BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 03:48 AM

I have had bilateral (both ears) tinnitus since my early twenties. I'm not far off my 68th birthday, so it's been a good long time. The audiologists & ENT specialists all seem to agree on two things: they have little knowledge of what sets it off & there is no permanent 'cure'. I wear a pair of hearing aids which, in addition to boosting a mild to moderate hearing loss, are supposed to provide tinnitus masking...I have found this feature ineffective. As many of you have said, you somehow have to find a way of living with it...dwelling on the fact that one has tinnitus is counter-productive. Quiet times...the minutes before falling asleep, are when it's at it's most intrusive.
       There does appear to be a link between an overdose of Aspirin & the onset of Tinnitus, although a daily intake of 75mg to reduce the risk of a Stroke apparently does not exacerbate existing Tinnitus.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST,Kampervan
Date: 09 Jun 15 - 02:20 AM

Steve is right. I got tinnitus in the 1980's after taking Lariam, an antimalarial drug. Had it ever since and nothing has cured it.

It's worse some days, other times I hardly notice it, but when its there then all you can do is to ignore it and get on with whatever you're doing.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 05:13 PM

You have tinnitus. It will not go away, ever. You have one life. So what are you going to do? Wallow? Fret? Go to a homeopath? Pray? Play distracting music for hours a day? Get divorced? Whinge?

You have tinnitus but there are people near you who in a far more terrible state. You can put tinnitus on the back burner. Phase it out. It can definitely be done. The only alternative is to go mad. Take control!

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 01:28 AM

Ever since this thread started, my tinnitus has been acting up. I followed the advice of BWL (above) and the tinnitus stopped immediately. But as he predicted, it stopped again as soon as I took my fingers outa my nose...

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 06:15 PM

"and I mostly notice it when I read articles or threads about tinnitis."

Grr. Yes, especially when people point out that they mostly notice it when they read articles about tinnitis.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Mr Red
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 07:33 AM

Joe - read the thread on Dog Oil - it might ring a few notes! It has devolved into a placebo subject. I see a relevance with reading tinnitus articles.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 03:15 AM

I think I got it while I was in Basic Training in the U.S. Army, not that I can prove it. I was qualifying with the M16, and the drill sergeant was rushing us along. My earplugs pulled out, and I didn't have time to replace them. So, I've had the ringing ever since. The doctors told me when I had my discharge physical that I had a hearing loss, but I never figured out a way to get compensation for that. I have pretty good hearing in my left ear, but I am "profoundly deaf" in upper and lower frequency ranges in my right ear. The midrange works normally, but I can't distinguish sounds with that ear with out upper and lower frequency hearing. The doctor said hearing aids won't help.

And the tinnitis is tolerable, and I mostly notice it when I read articles or threads about tinnitis. It's getting louder and louder just now.

But I can live with it. I do a lot of group singing, so I have to be sure to position myself where I can hear the other singers with my good ear.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 02:51 AM

Don't rely on pharmacist friends. See a specialist and/or a audiologist. As for soya milk, whilst this is nothing to do with tinnitus, since I started using it instead of milk in most things (porridge, cereals and stuff like that), I must say that my digestive system is much improved. I don't actually avoid milk but I consume much less of it. I'll eat cheese and ice cream with abandon on occasion, and have a splash of milk in my tea, but I'll leave bulk milk drinking for the babes!

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 08:53 PM

I started getting it years ago - the humming in the ears and wobbly balance. I asked a pharmacist friend about it and she said "Middle aged women often get it." When I asked what I could do about it she said I should just learn to live with it.
Shortly after, I came down with a tummy bug and I couldn't face milk or any dairy food for a couple of weeks. No butter, icecream, yoghurt, cream, anything that had milk in it. It made me feel ill. But towards the end of that time I noticed my balance was improving and I had odd clicks in my ears instead of the hum. I'm now totally dairy free (except for Camembert on rare occasions) and the hum only comes back if I have a really bad cold or if I give in to temptation and have some icecream or cream etc. instead of soy milk or some other dairy free alternative.
I used to look after a little old lady who had become profoundly deaf. She wouldn't keep her hearing aids in and eventually managed to lose them. So I changed the milk in her tea to soy milk, even bought her soy icecream for a treat and she started noticing loud noises. Her hearing slowly improved - not perfect but at least you could hold conversations with her.
It might take several weeks and soy milk isn't as nice as real milk but it's worth a try, just to see if it dries up the gunge in the back of your throat and if it will help clear your ears of the hum.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 10:57 AM

Thanks for the information about hearing aids, Steve and Rap.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Stu
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 08:07 AM

I've had tinnitus for around 5 years and have learnt to live with it, even though some days it screams and thrombus. High-frequency hearing loss due to age is partly the reason I have tinnitus.

