I have just signed on after having listened to the piece on Radio 5 this evening... very informative. They played examples of what other sufferers can hear and I was surprised to hear that most of them were quite low pitched, white-noise type sounds -or was that just because it was such a small sample?
My tinnitus is a constant, really really high pitched screeching noise that seems to be right in the centre of my head (it doesn't 'feel' like it's in my ears!) -is this unusual?
HI Mark,
Welcome to the forum.
Tinnitus comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. The noise can appear to be coming from the centre of the head or the ears but often in both. The tinnitus signal is generated in the part of the brain known as the limbic system. Many things can cause it and you haven't said what caused yours? However, exposure to loud noise is the most common. If you haven't been seen at ENT for it yet then I advise having a word with your GP to make this possible as there is usually some sort of help available. Using sound therapy at night instead of sleeping in quiet room can be beneficial.
You can use a dedicated sound machine that plays nature sounds which is considered the best or, use low level non intrusive music. Try to keep the volume level slightly lower than the tinnitus and not to mask it with the sound. The idea is help the brain not to focus on the tinnitus while asleep. The brain and auditory system never switch off. If the brain hears silence during the night, it is able to increase the level of the tinnitus making louder and more intrusive during waking hours.
If your tinnitus was caused by loud noise/sounds, I recommend not using headphones even at low volume as there's a risk of making it worse. However, some people with noise induced tinnitus, are not adversely affected by headphone use so it's your choice.
All the best
Michael
Hello Michael,
Thanks for this. To be honest I have absolutely no idea what caused it (I don't think that I have subjected myself to excessive loud music or other noise but I guess we all have different tolerance levels!) and nor do I recall when it started. I just slowly became aware of it about 2 years ago or so.
I have recently seen a neurologist and an ENT specialist and had an MRI scan as I suffer also with migraine and Positive Scotoma ...I was fearing that all these symptoms in my head were perhaps related to a common root cause but I was advised that 'everything was normal' with the scan. I still have all these individual symptoms but at least I know there is nothing more sinister going on.
At some point last year -not sure when - my tinnitus changed pitch and volume which was worrying at the time. It seems to have settled now but I'm still learning to live with it. Any advice -like most people here I guess -is therefore most welcome. So thanks again...
HI Mark,
Thanks for the additional information. As I said many things can cause tinnitus even stress. It is good that your tests at ENT showed no abnormalities. If you are finding the tinnitus increasingly troublesome then have a word with your ENT consultant and a referral to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that practices tinnitus management is usually recommend.
They can help in a variety of ways. I have written an article that covers treatment and coping methods for tinnitus that you might find helpful. It also covers the kind of help that's possible with a Hearing Therapist/Audiologist providing they are practiced at the hospital you attend. It is in PDF format. If you would like a copy, please send me your email address by private message as it's against forum rules to post it in the main forum.
All the best
Michael
Hi Michael,
I raised your notion of the brain continuing to 'listen' through the night when I spoke to the BTA helpline a few weeks ago, but the lady I spoke to said she hadn't come across this concept before. When I read your essay, that was the first time I'd heard this theory as well although I have encountered it in a few isolated tinnitus articles since then, but it's not widely postulated as far as I know.
I've bought myself one of these Sound Oasis machines, just to have some background noise in the bedroom, but I haven't been keeping it on through the night. My sleep has been largely unaffected by my T since it's got worse (thankfully!), so I'm not sure what there is to be gained in keeping the machine on all night?
Hi Ruud1boy,
One of the most important things to help a person habituate to tinnitus is to use sound therapy, particularly in quiet surroundings and especially throughout the night until morning.
Professor Pawel Jasterboff is the founder of TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy). If you want to know more about the brain, tinnitus, hyperacusis, the auditory system, sound therapy and habituation, I encourage you to buy the book written by him and Jonathon Hazell from Amazon. The book is titled: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy.
It is the book that all Hearing Therapists and Audiologists follow that want to practice TRT with tinnitus patients.
In it, Pawel Jasterboff mentions using sound therapy throughout the night until morning but keeping the volume level slightly below the tinnnitus, it must not mask it. He mentions: the brain and auditory system never switch off. When a person has tinnitus particularly if it’s intrusive (bothersome) and they sleep in a quiet room, the brain has the ability to seek out sound. Whilst doing this it will also increase its background activity and this will increase the tinnitus making it louder and more intrusive during waking hours.
