Can wifi booster cause tinnitus spike? - Tinnitus UK

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Can wifi booster cause tinnitus spike?

SJJC profile image
SJJC
22 Replies

Hi All, this is my first post here, Ive been suffering with constant tinnitus since January this year and get regular 'spikes'. Ive discovered a pattern which helps me deal with it. We have recently had a wifi booster put into our home ... I feel like Ive been spiking constantly since then. It was so bad I switched it off in one room. Im going to switch it off over overnight for a few days to see if this helps with my sleep. Has anyone else experienced this?

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SJJC profile image
SJJC
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22 Replies
rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65

Yes I can only cope with the radio and television down very low . I bought a DVD player to play those calming tapes on but because of the bases in the player I’ve found it a bit difficult and haven’t had it on very much. I have some hyoeracusis with my tinnitus and some Meneries giddy turns . This complaint is so difficult to comprehend that I’m afraid many electrical goods seem to “ Clash”. with this horrible complaint. I hope you sort it out soon .

doglover1973 profile image
doglover1973

Welcome SJJC. No I haven't but thanks for the heads up. I'm going to try turning the wifi off tonight and see what happens. I sleep above the wifi. I'd be interested to know if it makes a difference to your T.

SJJC profile image
SJJC in reply to doglover1973

doglover1973 Did you notice any change when you switched your wifi off? I have done this the last few nights and the pitch of T seems to reduce back to previous levels, and my sleep is improved. During the day when booster switched back on the higher pitch seems to become constant again. Im going to keep experimenting!

doglover1973 profile image
doglover1973 in reply to SJJC

Hello SJJC. I don't think so but I'm going to persevere for a week or so. Just in case other factors are influencing the T. . It's interesting what you say about your T. Keep me posted.

I have a lot of wifi “things” charging on my bedside table. As an experiment I removed or turned them off for a few weeks. Sorry to say on this sample of one it made no difference. Distraction seems to be the only thing for me regard tinnitus, I listen to talking radio programs at night - thank you radio 4 extra :)

MBR1 profile image
MBR1

As it’s thought Van Gough has tinnitus then I doubt it tbh. I’ve got tinnitus from prescription meds....

Xanthi profile image
Xanthi in reply to MBR1

Funnily enough I was just wondering about Van Gogh, whether tinnitus may have contributed to this action. Which led me to also consider whether he may’ve had a thyroid, b12 or iron deficiency problem that had escalated . I suppose we’ll never know. 🤔

Amanda_Brighton profile image
Amanda_Brighton

I can’t see any biological reason why the wifi signal could cause it, that’s at radio waves and we’re surrounded by them all the time. But there will be a power supply as part or it and that uses a technique called switch mode - which is chopping up the mains using a high frequency switch. That will have components working at lower frequencies, 100khz perhaps. So maybe you’re hearing or sensing some audio component of the power supply? My T isn’t affected by it, it comes and goes from alright to very very nasty in its own sweet way... Best of luck, Amanda

Sazzyrich profile image
Sazzyrich

I have read that WiFi and EMF is a big contributor to tinnitus and minimizing exposure can be very helpful. Turning WiFi off at night, not having phones or gadgets left on in your bedroom at night etc and also not being exposed to blue light on screens can all help reduce tinnitus. I know of many people for whom this has made a great difference so definitely worth a try.

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to Sazzyrich

Sazzyrich,I have an old friend that is very sensitive to “ Electro magnetic Fields energy “. This plays havoc with her head . Do you know anything about this too ?

Penny

Sazzyrich profile image
Sazzyrich in reply to rabbits65

Hi penny. I don't know a great amount but I have listened to interviews about the effects of EMF and my homeopath frequently tells me of the negative impact it has on us. She told me that with lockdown, increased usage of WiFi etc and people being shut in at home, that she has seen so many more of her clients struggling with various issues as a result. People's symptoms range from mild to severe she told me. It apparently confuses our energy systems and she says mine is currently disrupted and out of rhythm. It makes sense I guess as we are electrical beings.

