory system and in most cases (not all) hyperacusis is present. Once the hyperacusis is treated, the oversensitivity or the reaction to tinnitus is reduced. Reactive Tinnitus is not a condition in the sense that is can be treated. I believe there are some in the medical field that would like to treat it as such, purely for monetary gain.

My advice to you is to stop using headphones as I believe this is what is causing your problems. For the life of me, I cannot understand why people with tinnitus choose to use these dangerous devices, knowing full well how debilitating tinnitus can be. Anyone that uses them even at low volume is playing with fire. The tinnitus only needs to spike once and it's game over!

I wish you well.
Michael

 

Yeah, I will stop using them for now. I guess it was because I found that headphones didn't really cause any issues. Well, I can only hope it's really ONLY due to my body not feeling good at the moment. Apologies for not linking my post, but what I said here was basically it.

Can the auditory system suddenly get oversensitive, though? Or must there be something that causes it to happen?