Current thinking is that tinnitus is not caused by damaged ear hairs but by a rewiring of the auditory nerves and the limbic system caused my some kind of trauma (loud noises, colds etc). This means the brain needs retraining to understand that tinnitus is not a threat and leads to habituation. Remove the threat and the cause becomes far less noticeable.

I don't do anything different except wear attenuating ear plugs in noisy environments. I eat and drink as before, ignore useless herbal remedies and get on with life. I have occasional bad days, but I'm not being stopped by cowin' tinnitus.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST,bbc
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 09:33 PM

I think I started getting tinnitus when I started having high frequency hearing loss. It was kind of like meadow noise. When I'd lost 40% hearing in 1 ear, I got hearing aids. Haven't really noticed the tinnitus since then!

Barbara

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 07:30 PM

Like the precense of the Holy Spirit.....

I am usually, not aware, unless I draw near.

Just reading the word .... was enough to raise awareness.
I am sure it is always in the background.
I guess a lot depends upon what we want to focus on.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

My father experienced it also, and environment of loud noise, factory, music, etc might create it but,   ASPRIN - accelerates it.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 04:32 PM

I've had tinnitus 24-7 for 25 years. Mostly, it's a very high-pitched noise in one ear, but on occasion I can have another, much lower-pitched, noise in addition. Three years ago I became convinced that the tinnitus was interfering with my hearing. I went to see an audiologist - and came out of the consultation wearing hearing aids. I've never looked back. I hadn't realised that I had been suffering from high-frequency hearing loss. The hearing aids not only go a long way towards putting that right, but they also reduce the tinnitus noise by about two-thirds (subjective I know).

Go to see an audiologist. You may be able to get the tinnitus under some control, though you will always have it. On that score, I can tell you a thing or two. You do not need funny replacement noises or homeopathic rubbish or tinnitus support groups, or any other wacky remedies. First, see an audiologist to find out what's up and what can be done to help. Second, you have one life only, and that life will be lived with your tinnitus. Once you've reconciled yourself to that, it's easy. You can put the tinnitus on the back burner. You are in charge. There is no alternative except to go mad! Your tinnitus might be worse than mine, but I doubt it. Take the bull by the horns and take control! It's called "tuning it out", and you can do it if you try.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 03:58 PM

I have a hearing aid in each ear that helps with the tinnitus and hearing loss.

It works for me, but it ain't cheap.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 03:00 PM

your cilia don't necessarilly break off at the base, I have seen drawings by those who have observed these things that show split and fractured cilia. They were shown as curve cantelevers - or narrow cones if you prefer, they are stronger near the base. It is easy to sea why aural acuity is compromised. Another reason higher frequencies suffer more, the hairs are smaller & thinner, acoustic energy actually tails off pretty much with frequency, certainly above the top notes. A good analogy is infra-sound, at 5.3 Hz body damage can be induced by organ resonances and rupture causing internal bleeding at high enough volume. At high frequencies the dimensions affected are much smaller. My tinnitus is not that troublesome but the spectrum peaks above normal music notes.

As a teenager my mother would hear a noise and say "What's that" to my incredulity, I knew where, why and what. Now I am older than she was then, I have difficulty identifying where a sound might be emanating from. It comes to all older people in some degree.

White noise can be made electronically by the movement of electrons. They all move relatively smoothly but there is a Gausian spread of dynamic variation, moreso in semi-conductors as the electrons hop from lattice node to node. And the variations run the spectrum.

The brain sees electronic noise and most forms of tinnitus as the same. Who knows how the brain works? Nobody yet.

FWIW if I listen to the radio (usually documentaries or comedy) with earphones I don't notice the pink noise, listening via loudspeakers I can notice. Having said that I listen with "cans" more when walking outside but I am obviously concentrating on the programme.

Your B Flat is maybe one hair rubbing another and dominating.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 02:46 PM

"Wesley S - did the lack of coffee help? "

Nope. So I have a little now and then. My coffee consumption usually tapers off a little in the summer months anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 11:53 AM

It's too easy to become OCD about 'our' tinnitus
which just exacerbates the problem and distress...

Back in my 20s I used to get seriously upset and fearful...
but now like I said earlier, I've just got so used to it
I can ignore it most of the time...

