Rocking in the Tinnitus World Intro

Hello all,

Just signed up today and thought I would introduce myself. I'm 49 and I can remember intermittent tinnitus 5 years ago where it would come on for a couple minutes and then go away. At the time I thought it was some type of radio frequency which I could hear.

In 2018 it was very faint and intermittent but frequent, now it is a flat out annoying ring. The frequency of the ring also changed, it first started as high pitch now it is slightly lower albeit still high and certainly louder. Seems to be more of it in the left ear. The volume in the last couple months has become loud.

Have not gone to the Dr because I have internet, and with these fingers quickly learned that there is no cure.

Pretty sure mine is from damage... Army, race cars, loud music, riding motorcycles, flying...I do plan to go to the Dr., just not expecting to find relief.

Now I am much more conscious of loud sounds and find them annoying/irritating. So much so that the road noise from my Jeep Wrangler is bothering me. Could it possibly be making my ringing worse?

Feels good to get this out there and knowing there are others also dealing with this.
I think the sound of crickets outside seems to help mask it.

Thanks for reading,
Kane

 

Welcome to the forum! Lots of us music fans here. It can be especially devastating for us, but don't lose hope, things very likely will get better if you rest your ears and avoid concerts, movies and loud environments for a few months to a year. You should probably wear earplugs when driving your jeep too. Read up about hyperacusis in its Support forum here. Agree doctors can be a waste of time but I've found a sympathetic one who's given me meds to help me sleep and to not get too stressed. Meditation helps me too. And I'm discovering new genres of music to replace some of the more extreme rock that hurts my ears now. Good luck on your journey!

 

If you suspect your tinnitus is noise-induced in some way, definitely protect your ears. Any sounds over 80 dB, I use ear plugs or ear muffs (similar to the kind you use at a shooting range). I work as an Oceanographer and spend a lot of time on research vessels at sea. Trying to sleep with tinnitus next to the roaring engine of a ship sucks. Here is a post that helped me a lot when I first developed tinnitus in July 2019 - https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-i-learned-about-tinnitus-thus-far-if-you-got-tinnitus-recently-this-info-will-be-useful.25741/.

The collective wisdom on this forum is better than any information I got from a doctor. Still ruling out tumors and other major health conditions that can cause tinnitus is probably worth a trip to the doctor. Good Luck!

 

@AquaKane

Welcome to the forum. You seem to have enjoyed quite an active life and there's no reason this shouldn't continue, even though you have tinnitus that has become intrusive. If you are careful and not throw caution to the wind as some people do, with this condition any problems regarding tinnitus should hopefully be kept to a minimum.

You should go to your doctor and be referred to ENT for tests on your auditory system. Please do not think you can't find relief because in the majority of cases with tinnitus, help can be sought and relief found. This may require being referred to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in the treatment and management of tinnitus and hyperacusis.

If you continue to subject your ears to loud sounds then you risk the tinnitus becoming a worse and this can seriously affect your life, so I strongly advise that you think about what you are doing. Please click on the links below and read my articles on tinnitus, that I hope you will find helpful.

I wish you well.
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/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

 

Mister Muso,
Thanks for your thoughts on this. I did try some foam earplugs while in the jeep. I just sealed off the edge of the ear canal, as opposed to rolling them up and deeply inserting them. It made an absolute difference, taking the edge off of the wind noise. Jeeps with the convertible top are extremely loud, the hard top is better, but still loud. Time to look for a different car.
Thanks again.

 

there are some websites out there which show average interior cabin decibel levels in cars. Obviously, tires and roadway surface matters a LOT, but this is a good starting point.

During the summer, I am fine in our car. During the winter, when we drive on snow tires with metal studs in them, I am fine on dirt roads, but the grinding of the metal on highways at ~70 is really obnoxious and I usually wear Dubs 12db filters when I drive.

https://www.auto-decibel-db.com/

Predictably, the "top 10 quiet cars" are all luxury vehicles.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/the-quietest-cars

 

Thanks for you input and the link. This helps keep me positive and proactive. My dad was a merchant marine, working in the engine room, so I'm familiar with how loud it can be. He did have hearing loss, but I don't know if he had any form of T.
Have you tried noise cancelling headphones? I'm wondering if those would be helpful.

