Do you or anyone you know suffer from tinnitus?

[AARPTeri]

Do you or anyone you know suffer from tinnitus?  What is your experience, discuss with others here!

[MarkS499289]

I've had tinnitus for a couple years now. I find that Lipo flavonoid has helped lower the sound to a point that makes it tolerable. It took me a few weeks of taking L/F to notice the change. In addition the best method to lower the sound for me was to purchase a white noise machine with 12 different sound buttons to experiment with. The one I play at night with earbuds is "Rain Forest". You can adjust the sound up or down as needed. My machine is labeled with the Sharper Image logo. Anyway if I turn the volume up to equalize or slightly surpass the tinnitus noise it helps me sleep. In addition it provides relief during my awake hours without using any noise maker. It somewhat trains the brain to ignore or just accept the noise. 

Good Luck!

[janetw128]

I have had it for over a year. I believe it started after an ear infection when my ear was flushed about 15 times to removed wax. I had them stop because I was getting dizzy. Some days are good, and others are bad. Group on facebook... https://www.facebook.com/groups/Tinnitussupportgroup/

[AnnD4608]

A doctor I had seen--maybe an ENT; it has been a while--had his nurse or tech to start that ear-flushing thing on me for ear wax removal, but I soon stopped her because it was painful.  I believe that method of ear wax removal is damaging, whereas careful, skillful use of the long ear wax removal tool does not cause pain.  

[aruzinsky]

I have had tinnitus for 35 years.  Its predominant frequency is 10 kHz..    Initially, I wasted a lot of money looking for a cure.  Now, I couldn't care less.  My only advice to you is to stop being desperate for a cure because you will eventually get used to it.  Too many people take advantage of needlessly desperate people.

[70sClassic]

Some days I feel like I’m getting used to it but not today 

[StanB559723]

To the person who posted a "Crybaby Button" -- that might have sounded (!) insensitive, but that advice is essentially what my audiologist told me. He said I should do my very best to ignore it, because it's in my brain not my ears, and dwelling on it may make it grow louder or at least seem louder.

My audiologist also said it's essentially my brain trying to hear something because there's not enough aural stimulation. (I live on a quiet street in the country.) He suggested some kind of background noise, like music. I can't say that has helped, but it hasn't hurt either.

My tinnitus sounds like a fairly loud mosquito whine, and it's pretty constant. I've found that I don't hear it when I'm around a river with raipds, such as the Youghiogheny in Ohiopyle, PA. A white-noise machine, turned up fairly loud, helps a bit also, and it's a lot closer. 🙂 I also sing with a local chorus. I hear the tinnitus when we're taking notes from the director, but during the actual singing I don't. Maybe it's just that my attention is diverted from it, but it's a welcome relief regardless.

As you probably know, there's no cure known at this point. I figure in a few years I'll go back and ask again, because medical science is finding new cures all the time.

[70sClassic]

Yes the audiologist (s) have told me this& other things but they don’t know 

I’m going to take a walk right now but the down side is if it’s cold or the least bit breezy it gets worse. 
knowing it’s my brain not my ears doesn’t turn down the volume for me but I keep pushing thru. Good luck to ya

[b296424b]

Sadly, there is no cure until they figure out how to fix nerves....

[b296424b]

I've had terrible tinnitus since 1995.  It's constant, so I use backround noise, like a radio, to cover it.  I had brain cancer in 1995 and the radition therapy that followed the surgery damaged my aural nerves.  This made me almost deaf, but I sure can hear that high pitched whine.  Beats the heck out of dying of brain cancer!

[70sClassic]

That’s a courageous thing to say. Congratulations and good health to you. 

[b296424b]

 Good morning!  I have severe tinnitus, too...I've had it since 1995.  I had brain cancer and the radiation therapy afterwards damaged my aural nerves...rending me almost deaf and with severe tinnitus.  It sucks, but I'm grateful to be alive.

[70sClassic]

🍀

[maryannd111037]

I lost hearing in one ear after a root canal. Now I have very loud tinnitus in that ear. 

[maryannd111037]

I also lost hearing in one ear after a root canal, and now have loud tinnitus. They said it wasn't the root canal but I know different. Ill never get another root canal, just pull the tooth. They tell you a hearing aid will help but it doesnt. They just want you to buy the hearing aid. With all the technology today they cant do anything about tinnitus.?? I feel like im going crazy.

[70sClassic]

finally a reply I can relate too. Not the root canal thing tho. I had a bad cold one winter & lost hearing  on one side. Then went to hearing loss & tinnitus

I’ve wondered from day one how or if I can live with this. 

[CarryAnne]

Gosh, yes. Root canals can have disasterous consquences for some people. Almost caused my jaw to fall off. Cost me $11k in dental expenses in one year. Root canals started the health declines of my dad and his cousin that led to painful premature deaths. Obviously, serious adverse reactions from bone deterioration to death don't happen to everyone, but several dental associations have admitted that these are consequences of dental standard of care using toxic materials and look for more non-toxic dental remedies. Consult with one of these dentists, @maryannd111037

• International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology
• International Academy of Biological Medicine & Dentistry  
• Holistic Dental Association

Also read: Uninformed Consent: The Hidden Dangers of Dental Care

[linrat]

I do. And hearing aids are out of sight.

[70sClassic]

You posted yr ago but u can get affordable hearing aids now. They don’t help me. Good luck to ya. 

