What Is Tinnitus Habituation Really?

I think I can only habituate if the t volume is low...not when it spikes.

 

I've definitely been doing a lot better, but every now and then I'll get thoughts like these that just terrify me. I can't imagine never being able to habituate. But what can you do?

 

Mine started about 6 months ago and although really terrifying at first, and taking over my life, I seemed to habituate within about 6 weeks, although I will say that at the beginning I had some days where I couldn't hear it at all, but once it settled down it was there all the time but but I felt fine about it and hardly gave it a moments' thought. I even remember being on a night out really enjoying myself, about 4 months after it started, and for no apparent reason it was there really loud and made me almost feel like I was going deaf (it doesn't usually affect my hearing), but it still didn't stop me from enjoying myself. It went away again the following day and I was absolutely fine for another 3 months but about 2 weeks ago it came back really badly and I feel like I've started the whole process over again - not being able to sleep, feeling scared and depressed - it is very loud at the moment. I thought I had come through it and am now very disappointed to have gone full circle. Is it usual to have this kind of cycle?

 

For what I know, it is the par of the course. I've had my rollercoaster lately too, good days, bad days and all that jazz. It may take another six months, a year, whatever but we'll get there.

 

Sybs, if it goes away completely now and then, I would think there is a very good chance of getting rid of it for good, if you take the right precautions from noise and the right nutrition and supplements?

 

Hi!

What is habituation for Tinnitus?

1 - "I hear it all the time but I do not emotionally react to it"

2 - "I do not perceive it. It is a background noise to me and I can hear it just if I want.

 

Habituation is the decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations.

In simple terms and in regard to tinnitus you still hear it but you really do not care. It ceases to cause any type of emotional or physical reaction from you.

 

You don't hear it at all man, just like when you are in your home and the AC kicks in. You are just not noticing it. On the other hand, every time you think of T, specially in a bad way, it reinforces your neurons to really pay hard attention to the noise in your head. T is a subjective sound, it is all in your head so the level of intensity that you hear it depends on how is your brain wired. Habituation wires your brain to make it as soft as possible. I believe that it can make it disappear if you do habituation long enough for your neurons to block it through neuroplasticity but that would take months of not noticing it.

 

The way something like TRT describes habituation, if I recall correctly, is that due to a lack of an emotional response to the tinnitus the signal fades to the background and only becomes present when the person actively focuses on it and even then it brings about no emotional response.

I think part of their process is to remove the emotional response, thus it goes from loud to soft, and then you can habituate to it easily.

 

I hate it when every tinnitus websites starts talking about habituation as if it's something that happens easily for everyone in time. If this were true, why are there thousands of people living out there with tinnitus? If it were as easy as getting used to traffic noises when you first move to a busy inner city apartment, don't you think we would have done that by now?! I don't believe that we are too anxious to promote habituation. I think if any human were exposed t0 that high pitched ringing they would be annoyed/angry/frustrated/sad as well. Instead we get blamed for being overly anxious and putting emotional reasoning on the tinnitus sound. Emotion regulation has nothing to do with it. Websites suggest that if you have a "neutral" response to the tinnitus sound, you will spontaneously habituate, but no human could ever have a neural reaction to the sound of tinnitus. It's so hard for people to understand. I was so sad yesterday that my partner cried. He never cries. I'm ruining my life, but dragging him down with me as I go. Have any of you tried Neuromonics before? I have been waiting to start it since October, but the device wont be ready until February. What a joke. If I lived in the US I would have gotten it months ago. Anyway, this is a good website, have a look at it:
Tinnitus Association of Victoria - Habituation

 

I think habituation happens over years of having tinnitus, at the start you don't believe it is possible to get used to the noise, but it slowly loses it's importance over time, you become bored of it and you no longer care what it does, the same noise year after year, you let the sucker ring but you no longer care about it.

I can't wait to habituate to this new increase!