It works in a similar way to a person that has developed tinnitus due to hearing loss. The brain increases its internal volume (background activity) in an attempt to hear sounds that it is unable to hear from the outside world. While turning up its internal gain it also increases the tinnitus. When a person is fitted with a hearing aid, more sound is supplied to the auditory system and brain. Over time the brain turns down its internal gain (volume) and thus decreasing the tinnitus.
It is your choice whether you want to use sound enrichment throughout the night or not but I strongly advise that you do. Many people that have habituated have contacted to say their tinnitus has increased over time. When I ask if they are still using sound enrichment throughout the night until morning, often I’m told no. Over a period of time the brain can start to increase its background activity and the tinnitus, which was once dormant.
We are all different. If a person’s tinnitus remains low sleeping in a quiet room may not cause it to increase but it’s still something I don’t advise.
Michael
Pesky little beggar, the brain.... Getting up to stuff whilst I'm not keeping an eye on it.
Hi Mark, It was great to hear the piece on 5Live last night, I was very happy they read out a text I sent in too. To have nearly 30 minutes dedicated to the condition was great, rather than a cursory couple of moments with little substance. Sadly I think a lot of this has been driven by the tragedy of Craig Gill's death. I suppose the positive (if there can be one) is that it's raised awareness of the devastating impact Tinnitus can have.
Anyway, welcome on board...it's not all doom and gloom😎
Cheers, Steve
Hi Mark, I only started with T last July but like you mine was in my head never goes away and so so loud then i had an appointment at audiology they filled my ear with stuff to make me and hearing aid and my T moved to my ear not sure how or why but when mine was in my head this may sound strange but my brain felt tired.. Just as loud in my ear am hoping i get some peace once i get my aids x have a good day Mark
Hi Mark , welcome. My tinnitus is like yours , and I used to have terrible migraines ( 6 days was my 'record' ). Mine is possibly stress related and as I no longer have migraines as regularly, I sometimes think tinnitus is now , literally , my body and mind screeching out their discomfort. As a regular 5 Live listener, I was impressed with the programme as it was informative and constructive but did not gloss over or hire the impact tinnitus can and does have - there can be a tendency to brush over this and belittle those of us who experience it - such was my experience with NHS . Its great it got you to this frigidly and supportive forum- it would be great if it also led to NHS services as well . All the best as you continue every day to manage as best you / we can and continue our lives 😊
Friendly not frigidlyet 😨
Hi Lindsay, perhaps herbal meds would help calm your T? Valerian, St John's Wort or similar? Maybe the don't have as many side-effects as the prescribed pills. Love and best wishes, Angela xx
Good advice Angela. I'm a believer in Valerian and St John's Wort. Hope that you are keeping well.
All the best
Michael
Thanks Michael - your postings have certainly helped me to manage my T. I have tamed it and, provided I keep to a routine, my life is almost "normal". I will always be in hope of a cure though, not just for myself but I hate to think of the suffering of others. As indeed do you, as you are always here to support newbies. Love, Angela xx
Thanks for your kind comments Angela. It is good to hear that you're doing all the things that you want to, and I hope things continue to go well for you.
All the best
Michael
Angela and Michael , your care and suggestions as well as being ' motivational examples ' keep me , and I am sure others going. My life is still very insecure , so my tinnitus is , I am sure a reflection as well as a partial cause of this . I will keep working on both . I still find it hard not to be working full time but he ho xx
Hi there
I noticed that too - I think it's because the other sounds are further in on the sound file I sent, and to be honest - and you won't need telling - listening to tinnitus sounds is not pleasant!
We do have some more sounds that our friends over at Tinnitus Hub/Tinnitus Talk put together and they are on our website at: tinnitus.org.uk/Pages/FAQs/... - it's number 2 on the list
Am I alone with my type of tinnitus?
Reactive Tinnitus - anyone else experience this
Itching Ears post Microsuction 
Momentary variations of hearing and pitch of tinnitus
Can’t mask T to sleep 
