What Are the Phases of Spikes?

How does a spike usually evolve? I mean, from the loud noise exposure or the onset of spike, to the settling down, how does things usually evolve for you?

 

Hi @Matt9

You might find the post below helpful.

Are spikes from loud noise permanent?

Someone recently asked me, whether a spike in tinnitus caused by loud noise would be permanent? I don’t think there is a definitive answer, because tinnitus is a complex condition and if hyperacusis is also present it can complicate matters further. Some people habituate to tinnitus but their hyperacusis hasn’t fully cured and this can cause tinnitus to spike.

When a person first develops tinnitus and it was caused by loud noise they have to be careful in future. Tinnitus can and does spike for many people and this is not necessarily caused by loud noise or sounds. After a while it usually returns to baseline or into its normal rhythm. Danger can present itself after a person habituates and the tinnitus has reduced to mild or moderate levels for most of the time. If one isn’t careful, it can be easy to forget and slip back into the old lifestyle of: listening to music through headphones. Attending clubs, concerts and the cinema where sound levels can be quite high.

I believe a person with tinnitus should attend clubs, concerts and the cinema if they want to, providing they use noise-reducing earplugs to protect themselves. However, one should remember that nothing is one hundred percent safe. My advice is to stay clear of large standing floor speakers and if you’re at a concert don’t go to near the front stage where the music is likely to be booming out at high sound levels.

In many instances people will get a warning when visiting these places. If the decibel levels are too high their tinnitus might spike. Usually the tinnitus will return to baseline. However, some people do not pay attention to these warnings and continue to subject their ears to loud sounds and think they are perfectly safe because they are wearing earplugs. Under these circumstances the tinnitus might spike again and this time it might become permanent. I am saying might because nothing is for certain. In my opinion a person with tinnitus needs to follow the warnings their auditory system and tinnitus is telling them.

Regarding headphones. Many people have contacted me after they have habituated to tinnitus and returned to using headphones and listened to music through them at low volume. All of them have noticed an increase in their tinnitus. Some of them noticed their tinnitus spiked but carried on listening to music through headphones and then the tinnitus increased to a higher and more permanent level. It must be said that some people with tinnitus use headphones and have no adverse effects and that is perfectly fine. My opinion on this is, anyone that has tinnitus shouldn’t listen to any type of audio through headphones even at low level.

It saddens to say, if a person doesn’t heed the warning signs their auditory system and tinnitus is telling them, then they will eventually feel because tinnitus is very unforgiving. It is fine when some people are telling others what they want to hear: "listen to music through headphones because life is for living". “Go to the club as often as possible you’re safe with earplugs. If your tinnitus increases you will be the one that will be in the suffering.

I have read many posts a Tinnitus Talk, where people had habituated and the tinnitus is low. They returned to listening to music through headphones and clubbing during the week and weekends. Some are now regretting this because their tinnitus has increased and they are in distress. Just because a person habituates doesn't mean they can forget everything and carry on in some instances recklessly. You can of course do this but my advice is to do things in moderation and not to excess, because the end result is often returning to ENT for help and visiting tinnitus forums because you are unable to cope.

Michael

 

For me it seems like a spike comes out of the blue lasts from days to weeks. After a few days, I start thinking the worst and that it's permanent. That's a bad feeling but then I wake up one morning and it's lower. It remains a mystery to me.

 

Same here Michael, got a spike from 10 hours exposure to loud music while working (earplugs were forbidden for me). It's been a week and I start to panic and thinking this time it will never settle down

 

I am stupid, stupid person who deserves more Severe H and T. I had spikes which would last 4 days from going to a restaurant without earplugs for 10 minutes, walking on a busy street, being at a library without earplugs (fire alarm), doing the stupid caloric test, getting a haircut and lady using electric eazor and hair dyer. The spikes went from 3 days to 5 days to a week to two weeks. Those were warning signs. I have H in both ears and higher Tinnitus which now i can hear over sound machine. I had Mild T initially but i couldn't leave it alone. I also damaged my hearing further.

 

To be honest, all that you have done doesn't sounds so bad, I mean, based on my past experiences I think your spike will subside. Also, keep in mind that anxiety can make you hear your T much more. I don't know how loud caloric test and fire alarm were but the other things sound pretty harmless

 

The caloric test was pretty much water being put into the ear (irrigated), hitting the eardrum and coming back out.
I do have some mild hearing loss now (not the case when i first got audiogram early in January).

 

Moderate hearing loss or muffled ear?

 

mild hearing loss and ear muffled on L ear from doing all that stuff,
i wish i left it alone i was doing so good

 

Did you make an audiogram?

 

October 2017-Normal
January 11-normal
Feb 6-mild hearing loss

 

Either it will settle down or you will habituate again, hearing loss can be difficult to manage at first but eventually you'll get used to it, don't worry!
Also H can recover pretty well

 

Dude its crazy
January 11-normal hearing
Jan 15-caloric test
Jan 17-massive spike from fire alarm
Jan 20-three helicopters by house
Jan 22-walked next to a busy street
Jan 24-ambulance passed right next to me
Feb 5-got a haircut, lady used blow dryer, and electric shaver
Feb 4-car engine started, was right next to it, it was loud
Feb 6-mild hearing loss


Do you see how it all adds up, CRAZYYY

 

@Matt9 how are you doing?

 

Why would earplugs be forbidden?

 

@Ambassador can a hair dryer or electric shaver (haircut) cause further damage?

 

I couldn't wear it because costumers were talking to me and I wasn't able to understand them with earplugs on.

 

Well spikes still there but during the day it doesn't bother me that much.
Sleeping well is quite hard tho.

 

I am not saying you should still do that job.
But if you get some decent premolds you can still HEAR everything perfectly, just not that loud.

 

Man I'm too scared atm to even think coming back in that noisy enviroment

 

I used to have Tinnitus 3/10 now its 7-8/10 every day. It gets really bad in the afternoons/evenings.

 

As other members said spikes can last quite a lot, guess we'll just have to wait and see. Just for asking, what kind of sound do you hear?

 

high pitched dentist drill
did your spike go down?

 

Not yet, guess it will take some more weeks. Anyway, it doesn't bother me that much during day, only at night it doesn't makes me relax as I would. Considering start taking melathonin to sleep better.

 

Hi! What are premolds? I think need them. Thank you!

 

I think premolds are a kind of earplugs designed to fit ear canal

 

I wish we get better. It so hard to live with T knowing that one stupid thing can cause you lifetime of problems.

 

Hi @dpdx.
How are you doing now?

 

The same as I was in February.

 

You mean that 4 days spike persisted as is for 5 months?!

Me, I wish if I was the same as February, but anyways, all my love and support to you my friend.