 

@Neenie,

Habituation is mostly another word for "getting used to it" but the closest thing to a scientific habituation approach is Tinnitus Retraining Therapy or TRT, developed by neuroscientist Pawel J. Jastreboff, (Ph.D., Sc.D., M.B.A.) Hes a professor at the Department of Otolaryngology, Emory University School Of Medicine Atlanta, Georgia. TRT is widely known as THE habituation concept or treatment method around. A great deal of people have found it useful to them, I haven't tried myself but I'm registered to start something close to TRT this April. It's based on TRT but not conducted exactly the same way cause its a group thing. Jastreboff's TRT is a 1:1 session concept.

I also agree with you about the weirdness of T habitation cause it can become a sleeping pillow for our government, if they are thinking "oh, the T sufferers will get well by themselves" funds wont come and science won't make progress. We need to focus on solving the medical issues and finding a CURE so that the phantom noises can LEAVE. That's the utmost goal if you ask anyone with severe T. But I welcome TRT and/or any other retraining therapy whilst we don't have a cure. If it works for some then it's worth it.

 

I agree with Per,
I view Tinnitus as a medical issue and want a cure. That's my goal.
Habituation,,,,,,, if I could ever Habituate? ok.

When you get sick, like a cold, you expect to get well. That's the goal. Not go around and think, ok I'm use to this cold now. It seems the medical field doesn't have a pill to take. Doesn't science start off with a model they think fits the disease, TRT. Then maybe a cure is found. If that's the idea.

 

Hi @Neenie.

In the beginning I had trouble believing that we could habituate to this weird condition too. Actually, I did not believe it. In some moments I though my life was over. Habituation was waaaay out off my world. Reading all the horror stories you can find at Internet just boosted that believe 1000x. If you read something enough times you will eventually start to believe it. I read over and over again about people not getting better. I was in hell, and there was no way out!

Well, you know what Neenie? Habituation is very realistic. You say that no humans can have that annoying sound in their head without having a emotional reaction. That is bullshit, and I'm a living proof of that. Off course, I can't prove that I have tinnitus for you, you just have to take my word. I could be an idiot who just like to see other people suffer, but I'm not. I know how hard this can be.

Right now I have the "shhhh" sound in my right ear. White-noise-ish. Its loud, and I can't really mask it. I have one of these days where its loud, and if I put on some music it just gets louder, and I still hear it. But you want to hear something crazy? I really don't give a shit. 100%. There is absolute no emotional reaction from my side what so ever. I promise you. I'm not making this up.

Then you maybe think: "But you have the "shh" sound, I have the "piip" sound. That is much more intense!" Well, yesterday, and the day before. I did not have the "shhh" sound, I had the "piiip" sound too, in both ears. You know what? I did not care about that either.

And that is the point. I don't care if its "piip", Shhh", "oooo", "annoyinganooygingkrrrpippiploudpip" etc. I don't care if its there, I don't care if its not there. I don't wish for it to go away. Actually, today I'm so careless that if there was a cure, I don't know if I would even bother to use energy to go to the doctor and cure it. Because it's not a problem right now. It's just there. Just like my leg are attached to my body. I'm not a tinnitus sufferer. I'm just a guy who happen to have tinnitus.

Actually. I have found that if I have a lot of worries when I go to sleep. Witch we all have sometimes, I have found that focusing on the tinnitus, (when I say focus, I don't mean thinking. I mean, just observe it, without any judging) I found that it's an excellent way to get completely present and then fall asleep. Three months ago I thought I would never have a normal night sleep again because of tinnitus. Now I sometimes use the tinnitus to fall asleep!

Two days ago I had to sleep on a floor, yes, a floor, not in a soft bed. I had to lay with my back against the floor. Witch hurt a little. What did I do? I focused on my tinnitus instead of the pain. Suddenly it was a new day.

I know this sounds insane, and you probably have hard to believe me. I would not believe that if someone said that the first weeks I had tinnitus.

The faster you can accept that you have tinnitus, and that it maybe will stay. The faster you will habituate. It's all about accepting. Stop wishing it to go away. Stop having "what if" fantasies. Stop monitor it. Stop all that. Stop resisting it. Be real. What do you think you use the most energy too? Having tinnitus, or resisting it?