 

When I stopped being exposed to all of the (moderate) noises that felt uncomfortable to me, I began to experience fading (albeit very gradual fading).

Check out
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...eone-else-who-has-tinnitus.26850/#post-307822

 

Jeeps tend to be loud. For quieter cars, consider an electric vehicle, or at least one with double laminated windows. Also, no convertible and keep the windows up. Earplugs while driving is reasonable for the time being, especially for longer trips on the highway at higher speeds.

 

N/C headphones can be good for steady, low-frequency noise like an aircraft engine or background chatter. But some types can make sudden impacts sound almost worse, like a door slamming. I wore them to a band practice where there was screeching feedback due to our incompetent sound guy, and I've had musical tones in one ear ever since (3 months ago). I later found that N/C headphones can make that kind of high-frequency sound worse too, and I would have been better using earmuffs.

You'll see a lot of debate on here about whether people whose symptoms were caused by noise trauma should use headphones at all, or whether open backed headphones are safer than closed-back etc. If your acoustic trauma is recent then I would definitely try and avoid using headphones as anything other than hearing protectors for the time being, and only for short periods at that.

 

Michael,
Thanks for the insight and links. A lot of reading to do on this topic... I start on one thread and just wander into other threads. After reading and absorbing information I started to wonder if something else might have caused my ringing tinnitus. I honestly don't know when it started. It just seems to have become annoying early this year. So it might have gradually increased the volume. What makes me think it's noise induced is because I can remember years ago having the ringing turn on for a couple minutes and then go away, while just hanging out in a normal setting. Typing this all out also seems to help.
It's amazing how many different ways people get this tinnitus and/or hyperacusis. My lifestyle before kids was active and loud, now it's toned down. But now when things get loud I'll be wearing protection.
Also paying close attention to my intake of alcohol, caffeine, supplements, and using ear plugs in the Jeep.
Found a decibel app and downloaded it. Interesting to use, discovered that the Jeep at 65mph is in the 72 to 74 range. That is with the soft top and all windows up. The decibel level will go up when near a tractor trailer or crosswinds.
Thanks again.

 

Thank you for your kind comments @AquaKane

Whatever you feel works for you then do so. However, if you would like my advice then please read the following.

I have quoted specific sections of your post that I will comment on.

1) If you have "noise induced tinnitus" with hyperacusis and it has increased there are usually two reasons for this. The first one is you are exposing yourself to overly loud sounds or using headphones - or doing both of these things. Hyperacusis can improve naturally over time without treatment but if it remains untreated it can make tinnitus more problematic.

2) I believe drinking alcohol in moderation and drinking coffee and other drinks with caffeine whenever you require is all that is needed. Paying more attention to these things and monitoring them, often induces stress and reinforces that you have a problem. In short, I do not think it is necessary to monitor food, drink or alcohol beverages unless you had a problem with these substances before the onset of your tinnitus. Please read my post: food, drink and tinnitus: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/food-drink-and-tinnitus.12063/

3) I believe using sound decibel apps is not necessary as it tends to reinforce negative thinking that you have a problem within your auditory system and can cause stress. You're much better without them and directing your thoughts onto other positive things that you like doing. Be careful over overusing hearing protection. They do have place but if your auditory system is hypersensitive to sound the answer isn't to use earplugs it is to seek treatment with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in the treatment and management of tinnitus and hyperacusis. Over using hearing protection or using it to suppress normal every day sounds treats the symptom not the underlying cause. This can result in lowering the loudness thrashold of your auditory system and make it more sensitive to sound. More information is in my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it.

I wish you well
Michael

 

Michael,
Your input is appreciated. I've been doing a lot of reading... My lifestyle and diet has not changed much. If anything my diet has improved since having kids. So I will not stress over those things, try to maintain overall healthy eating habits.
The ear plugs, you're totally right on that. Only going to use them for excessively loud things vacuum, lawn equipment, long trips on the highway while in the Jeep.
Regarding the decibel app, my use of that was to try and gauge how loud some things can be. I used it for a few days to test out my daily environment.
I'm making an appointment today with the VA. I'll create a new post when I get some results.
Thanks again!
Kane

 

Hi @AquaKane - Sorry for the late reply. Actually just wrapped a research cruise on another research vessel.