As I type this, the surrounding ambient room noise of computer fans
is most soothing...

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 11:37 AM

I have read that the cilia, which is a fiber and can move, is loosely attached to nerve cells which are like a socket. When hearing is damaged, the cilia breaks off and is lost forever. This is especially likely to happen with cilia that respond to high-pitched sounds, because high-pitches carry more energy.   The socket remains and can send signals when stimulated (or irritated).

The high-pitched, white-noise, tinnitus I hear seems to be the brain's attempt to make a sound message from the electrical impulses coming from my exposed 'sockets.' I hear it right now, but nothing in my environment is making a high noise. Where else could it be coming from?

I'm sure that most of my broken cilia were caused by feedback from loudspeakers. I now carry hearing protection wherever I go, and I used it frequently. In fact, I just had to use it to watch a fine movie (Seymour) about a classical pianist.

Sometimes my ear produces a long, rather sweet musical note by itself. It's a high B-flat. Fortunately, that doesn't last long.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 10:53 AM

Temporary relief from tinnitus can be obtained by placing two fingers on the upper lip area, one under each nostril, and pressing/massaging fairly hard. As it was explained to me, the pressure excites a nerve whose impulses the brain gives "higher priority" than those coming from the auditory nerve, thus blocking the noise. Unfortunately, the relief usually only lasts as long as you're willing to massage your upper lip.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 08:42 AM

Wesley S - did the lack of coffee help? Giving up coffee, cold turkey, is not a good idea either. I drink instant, normal for breakfast and de-coffeenated the rest of the day. I don't drink "bean" coffee, even so episodes of days without caffein produced headaches, hence the above regime. A recent day without the caffein first indicated the body still reacts. "Caffein withdrawal symptoms" is a well documentd syndrome - principally headaches. And asprin would appear to nullify the tinnitus improvements!

In the same way, our brains may create sounds which are not actually there, and we call that tinnitus. sorry, tinnitus is not in the brain, it is very much in the cochlea. The little hairs that sense vibration are immersed in fluid. The viscosity thereof can be controlled by the brain (or the autonomous nervous system maybe) as a response to volume. This viscosity response is exponential (asymptotic) with a time constant (think delay) of about 0.5 second. All of which means that loud bangs, particularly high frequency, (guitar licks) occur and subside before the ear is properly protected. That is when damage to the hairs can occur. If they fall over you become a little more deaf to that frequency, but if the fallen hair is touching another - you get tinnitus.
I have heard it summed up re loud concerts (eg) with "If your ears feel different for 5 minutes damage has occured, if you feel it the next day - permanent damage has occured". Sorry Leania - those nerve endings and obviously not dead, or you would not hear anything! The hairs are not as they should be.

Rivermusic - the "sounds" are not an exact science, and also no pain no gain. Give the brain time to habituate. If you can get the noise file and mix it with low level music - it might help. I would give it a go, if my tinnitus was bad enough.

Joe F - if you can stretch to the digital variety - go for it. They used to come in at (say) 1000 cups of coffee kinda cost. And for that your hearing would only be boosted where it is not good enough to distinguish things. Raising the total volume to get the higher frequencies means the low end is also boosted and your hearing might sound like it was over-loading at times. Cheap is cheap for a reason.

Tinnitus is not deafness - per se. It is a hearing problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 08:05 AM

I have started to notice it recently , although thus far it is not too much of a problem/distraction/nuisance. I suppose it was only to be expected, as I spent a lot of time in the Navy close to jet engines (without wearing ear-defenders ) and watching 4.5 inch live anti-aircraft firings from the funnel-deck of HMS Eagle ,and firing THOUSANDS of rounds of .303 rifle ammunition over a period of 11 years , again without ear protectors. Oh well, never mind ; must go now, I think there's someone at the front door !!

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 07:34 AM

One of the first things I tried was giving up my usual two to three cup a day coffee routine.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: maeve
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 06:46 AM

Caffeine can also create a similar sensation.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 11:27 PM

Here's the URL for an optical illusion.
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/games/illusions/illusion_15.htm

If we look at the white spaces between the black pieces, we seem to see the word 'LIFT.' But the letters are only partly there; our brains complete them visually.

In the same way, our brains may create sounds which are not actually there, and we call that tinnitus.

On the other hand, taking a lot of aspirin can cause the ears to ring, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 11:20 PM

I know that my hearing has been damaged by loud, high noises - usually feedback.

