24 years with Tinnitus

[akh23]

Hi. I have had tinnitus since I was 18. I am 42 years old now and at times I find it invasive and horrid. I have moderate hearing loss as well and wear hearing aids. These help my T by picking up outside sounds. Stress makes the T worse, no question.

I find the T distressing as when I speak to someone it can just come on. Then my anxiety gets worse. In turn the T gets worse. The only way to break this loop is to work on my anxiety and relaxation techniques. And to keep the stress low.

I hope one day the medical world finds a cure or some medication that helps. If anybody has any tips please message me. Thanks.

[Hidden]

No tips, just try not to stress about it, easier said than done.

[Hidden]

Hi akh23,

You have had tinnitus for quite some time and hearing loss can make it more intrusive as you've discovered. It might be a good idea to ask your GP for a referral to ENT, so test can be carried out on your auditory system, just to make sure everything is as it should be. Perhaps an upgrade in your hearing aids might help? Stress can certainly make tinnitus more intrusive so you're right to try and keep it under control.

By any chance do you go to places where there are loud sounds: clubs, concerts, the cinema? Or do you work in a noisy environment? Do you use headphones? I don't suppose you do since you wear hearing aids and this might not be easy. Just thought I'd mention it.

Apart from hearing loss, and if there is no underlying medical problem causing the tinnitus including stress. When tinnitus becomes more intrusive, the usual cause is exposure to loud sounds.

Michael

[akh23 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Michael,

Thank you for your reply. My Mum, Auntie and my Gran (RIP) have tinnitus and severe hearing loss. Seems to run in my family. I am very careful with listening to music now being mindful of my hearing loss.

It is so important to be wary of your music levels, especially when listening to headphones. Constant exposure to this, I am certain, attributed to my hearing loss. Although I was probably predisposed to this. I have played in loud rock bands as well but I did use ear protection.

I may go to E.N.T. just to check it out and I think I would benefit from H.Aids upgrade.

Kind regards,

Aaron

[Hidden in reply to akh23]

HI Aaron,

Thank you for your detailed reply. I would like to ask do you still use headphones? It is something that I do not advise anyone to use that has tinnitus which was caused by loud noise even at low volume. However, some people that have tinnitus notice no ill effects using headphones but it is still something I do not advise.

All the best

Michael

[akh23 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Michael,

I do use headphones, very rarely for short periods. Obvious reasons, I don't really like them anymore. Far better to have decent speakers on a hi-fi. I enjoy that more and it's safer.

Thanks again,

Aaron

[JaneMc16]

Hi, take a look at this Ted talk which was posted earlier last week by another member. Really interesting stuff about the limbic system and how stress controls the T. It is suggesting that mood elevation with serotonin and dopamine may help ...worth a try.

youtube.com/watch?v=XGq3MXQ...(Not working as expected?)

Jane

[akh23]

Thanks but the vid didn't want to play.

[NicTinnitus in reply to akh23]

The link is: youtu.be/XGq3MXQlRJs(Not working as expected?) - hope that works for you

[akh23]

Thank you very much for this link. This was very interesting and is an in depth look at the brains role at coping with hearing loss.