What Is the Benefit of Sound Enrichment?

So, if I got it right, someone still bothered by their tinnitus won't have the threshold lowered by sound enrichment?

It still bothers me to be honest. I still try to find ways not to hear it during the day and run from it.

 

There is no definite answer to your question Jim because tinnitus is complex.

First and foremost tinnitus is an integral part of our mental and emotional well-being and cannot be separated from it. I mention this a lot in my posts because it's important that a person understands this, otherwise they may find the habituation process difficult.

Life is problematic and we all have problems at one time or another. Starting at the environment in which we live and those we are close to. Moving further afield to the people we associate with at work. All this has an impact on the way we feel, positively or negatively and ultimately affect the way our tinnitus behaves. Some people with intrusive tinnitus also have additional health problems. Depending on the severity, they can affect the way we feel and again, have an impact on the tinnitus. This is the reason medication and counselling if required can help a lot, addressing other issues in one's life and have a positive impact on the tinnitus. Once stress and anxiety are managed life becomes easier and less problematic.

Sound enrichment is a good thing and I encourage its use especially at night. However, it's just one piece of the jigsaw puzzle. It is a culmination of things coming together to help an individual manage their tinnitus successfully to go on and lead a fulfilling life. I believe this is possible for most people living with this condition. It took me 4 years to habituate for the second time. I was unable to read a book for 2 years and thought my life was over. Of course I had my downtimes, many of them, but I soldiered on and eventually became the victor of my circumstances. I am a much stronger person for the experience. I still have my downtimes but when I look back and see how far I've come, I dust myself down knowing the dark clouds will soon lift and tomorrow will be a brighter day.

Michael

 

I understand that Michael, however the slight sharpening of the tinnitus is enough to throw me off. Based on your experience even with daily frustration because of tinnitus is there a chance that the threshold will be lowered with sound enrichment?

I know you are not an ENT but you are experienced.

 

HI Jim,

ENT doctors are physicians and treat the ear, nose and throat. They do not treat tinnitus and most wouldn't know as much about the condition as regulars that visit this forum, because this is not their area of expertise. If your tinnitus was caused by an underlying medical condition within the auditory system, this is where an ENT doctor's skill and expertise is required. Hopefully they would be able to treat it so the tinnitus becomes less severe and more manageable or goes away completely.

When a tinnitus patient is seen at ENT for tests and no underlying medical condition is found to be causing it, they should be referred to Audiology. An example of this is noise induced tinnitus. Here, they will usually see an Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment. Many of these health professionals have tinnitus. They were either born with it or acquired it at some time in their life. One has to have tinnitus in order to understand the condition as it cannot be learnt from a book.

This is the reason I have mentioned stress and anxiety has a direct impact on tinnitus, as some people may need to be referred to an Audiologist for treatment. This can include counselling, medication, sound therapy or hearing aid(s). Some also specialise in CBT and TRT for tinnitus.

It is possible for sound enrichment to help with lowering the tinnitus. I realize the stress and daily frustration you are having with the tinnitus having been through it. Therefore, please have a talk with your doctor and see whether you can be referred to an Audiologist.

Michael

 

Hi, I have a last couple of questions regarding sun enrichment for anyone who can answer them. I'm using this video at low frequency (15%) during night and I wanted to ask if it's a good sound for sound enrichment:

10 Hour Waterfall Best Tinnitus Masking Sound...

Also, is it really white noise? Because someone in those threads told me months ago there is a difference between nature's white noise and static white noise. Thanks

 

It is a good sound for sound enrichment. Set it at a level so it's not drawing attention to itself and can easily be ignored.

Your sound app is not white noise. White noise can be used for sound enrichment. Either as a sound app or through a sound machine. The best way to listen to white noise is through white noise generators. There are two types: Behind the ear, these resemble hearing aids. The other is in-ear, smaller and more discreet and fit in the entrance to the ear canal. They should be used as part of TRT with counselling.

 

Thanks for the response Michael. I was asking about the type of sound that running water is. I think it's categorised as white noise but someone told me it's broadband noise really.