I went to a talk on tinnitus and deafness by a place that sells hearing aids. The most interesting thing I heard is that the sound of tinnitus may be the brain's attempt to recreate the sound messages which should be coming from nerve endings which have been killed.

That makes sense to me, and it helps to know there is a reason for the 'noise.'

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 09:04 PM

For me, the concept of adding more noise to what is already there is totally insane. I value silence.

An audiologist once told me that anyone who found a cure would win the Nobel Prize! However, the idea of homeopathic is worth a try; a retired homeopathic physician helped me get loose of a 24/7 cough last year. I shall consult him. He tells me that homeopathy "deals with symptoms" and this certainly is a symptom - of something!.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Rivermusic
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 07:37 PM

I have started using a hearing aid shaped digital device that generates white noise to help deal with tinnitus. But I'm told that I will have to use it for at least 6 hours a day for many months until my brain learns to ignore the noise it makes, and thence hopefully the tinnitus also. Up to now it has just added to the noise in my head whilst at the same time often feeling increasingly uncomfortable the longer I wear it.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 06:27 PM

Having got throurgh my own rattle on dad's habits. He's a long time suffer of probably (last dr didn't seem to agree here) of Menniers. Whatever it is, it seems to have run in the family (though I for one don't have it) . He is stone deaf in one ear

The nhs seem good round her on hearing, having a drop in centre that will both help (as far as can see) with breakages and (With these digital things) "re tuning". Not easy to persuade my father to take advantage of that though.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Joe_F
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 06:04 PM

An audiologist told me that it would probably go away if I ever started using a hearing aid. However, according to the doctors I don't need a hearing aid yet. I am having a session soon to see if one would do me any good. Stay tuned.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Mr Red
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 05:44 PM

I read a pamphlet in 1996 ish about tinnitus that listed some foods that improved the condition, as reported by a sufficiently significant number of the membership of the "Tinnitus Society" (can't remember their official title.)

The only one I remember was Strawberries. It sort of stuck in my mind, no surprises there.
I also read of tapes (it was 1996 ish) of sounds that improved the feeling, sort of musical pink noise I suspect. Though the nature of the tinnitus would dictate if and what worked. I would surmise it worked by habituation and fooling the brain. Temporary relief for a day(s) maybe.

Most tinnitus is high frequency pink/white noise where the hairs in the cochlea have been damaged through disease/common cold and exposure to high volumes, sometimes both. Though I have heard tell of experiences that are more like a slow idling diesel engine.

Take heart, Paul Burgess, he of many notable bands like the Old Swan Band, had an ear infection and carried on playing, he now wears a hearing aid as a result, and is playing better than ever. Mind you when I spoke to him about it a good few years ago he was enthusing about a special type of hearing aid that split the spectrum and amplified it according to his needs. He soon had one.

Another couple of friends have hearing aids and gig happily - Christina is a superb interpreter of all genres, even doing a responsible day job. Hearing problems from when quite young apparently.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 05:28 PM

My father has his own way of inflicting ear ache on us.

"La ci darem la mana" is actually one of bit of opera I enjoy. But just that line alone repeated in a hum or whistle thousands of times over like the needle of a record player got stuck gets a bit much. It can be a different song but always one short passage repeated.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Wesley S
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 02:37 PM

The one benefit I've noticed is that I have a doctors excuse if I don't hear what my wife is saying.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: mg
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 12:46 PM

Ihave read that some people get help from those homeopathic remedies...

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: maeve
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 11:27 AM

Wesley- Yes. Hate it. Listening to or playing/singing music helps me. For some, it is simply debris that can be flushed out.

Subject: RE: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 11:23 AM

Had it most my life and have got so used to it
I rarely notice it anymore,
unless feeling unwell or stressed...

I suppose it helps that I spend most of my waking hours
surrounded by noisy computer fans that mask the problematic frequencies,
or distracting TV and music.

A bigger problem for me is congestion and pressure in my sinuses
which cause significant fluctuations in hearing 'loss'

During the course of a day i can go from full clear hearing
to dull and muffled 'under water'...
and back again...
Completely unpredictable.

Subject: BS: Dealing with Tinnitus?
From: Wesley S
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 11:12 AM

My tinnitus has been getting worse over the past year and I finally saw a doctor about it. He suggested lipoflavonoids - but even he didn't think they would do any good. We'll see. If it gets really bad there are electronic devices that will mask the sound somewhat. But otherwise we just have to deal with it.

At least the ringing in my ears is a major chord. The key of E. I'm glad it isn't a minor chord. That would be too depressing.

So how about the rest of you?