Just let it be. And before you know it, you have successfully ignored you tinnitus two days without even noticing it. But hey, that's the point, isn't it? You just need to get over that "bump", and this will make a lot of sense.

By the way. Alan Watts have some great talks about acceptance, to stop desire and killing the ego. He is a western Buddhist who talks Buddhism in a way we can understand. He is not a doctor, but I'm quite sure he can help more then a average doctor. He is a great man, and you don't need to be a Buddhist to listen to him.

Much love from me!

 

my first month of T was horrible i wanted to die, i thought i would never be able to live another day with this ringing, i was on sleeping pills anxity pills every single day , i cried everyday went into depression i cried in the shower so my children would see me, all though my husband would wonder why i was taking so long and found out i was just sitting in the shower crying untill i could not cry no more, and i thought i would go crazy... i went on temporary disability for 3 months due to me getting sick, i wouldnt eat, sleep was like 4 hours a night, i would not go out ,and my laughter was gone ? ( where did I go )??? then i found this site met people read there stories and said to myself FUCK THIS !! i'm a fighter , i'm not letting this rule my life. I stop taking all the pills, prayed alot and one night i just fell asleep , every night i would sleep with out pills i would sleep for 8 hours or more i also started seeing a sound therapist which help me cope alot , she also has T since she was 9years old. and days would go buy and i started to get my self back, laughter was with me again i laughed and even went to movies( with ear protection) and started seeing friends and life as i knew it had returned... Today going on 5 months i can say T is not ruling my life , i went back to work, go to the gym swim, sing kareoke and live life with my family like i did before this T came into my life I can say I Habitated to the sound... I'm not saying you wount hear it i still do but i just dont care !!!! this T can kiss my a__ lol... Maybe some people get use to it alot faster i dont know but Yes i do get bad days but i dont get STUCK in it like i use too, i know i will be ok and my brain has come to that point where i dont focus on it ... wish you all the best... Mahalo..

 

so happy to her such a success story. Good for you Christine..more power to you.

 

Wow. Thank you everyone. Wow. Honestly, thank you everyone. Your words mean so much to me because I know that you understand. If you guys think that it will get better then I will believe you. I can not believe my doctor, my Mum, my audiologist because I know they do not actually understand. You guys DO understand. I want to end my life and I am angry at the world for making me think that way. I do not in fact want to end my life. I LIKE being alive. I just dislike my tinnitus more than I like my life at the moment. But not tonight. Thank you guys for keeping me alive. Much love to my new friends, Nina

 

Neenie: Please read through my article (Let yourself enjoy and give yourself time to recover! | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum). I had 100% same thoughts with you and I think almost everyone here in TT have had those same negative thoughts with you. You are now prioritizing most of your energy to T noise. As time goes by you will for sure prioritize your energy on other stuff. Just hang in there and let it ring!

Best wishes,
Matti-Pekka

 

Your post always cheer me up! I remember you comforting me on my Initial Shock with T. And you were one of the people who gave me awesome tips! Now here i am, Still with tinnitus but living life like i used to Bless you!!!

xoxo
Anne

 

@Neenie i want you to know that i know a 100% exactly how you feel! I have been there and now the Pain, Anger, thos "Why Me!?", Seeing other people on the street feeling annoyed that out of all of them WHY YOU? Looking at your home that used to be of comfort to you seem like a mockery of your life before your Tinnitus Onset. But i want you to know that YOU WILL GET THROUGH THAT! It may be hard for you to believe that now, but trust me! It will Happen. Before on my 1st to 2nd week everytime i read a success story or Habituation story i used to LITERALLY roll my eyes at them and say "Yeah right, like that's possible" But look at me just only after 3 months :") I'm back to being myself! I live my life, I'm happy again, i can see my bright future, i thank life for giving me a chance, no more anger, no more blaming, no more what if's, and no more punishing myself. And guess what, behind all that i still have T And to be very honest i'm in this point where i barely care Just know that no matter how painful and heart breaking this moments are, it will end. There is always a light at the end of the Tunnel. You are not alone, we are here for you! God Bless you my friend, stay strong!!!!

