The Line Between “True” Tinnitus and “Regular” Head Noise...

I am writing to talk about what I have been told is “true tinnitus” and also what is “normal noise” as an ENT told me. Clearly, myself and most on this forum have noise in the ears/head to a noticeable level to the point that is burdensome or much more so. If we did not, we might never have chosen to be a part this forum!

As far as I understand from well regarded doctors is that tinnitus is truly “brain based.” That seems to be the current trend in the medical community right now.

I am not a doctor and I respect them, but.. and here comes the but… I find it wrong for ENT’s and other specialists to make such a negative prognosis so quick. Especially when they don’t even run the gambit of tests to at least help determine/narrow down for issues.

For example, Aren’t 90% most tinnitus suffers noise induced/hearing loss related? Normal audiograms only test to 8,000 Hz. But don’t most tinnitus suffers have hearing loss in higher frequencies beyond 8,000Hz?

Why do not test for loss beyond this 8,000 frequency ?

 

Honestly my ENT didn't test me for much except for infection / viral. Then he sent me to audiologist and Neurologist that asked and started to look for root cause like TMJ.

 

I don't think healthy people experience "head noise", not regularly anyway.

 

You should definitely go down the diagnosis path, especially because some causes for T are fixable (not many unfortunately, but some).

I don't know about that. Where did you get that info? What does make sense is that the natural age-related hearing loss starts affecting high frequencies first (presbycusis), so perhaps that's what you mean?

Some audiologists do (you have to ask for an extended audiogram).

 

My ENT said I have a TMJ issue and when I move my jaw forward I hear a white noise sound in my right ear. He also said TMJ doesn't cause tinnitus but just makes an existing tinnitus more noticeable. I'm hoping its fixable and that is in fact the cause. I also may get an electrophysiological hearing assessment which tests for "hidden hearing loss." Anyone have any experience with that?