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to Sazzyrich

Thank you , very interesting , it just goes to show how “ Man” is destroying one self . Perhaps this explains too how when I go for walks with dogs out into the fields my head and ears are so much better . Maybe I should go and live outside on a tent. The tinnitus would quieten down . When I rest it’s so much better too. When I try and do jobs on the house it just fills my head up with this awful fullness and pressure 😞

doglover1973 profile image
doglover1973 in reply to Sazzyrich

This is very interesting. Thank you. I've often wondered if the internet might be a problem.

SJJC profile image
SJJC

Thanks all for your comments! I switched off one of the plug in boosters which hasn’t helped much ... I’m going to try unplugging the mains booster over the next few nights and will report back! I stopped keeping devices next to my bed and listen to tinnitus masking tracks through the night ( the masking music is really helpful) ... I guess it’s all trial and error .. and so different for everyone

TinnitusUKPat profile image
TinnitusUKPatPartner

I would tend to agree with the assessment of MBR1 - new(ish) technology is a frequent scapegoat for changes in health conditions, without there being much in the way of a demonstrable relationship between the two.

The government agencies across the world who have explored this topic have found no plausible method for our health to be affected by home wi-fi signals or booster devices used to improve connectivity, but the fear of a potential link exists regardless of published research and hard data.

We've had tinnitus, tinnitus spikes and attendant mental and emotional health issues since before the invention and adoption of electricity, so it's hard to see how a plug-in wi-fi booster should have any effect beyond letting you use the internet in a different room.

Wringing1212 profile image
Wringing1212 in reply to TinnitusUKPat

Perhaps sound advice, as people tend to latch on to a suspicion and are inclined to prove it. Although we don't want to be led down the wrong path, it's important still to question authority as a check and balance, in the name of true science.

It's understadlable why people may think wireless transmissions might be causing T. The T seems to be ramping up as wireless companies expand their networks and host a variety of different wavelengths in their attempts to handle the growing demand for data capacity. They've basically created a giant microwave oven out of planet earth.

There is pleanty of data published by other institutions better equipped to study these things, that finds wireless technologies to be harmful. That's not in question even though the WHO, CDC, FDA , FCB, FCC etc. clear the way for profiteers. These large agencies have a history of hiding the truth and their studies are usually funded or conducted by the telecom companies.

Although wifi may not be causing your T at the moment, there is ample evidence to suggest it may have contributed to its onset. That said, I'm not trying to pin it on microwaves, I'm just not letting them off the hook yet. Ultimately, for many of us, Our T was caused by our own careless behavior.

There is news today of new technology that enables therapists to cause patients to hear imaginary sounds. They attribute this to dopamines. It's thought that schizophrenia is caused by an excess of dopamines, something I've always thought I wanted more of. Could there be a connection between microwaves and dopamine production or is it mimicking the affects of dopamine? Just one more possibility for the list of suspects.

Wringing1212 profile image
Wringing1212

Over the years, I've had boosters come and go but the T has always been a constant. When the low pitched motor like sound began, I started wondering about wifi or electric motors from my neighborhood. I've moved since then so the only thing I can imagine is if it could be caused by the overall wireless system. Keep in mind, even if my cell phone doesn't get signal, my T is still tuned in. That might suggest HARP or something like that but there isn't any above board media or info confirming that possibility, at least not that I'm aware of.

There is lots of concrete, pier reviewed evidence, studies, articles and legal conflicts in the realm of telecommunications and the health or environmental impacts of the 4G and 5G networks. Although it's known that they raise the temperature of all creatures on earth, the WHO has dropped it standards of recommendations on what they consider safe by 40 times the amount they deemed safe for 4G, to accomidate 5G. It's important to note, the WHO is staffed by engineers from big corporations rather than biologists and medical doctors. There is a group of over 200 scientist who wrote an appeal to the WHO concerning this but the WHO refuses to consider their findings. The 5G network will take years to complete so we can expect the health affect on humans, animals and plants to eventually be as catastrophic as all the other industrial empires have been.

