Watching TV

Since my tinnitus started I have stopped watching TV completely, mainly because I can barely hear it over my tinnitus unless it's up really loud. I was sooo excited about Stranger Things but I don't think I'll be able to watch it now.

Does anyone have any techniques for watching TV without causing any further damage?

Thank you so much.

 

Hi @Holly1987
Please get a referral to ENT for tests on your auditory system. You may have some hearing loss and need hearing aid/s. You should be able to enjoy watching TV. ENT will hopefully sort you out.

Best of luck
Michael

 

Thanks Michael, appointment is three months away so hopefully it won't get worse in that time.

 

Subtitles?

 

Watching Tv is hard for me as well. If you told me to tell you what i heard while watching the tv, i couldn't even guess..even if my life depended on it.

I do have to turn up the volume. Closed caption is a useful thing, i use it at times...

 

I spoke with a TRT audiologist, and she said our masking sounds should not have words. So, watching TV or listening to music/radio is not good masking because they have words and thus doesn't help with habituation? Can someone pls explain this? I just bought a TV to provide distraction.

 

I think anything which helps provide a distraction from tinnitus is a good idea whether it constitutes "masking" or not, so I really wouldn't worry about what your audiologist said. Most people find that the time they most need "masking" is at night to help with sleep and tv probably isn't ideal for that (though some programmes can be boring enough to fall asleep to of course), better use a sound machine or sound app with a sound you find relaxing.