[RebeccaB908047]

Yes I do. It’s very bad in my right ear but both ring constantly. 

[mc35164978]

   I have tennitus BIG time. I hear a variety of sounds, ranging from chirping birds, ringing, the sound of rain or running water, a pulsating noise like a heartbeat and others. They vary. Sometimes I hear 2 at a time. Tests performed by an otologist revealed slight hearing loss at high and low decibels, and a VNG balance test was negative for inner-ear problems. The upshot was that the problem is caused by migraine (which I've had for years, but headaches were replaced by ocular migraine that causes vertigo and double vision, with tinnitus a component of the disorder. Hence the referral to the otologist).

       I was referred to a neurologist. I told him about my tinnitus symptoms, which also include the sound of people talking, as though a radio had been left on, and music that sounds like a men's chorus. He said that THAT particular symptom is rare, but officially recognized by the American Academy of Neurology (or another professional neurological organiztion) as a form of epilepsy, called "auditory hallucinations" - NOT to be confused with a psychiatric disorder of the same name. In this context, it refers only to migraine-related symptoms, including tinnitus!

     Possibility for diagnosis of epilepsy as a component of  tinnitus is strengthened by the presence of epileptic-like symptoms reported in conjunction with migraine - e.g., the need to sleep following an attack, the presence of a prodrome, etc.

    I was given a seizure medication that's used widely off-label for migraine. I couldn't tolerate it so it was replaced with a medication prescribed ONLY for seizures, to see if it would help the migraines and thus, treat the tinnitus. I can't tolerate that either, so now I'm on Enzyme Co-Q 10 300 mg a day. A trial period is usually 3 months, so we'll see. In the meantime, I have to put up with the sound of locust swarms and "choral concerts."

   The purpose of my post is to urge anyone with the rarer symptoms of tinnitus (the talking and the music) to discuss them with a neurologist. Unfortunately, there's not much literature on the subject of epilepsy being concomitant with tinnnitus, or whether migraine factors into it. A sleep-deprivation EEG and an enhanced MRI can help find brain abnormalities that could lead to a diagnosis. However, I don't think "musical epilepsy" is detectable on imaging studies since it's a component of tinnitus.

[RobinM47065]

I've got those same symptoms and thought I was crazy until I read your post. Thank you. I've been too embarrassed to mention it.

[Devinish]

I have audio hallcinations. Music, talking, mine is usually Big Band music. I also have slamming noises and people speaking or yelling directly next to me, as well as caling my name as I fall asleep. Its during the sleep phase that is used for hypnosis.  I have had all of this for decades. I have a rare neurological disorder called Ideopathic Hypersomnia, a sleep disorder that loves to throw everything but the kitchen sink into the game. I also have chronic migraine disease, seems to run in my family.  I only developed Tinnitus a couple of years ago as a side effect of Bupropion, aka Wellbutrin SR. This, like the seizure medications, and the Narcolepsy meds, is often used for off label treatment of various conditions, including neuro pain. Stopping the Buprophion did not stop the Tinnitus, unfortunately. I am at the point where I need to have my hearing checked, but I wonder if it is actually my hearing that is going, or just that the noise in my brain, not my ears, is simply too loud to let me hear past it.

I would like to say though, that I'm not only offended, but deeply Annoyed that a few posters have minimalized this and told people to just suck it up. (not referring to the post I'm replying to). Lucky for you, the noise isn't as loud as it is for many of us, at least not yet. Don't judge others by what is happening to you. You do not know their pain. A little kindness and empathy goes a long way, especially when the Medical field tells you that they really do not know what to do.   

[b296424b]

Oh, yes.  I've had severe tinnitus since 1995.  I had brain cancer and the radiation therapy afterwards damaged my aural nerves.  I use blocking noise, like a radio.

[RamonaH50827]

My good friend suffers from the same as you. She hears Christmas music non stop. It is terrible!! Been to a neurologist and they haven't helped her. I just read an article in the AATSP magazine about a new therapy called: Night Time Sound therapy. Trying to get more info, but can't seem to find it here!!

[jf460]

Yes - that's what the Doctor says it is.  H hear ringing in my ears all of the time and have for several years.  It is bad all of the time, so much so that I do not hear as well as I have in the past (or cannot decipher sounds as well)  I always, ALWAYS, hear the ringing.

[rosalindr23255]

My Grandmother had tinnitus, but it was mostly nosie in her ears or head.  I've been getting music, only music, like a band playing the same tune over and over.  It's isn't bad, but it is annoying.  I never connected it with epilepsy. I don't know much about epilepsy, but I thought that was related more to mobility issues, not hearing. 

I have hearing aids that work well for understanding speech. I don't wear them regularly, but I still "hear" that repetitious music playing in the background.  My Grandmother wasn't able to wear hearing aids because they magnified the noises she heard from the tinnitis. 

[pweufp]

I was recently diagnosed with tinnitus and hearing loss.  There doesn't seem to be enough support groups for tinnitus.  

[AnnD4608]

I see you posted your comment about support groups back in 2016.  Maybe there were fewer posters to this site then, but now, in February of 2021, I would say this AARP forum is a support group!  I have seen much support and some interesting ideas about tinnitus here.

[Anitasmolik]

I used to belong to a Meniere's Disease forum, where you can discuss tinnitus and possible solutions, but haven't gone on it in a long time, so I don't know if it is still around.

[70sClassic]

I did try to find zoom or online support group but found none