xoxo
Anne

 

I agree @Per as to it being a potential sleeping pillow.
I find it problematic how t in itself is looked upon as a symptom of something else being wrong when that something else is unknown to the specialists of the area. Nobody knows the cause, yet as the t shows to be the patient's main issue (in many cases), it's just recognized as a symptom of something being wrong.
1/10 people have reported their tinnitus, then there's the rest like my brother who haven't. Those of us who have have mostly been rejected acknowledgement. I myself have a hard time acknowledging something thrown out to be just a sympton. It simply indicates there being a bigger issue than the t.
In schools serious amounts of money are being spent to teach about the dangers of fireworks. Palpable damage, serious damage striking less than the 1/10 (A resulting condition could be tinnitus, but hey, I said serious)
All of this makes me more angry than sad. The lack of awareness on the hearing-field starts in the school and turns into disacknowledgment from doctors/ents/audios, those working to help you.
No wonder you don't get it unless you already got it
To habituate you must be acknowledged, we we understanding what this is, acknowledge you!

 

I have to agree strongly with this quote and part of me cries when I read stories here about kids in their teens and early 20's getting this rubbish. I'm nearly double their age and I feel I'm too young for it

It is rather shocking that schools teach young people about the importance of brushing teeth, not smoking, not drinking, safe sex etc etc but seemingly not a word about the importance of hearing protection and likewise not a word from the medical profession on this subject in the public sphere either, even though noise polution and excessive headphone usage are more evident now than at any point in history

It's almost as if somebody wants us to get it...

 

@Sean

I did go to two TRT sessions. The last one I had I overslept, so I did not go to it. I have not called back yet for a new appointment. Right now I'm fine.

What I did to train myself?

Hmm. That is a good question. I think logic is a powerful tool, combined with mindful meditation it can become very powerful. You realize a lot of stuff when you are using all your energy to just think.
Do you ever get lost in thoughts, about tinnitus and how negative it affects you? Ask yourself. Is it the tinnitus that is the problem, or that you get lost in thougts itself? Tinnitus don't make you suffer. Your thoughts and emotions do!

Give this a try. Everytime you get lost in thoughts about tinnitus. Attack it with logic. Make up a new person inside you who only deals in logic. After some time you will get less emotional about it. Tinnitus will be something that just is, and nothing that is crazy.

Lately I have been reading a lot of Buddhism, and listening to Alan Watts. I feel that Buddhism have a very nice formula to get rid of suffering. To get rid of suffering, you need to strangle desire. What do you desire about tinnitus? To get rid off it, right? Well, that is impossible. It may happen, but most likely it won't. Then you have to stop desire it to go away. You have to accept it. Then you will stop suffering. And ironically enought, most likely forget about it most of the time. Give away the control, and you got the control. It sounds stupid, but if you think about it makes a lot of sense.

 

Hi meeruf, how did you cope with tinnitus when you first got it? I wonder if people who are really phobic and suicidal about it take longer to habituate than people who just find it distressing. Reading all the TRT stuff it says that the volume of the tinnius and the time you've had it have nothing to do with the results; that everyone can habituate. It somehow seems to me that folks with quieter less bothersome t would habituate quicker than those that find it really distressing. Did you just find that it bothered you less and less or did you do specific things such as relaxation etc? I'm so pleased you're coping so well with it and thank you so much for giving people hope. Beth

 

Hey @Per, just curious: What is the TRT-like/group thing you are registered for? Haven't heard of anything like that, in a group setting. Not sure if you are from the U.S., maybe it is in another country?

Me, I am going for Neuromonics, despite the price. Start next week. It also is similar to TRT, but not exactly the same.