Most of us have experienced pain in our ear after holding the cell phone to our head for long spells. That's simply microwaves from the phone cooking your flesh. Imagine that. That spurred the introduction of blew tooth as a remedy until we realized that that was dangerous as well.

There dose seem to be a consensus that using ear buds or being exposed to loud noise worsens tinitus but it's real cause hasn't been looked into. Perhaps many of us just listened to our Walkmans to loud, or maybe we stay on the phone too long, or maybe all t sufferes have had some sort of neck injury, TMJ, excessive stress hormones, or some underlying health issue that's caused it.

What's puzzles me is how it appears to be more connected to the central nervous system rather than just the auditory parts.

I think it will take the collaboration of more than one area of science or medicine to break the code.

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65 in reply to Wringing1212

Very good Wringing , your nearly becoming a fully fledged scientist . How we need people like yourself . Thanks

Somedaysbetter profile image
Somedaysbetter in reply to Wringing1212

Thanks Wringing1212. Some really interesting and useful info here. What I can add is the possibility of how the central nervous system plays a part. One explanation could be that if your tinnitus is stress related from a single major event or multiple events, the likelihood is that ANS is in overdrive meaning that it is on a constant vigilant mode. When we are hyper vigilant, part of our hyper vigilant/fight flight response is heightened auditory awareness which would naturally increase our listening out for threats. There is always sound in our ears/head, but our heightened vigilance turns up our capacity to hear it. For me, when I’m super anxious about a spike in my tinnitus, my stress response alone will increase the volume. Slow deep breaths and talking myself down from over worrying or focusing on it tends to take it down a notch.

Wringing1212 profile image
Wringing1212 in reply to Somedaysbetter

Thank you for your wisdom.

When I think back to when my T started about 2000, there were a number of things that happened that year. 1st was a nasty divorce which dragged me through some hurendous, bogus criminal charges, civil claims etc. to follow was a whiplash incident and thirdly I went on a date with a night club goer who had me stuck on an insanely loud dance floor for more time than I was willing.

I tried quitting coffee for the year following and that didn't help.

I have stenosis in C5-C6 and bone spurs pushing in my spinal cord and have spent a lot of time and money for diagnosis (things like MRIs on neck and brain)and treatments to no avail. I notice if I do anything that irritates the neck, my T spikes, including physical therapy. The neck is quite critical to the central nervous system so I'm trying to relate what you've said to that. Either way, It's best to calm the nerves.

I randomly experience a pulsing thumping in one ear that I've somehow managed to shut off voluntarily. This suggest to me that there is also a phsycolgical aspect to the puzzle. That pulsing is obviously a mechanical malfunction in my ear, but it can be controled consciously. Calming the high pitched whistle or the low motor like sound can only be accomplished by distracting myself with brain teasers or escapism. I think that is the constant ANS you're speaking of.

Going off the radar here:

One other thing I've "considered" - ringing T is at a pitch we don't think of as an earthly wavelength we are familiar with. When we try to discribe it, the closest thing we can compare it to is that hiss you hear when the faucet is running. Still, it's not the same. Heightened awareness or hyper acusis could be similar to how certain animals hear some frequencies people don't. In that it's a constant, that suggest to me an inorganic source that could be radio waves being broadcast under the assumption that they are not a threat to humans, only whales and dolfins? If that were the case, I guess we'd notice a change while in an airplane or a submarine. Still, the ANS theory sounds more likely.

Sylviche profile image
Sylviche

Hi,Yes I did have experienced the same thing.

I have been doing some work out in a bedroom where there is a wifi booster.

I noticed some ringing in one ear about a month ago when I was in that particular bedroom.

Yesterday I unplugged it,it stopped right away,so weird.

Wavydive5 profile image
Wavydive5

ES-UK and electrosenstiives UK (facebook) have members who have tinitus when in the vicinity of electrical or electromagnetic frequencies. Unfortunately there is no NHS diagnosis for tinnitus linked to electrosensitivity, and many of those referred to ENT consultants are sent away without any recognition of the sensitivity to frequencies. However, it might be worth taking a note of your symptoms and when they occur to show the medical profession.

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