Volume or Perception?

Hi!

What do you think: Is Tinnitus getting louder from time to time or is it just our perception why it feels louder sometimes.

Although I have it for about 20 years I'm not sure about that.

TinniTom

 

As someone with intermittent tinnitus, I can say its definitely both.

 

My opinion is tinnitus volume always is about perception. There is no sound generator inside your head, turning the volume up and down. And audiologists talk about how loud patients "perceive" their tinnitus. It's your brain and neurological system reacting the same way it does regarding phantom limb pain, when pain sensations are generated even when no limb exists.

Not that it really matters. When your tinnitus is loud -- whether its loud because you are perceiving it that way or its due to actual volume -- its damn debilitating.
And again, this is my opinion. This has been discussed before and certainly not everyone agrees with me.

 

It's certainly a contentious issue. Always brings out a few opinions.

I can attest to both sides of the argument. I will not notice it whilst I'm concentrating deeply on something and when I do I know that it sounds louder because of the perception.

Equally I can get louder tinnitus that grows (or you could say spikes) because of something - like this week I had a long drive, early start and little sleep. It went right up in volume and it takes a day or two to settle back down again.

As tinnitus is a very personal experience it's often difficult to say anything for sure, things are often different for different people. Actually, as I sit typing mine just changed in pitch and volume, for about 10 seconds before it settled back to the previous level again.

 

mine goes away completely for whole days sometimes. this can't be perception; as it's still new to me rather than enjoy those days I fear its return and constantly check for it.

 

That is the worst thing you can do (I guess you know this though). You shouldn't check for it ever. All you achieve by doing this is to train your brain to look for it. I'm convinced that if I didn't do that myself in the early days I wouldn't be where I am now.

You really need to avoid negative association wherever possible. Train yourself in the opposite, ignoring it (great advice coming from a failure in that department ).

 

I'd say it's both. If it were entirely perception people wouldn't be able to completely mask their tinnitus to the point where they could not hear it even if they are looking for it.

 

It's a compulsion really. To be fair, I've done a LOT better about just enjoying the days off lately. I do use ACRN even if I'm feeling good at work though - I can plug my ears to find the tone and "tune" it. I posted in the positivity thread about this today.

 

My T doesn't fluctuate a lot but it does so every day, mornings slightly lower (but never low) and build through the day. Same thing day in day out. The more noise I encounter through out the day, the louder the T by the evening. It's not my imagination, it's too routine.

 

I am not sure

 

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A very important question!
Maybe a key-question for many sufferers.
Maybe a key-question concerning habituation.