Hi everyone,
My tinnitus started about a month ago after TMS treatment. Since then, I've noticed some patterns. Some days I think it might be getting better, and other days it feels like my ears are screaming all day. It seems to react to the sounds around me. Things like the car AC, a white noise machine, or even my own voice lately will make it squeal in a really high pitch. The calmer days are usually when I've spent most of my time inside in a quiet room, which honestly makes me feel trapped. I keep asking my wife if the environment we're in is loud, because it feels like everything is too loud now.
I spoke with an audiologist who told me I likely have hyperacusis along with tinnitus. That makes sense because everything feels overly sound sensitive. It's tough to know what the right approach is. I don't want to overprotect, but I also don't want to overexpose and risk making it worse. I've noticed that late at night or early the next morning is usually an indicator of how much I overdid it the day before. If I've been more active or around more sound, the tinnitus squeals all night and into the morning, along with ear fullness and discomfort.
Since it's only been a month, I'm hoping there's still room for improvement. The fact that it changes so much makes it really hard to habituate, and I feel stuck trying to figure out what I can safely do without setting it off. I've read that sound therapy can help with regular tinnitus, but I've also read it can be harmful when sound sensitivity is involved. There doesn't seem to be a clear answer.
Any helpful tips on managing this or working toward habituation would be greatly appreciated. I'm doing my best to stay hopeful, even though it's very easy for me to panic or feel despair, as I'm sure many of you can relate.
Thank you!
My tinnitus started about a month ago after TMS treatment. Since then, I've noticed some patterns. Some days I think it might be getting better, and other days it feels like my ears are screaming all day. It seems to react to the sounds around me. Things like the car AC, a white noise machine, or even my own voice lately will make it squeal in a really high pitch. The calmer days are usually when I've spent most of my time inside in a quiet room, which honestly makes me feel trapped. I keep asking my wife if the environment we're in is loud, because it feels like everything is too loud now.
I spoke with an audiologist who told me I likely have hyperacusis along with tinnitus. That makes sense because everything feels overly sound sensitive. It's tough to know what the right approach is. I don't want to overprotect, but I also don't want to overexpose and risk making it worse. I've noticed that late at night or early the next morning is usually an indicator of how much I overdid it the day before. If I've been more active or around more sound, the tinnitus squeals all night and into the morning, along with ear fullness and discomfort.
Since it's only been a month, I'm hoping there's still room for improvement. The fact that it changes so much makes it really hard to habituate, and I feel stuck trying to figure out what I can safely do without setting it off. I've read that sound therapy can help with regular tinnitus, but I've also read it can be harmful when sound sensitivity is involved. There doesn't seem to be a clear answer.
Any helpful tips on managing this or working toward habituation would be greatly appreciated. I'm doing my best to stay hopeful, even though it's very easy for me to panic or feel despair, as I'm sure many of you can relate.
Thank you!