And as Meeruf said: Acceptance is everything. It is a principle found not only in Buddhism but cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness training, etc. The reason you are angry, Neenie, is you are objecting. Why me? What can I do to completely make it disappear? It is ruining my life! Once you stop objecting and start accepting, like Meeruf, you'll find you feel much more in control and better. But I agree: It aint easy.

 

@LadyDi,

There's no genuine TRT treatment offered where I'm at as far as I know, although some therapists are trained in TRT they have to conduct and adjust their practice within different environments. The T treatment I'm aiming at is conducted in the public health care system (haven't heard of any private TRT clinics here) so I guess group based concepts are the best way of utilizing recourses. Neuromonics is device based treatment LadyDi, so I don't think that shares too many similarities with TRT in general, unless the clinic you are attending have made local adjustments.

In regards to acceptance I have shared my opinions earlier but again: It's important to make the stakeholders at governmental level know that we are not defining acceptance therapy as a sufficient treatment method alone. We need them to focus on developing a cure, just like we expect them to do with any other condition. When you are choosing Neuromonics you haven't passively accepted your situation but are taking initiative to hopefully get rid of it or reduce it, or else it wouldn't make sense. If acceptance alone was sufficient we wouldn't approach stuff like Neuromonics, sound therapy, surgery, white noise generators or medication - but we do. It's normal to wish for total relief trough treatment and science, that doesn't mean we haven't accepted T. I think we're all painfully aware of the reality of our condition.

It's good to accept and praise those who survives only on acceptance, we also have to accept that there are many different levels of T. Some are stuck with the severity of high volume, others with only moderate T. We all need to find the relief where we can find it but I'm an advocate for scientific commitment on a global political level so that we can finally enjoy a 100% cure in the future - for ALL.

 

@Owch
An acute doctor told me a couple of days after onset, that due to noise exposure it was My Own Fault (while I was crying in my desperation, sleep deprivation and depression that I had prior to it.) Regarding the pain in my ears, I was asked to go home and take some ibuprofen ............ - ............ ....


Real empathy and understanding will only be found in here and T is in any age rubbish ;( And yes, one could walk down a public road just to have a random appearing truck induce t on you. Perhaps it wouldnt be regarded as your own fault, but definitely not the natural landscape's either as we're supposed to adapt to our surrounding. I didn't find myself immortal at all, yet I never imagined nor was told the treshold of my ears. I just assumed (silly me) that our surroundings, cinemas/clubs etc we would expose ourselves to, were obligated to having nonharmful policies, or atleast inform us of the massive dangers.
Condoms are distributed in the nightlife, drinking with moderation is preached, smoking is limited to the outside cause inside it would be dangerous.. I'm not trying to deprive myself of a personal responsibility, I've been educated on alcohol, smoking, sex, in retrospect probably while wearing headphones around my neck.

Well.. that was a relevant sidetrack making me all passionate. I think I'll call the hearing foundation here and ask them if there's any way I can help, that's going to be my quest

 

Hey @Per, thanks for replying. Not that I am any expert: But Neuromonics, done properly, both uses sound therapy administered through devices as well as counseling, similar to TRT. There is concern that some clinics today just hand you the Neuromonics device, the instruction sheet and say good luck. That's not the TRT model. But I sought out a university-based program with a complete counseling protocol.

Also: The original TRT, as pioneered by Jastreboff, used "devices" too -- sound generators, worn behind the ears. You can read about it on his original TRT page, link below. He is in Oregon now, no longer at Emory.
Tinnitus Home Page

I am not saying TRT and Neuromonics are the same... but there are similarities. Also, I believe tinnitus retraining therapy has become a generic catch phrase for all types of programs. And it is getting harder here in the U.S. also to find qualified clinicians who do true TRT. Anyway, I wish you good luck with your program and keep us posted as to how it goes. Sorry if I hijacked the thread here.

As for habituation and acceptance, a topic that you and I have discussed before: Just posted this on another thread. Won't bore you with a repeat here.
Does it really get better? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

Anyway, I appreciate your perspective and thoughtful replies. Too bad we can't have this conversation in person. But least we can have it through TT.