reactive tinnitus advice?

[bournville]

Hi Anybody here got any tips for dealing with reactive tinnitus?

I'm a musician with noise induced tinnitus and hyperacusis. I can't listen to a song all the way through without raising my tinnitus and once raised it stays up for days. I'm listening to music quietly at about 55 -60 db only conversation volume. Pretty sure any sound that features the frequencies between 3 to 6 kHz sets the tinnitus spikes off - these are the same frequencies of hearing loss shown in my audiograms.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated

[rabbits65]

I don’t have any tips (as you ask) but I too have reactive tinnitus and find I have to have music and even people talking at a lowish level otherwise it reacts terribly and heightens the t. I think most of us are in exactly the same boat. It really gets unbearable at times. My best moments are when walking outside and listening to the rustling noise of the trees , really helps me .

[bournville in reply to rabbits65]

Thanks for the reply yes the outdoors helps me too. Have you had your reactive T explained to you in terms of why it reacts ?

[rabbits65 in reply to bournville]

No I haven’t had hardly anything explained to me . I honestly don’t think anyone really knows very much. I can hear perfectly well , do many people with tinnitus have hearing issues and so they go down the route of hearing aids. I don’t need hearing aids, an audiologist told me this. However I notice some people talk about the benefits and I’m just wondering. “ if” “ maybe”

[Suz_2 in reply to rabbits65]

hello i noticed yr post from 2 months ago - i seem to have reactive tinnitus - do you know if hearing aids help this or push up the tinnitus levels

[rabbits65 in reply to Suz_2]

I’m sorry I don’t really know . I only know that I’m comfortable with sound being at a certain level. Things escalate more as the evening goes on . Laying down on the sofa really helps me , trouble is you fall asleep before bedtime !!! I have no trouble with my hearing and I don’t need hearing aids . I believe my tinnitus started because I used cotton buds in my ears . If you’ve had a spike today it should settle back into its level again. Try not to worry . 😊

[Summer60]

You are not alone, I have the same symptoms as you. I really don’t know what solution can help us. I can generally habituate the tinnitus and try very hard to keep relaxed around everyday sounds and accept that they are only loud to me but all too often I get caught with a noise that sends the T to an unbearable level until it comes back to a manageable level usually within 48 hours. Describing the condition as Reactive Tinnitus is spot on. I wish you all the best and thank you for your post, it’s strangely reassuring to know I am not alone with this combination.

[bournville in reply to Summer60]

Thanks for the reply - yes it’s good to know I’m not alone in this tinnitus sub set either!I have habituated to my baseline T and I can control the spikes providing I live a quiet life.

[artlacey]

I have been working with DR Bruce Hubbard who is a musican with tinnitus and speaks all over the world. Please look him up. I am sure he can definitely help.

[bournville in reply to artlacey]

Thanks so much I will!

[Suz_2]

I have reactive tinnitus after a head concussion then compounded by music speakers - I have seen ENT and Audiologist - the hearing aids didnt work for me as they have made my T worse - the ENT and Audiologist didnt find out what sort of T I have and they dont seem to know what to do if its outside the normal tinnitus = sound therapies are difficult for me as well and background noise like traffic , vacuum cleaner etc etc - all this pushed up my T - I have to wear ear plugs or ear defenders at times

[bournville in reply to Suz_2]

Hi Suz yes it’s very frustrating as like you the usual tinnitus helpers like music to distract and hearing aids just exacerbate it. But it seems several of us here are having to deal with reactive tinnitus which is strangely comforting. Out of interest do you have hyperacusis alongside your tinnitus ?

[Suz_2 in reply to bournville]

yes i do - although has eased off a bit but still there - how are u with music - i find it pushes up my T and TV does as well - reactive can be difficult but i think many have it without realising - although my Audiologist did say that sounds "shouldnt push up the T - why would it" he said - which is not the experience of many people - Did u try Hearing Aids at all ?? bcs many people say the T is just as bad as ever when not wearing the HA at night

[bournville]

Yes I’m in the same situation with music and TV.

[Suz_2]

does it get really loud by end of day ? i have been using FLARE AUDIO CALMER ( Night - also Daytime ones) for one week - which just sit on the exterior of ear canal and they do stay in place - these reduce higher frequencies getting through -i have found these have stopped my tinnitus rising too much - these are on Amazon and Flare Audio Website - flareaudio.com/products/cal...

[bournville in reply to Suz_2]

yes it does tend to get louder as the day goes on. I tried the flare audio stuff when it came out did'nt do anything for me - but glad it helps you. Perhaps i should give it another go given you have seen a result. How long did it take for you to notice a difference in reactivity after wearing them and how long did you wear them for?

[Suz_2 in reply to bournville]

I wear them every day now - sometime i wear the night ones in daytime - i noticed on day one there was a difference

[Suz_2]

Hi - wondering how you are getting on - has your tinnitus eased off or getting worse - my tinnitus is reactive and had got worse over past 6 weeks

[bournville in reply to Suz_2]

Hi sorry to hear yours is problematic at the mo. Mine has improved some over the last few months which is encouraging so I’m doing ok thanks. I’m still careful but I was definitely being over cautious around sound & plugging up too often which just made my ears more sensitive.

[TVman]

I too have this. Anyone out there got advice how to deal with it? Do we just be patient and hopefully it resolves? Anyone who has already posted on this thread, did yours get better?

[bournville in reply to TVman]

Hi TV man I am the original starter of this question and pleased to report that time is a massive factor. I’m now back in a place where I can at least play acoustic instruments again which was impossible when I first posted.

I found the key is to work quietly and adapt to any noisy environment I’m in using hearing protection rather than avoid noise altogether. That said my rock gig days are over & I’m pretty ok about that given my age.

If it helps I found there seems to be a tipping point where things get too loud or too harsh sounding then it triggers the tinnitus increase. I’ve also found that these temporary increases are now down to a few days where initially I was looking at weeks.

It’s very easy to get into a place where you avoid noise all together which I did myself initially. it didn’t help & just increased my sensitivity.

Many people including myself find ambulances and motorcycles et cetera are a problem trigger when out. These days I just stick my fingers in my ears in the street when this occurs - never forget your fingers are also excellent instant earplugs!

Bottom line it’s not fixed but it has improved - as I have adapted and worked with it rather than against it.