I can sympathize with your father. Working on research vessels or other ships long-term without adequate hearing protection will definitely lead to tinnitus and hearing loss. Luckily, my hearing is fine with no discernible hearing loss at any frequency so far. Getting tinnitus has definitely caused me to overprotect my hears. If you suspect you may have tinnitus caused by hearing loss, seeing an Audiologist for a hearing test that covers high frequencies would be a good thing to pursue. Tinnitus is a finicky thing. If you a dozen people in the same engine room or bow thruster room on a boat for an extended period of time, you most likely a different outcome with respect to the development of tinnitus and hearing loss for each person.

Usually on research vessels, I would double layer hearing protection using soft foam ear plugs (https://www.amazon.com/3M-1100-Foam-Plugs-200-Pair/dp/B008MVYL7C/) and then earmuffs over top of them (https://www.amazon.com/Fnova-34dB-Highest-Safety-Muffs/dp/B0721P97HT/) when I first developed tinnitus. Like a lot of people when they first develop tinnitus, my stress and anxiety levels went thru the roof and probably a little a hyperacusis early on as well all caused my tinnitus to increase in volume and pitch (whether real or perceived), so any loud external noises from the boat would cause my tinnitus to go bonkers. Over time the hyperacusis went away and I started to get used to my tinnitus, so the tinnitus would remain relatively stable even on the boats. Also, employing double hearing protection once everything calmed down locally magnified my tinnitus and made it more prominent and noticeable which started to annoy me. I eventually dropped the earmuffs and then tried some noise canceling headphones (https://www.amazon.com/Cancelling-Headphones-Bluetooth-Microphone-Comfortable/dp/B019U00D7K/). The noise cancelling headphones have a white noise tone I could use to equalize and compensate for the tinnitus which was stronger in my right ear, so I added to the tinnitus in my left ear. This made things more or less equal in both ears which made tinnitus easier for me to ignore. Over time, though, fluid started to condensate in my ear canals after wearing the headphones for too long and my ear drums started to feel like they were vibrating. Also, noise cancelling headphones do not mix well with seawater, so I abandoned those for use on the boat as well and went back to the ear plugs on their own which seem to be sufficient for me now.

Using the average of the dB readings from two apps that measure noise in my car (2018 Ford Escape SE with windows closed) while driving, I always at 75-80 dB right on the threshold for hearing damage. I use soft foam earplugs when driving most times now, but more loosely fit into the ear canals instead of jammed in.

Agree with @Michael Leigh on the decibel apps and recommended treatment for tinnitus and hyperacusis. I only use decibel apps nowadays when I enter an unknown environment. I will gauge the volume and adapt accordingly, but tend to minimize the amount of hearing protection used and how long I wear it for.

I hope the VA is cooperating with your tinnitus diagnosis and you are starting to get some resolution. I failed a physical after recovering from my injuries following a really bad car accident during my junior of year of college, and could not return to my ROTC program to finish and commission. I have had several friends who served and are out now that suffer from tinnitus, and their experiences with the VA have been mixed. With treatment and self-care, tinnitus faded for some and not for others, but I hope your tinnitus reduces and improves moving forward. Good luck with the treatment process moving forward.

 

Michael,

Thanks for the links. I ended up buying the ear muffs, I already have foam ear plugs which I too often use in the Jeep mostly when on the highway when it's in the 75 dB range. And, just lightly inserted to take the edge off.

I also chose to use the decibel app the same way you are, mostly for new environments. Sometimes I feel something is really loud and then open the app to gauge it better.

I think my tinnitus got louder this last couple weeks, probably due to the stress of dealing with it.
Went to the VA Audiologist, they tested the hearing and I have little loss in the left, which is also the one with the louder tinnitus. Regarding the tinnitus all she could say is basically you 'll have to deal with it, we spoke about the usual suspects blood psi, sodium... Told me about an app that has white noise to help.

Do you think I should see another Audiologist to dig a little deeper?

The other day the dogs were outside and I give a swift clap to get there attention and call them in, bam, a quick spike that changed to a different frequency. Won't be doing that again.
Since this is new to me, I find it helps to write this stuff down. Try to focus on self care, staying healthy and not focusing on the tinnitus.

Thanks again.