T volume?

[redcarboy]

Hi, I was wondering when people say there T volume goes up and down from 4 6 10 etc how do you measure that ? I've got loud t 24/7 so just curious?

Thanks all

[Tonk]

In reality, the "Number Scale" is just an objective opinion: it has to be because only the sufferer can hear it.

Most sufferers have a base line of noise level which they assign a number to....Perhaps Five. On a particularly bad day, perhaps when stress levels are sky high, that volume may well increase above the normal base level so, a higher figure is given. On a day when things feel they are going better and the level of tinnitus diminishes, a lower figure may well be given.

I use five as my everyday level, one as my virtually no tinnitus level and ten as my "worse it has ever been and unbearable" level.

It should be noted that in the Thirteen years I have suffered with tinnitus, I have never used ten nor one, but it is nice to know they are there in reserve.

The level is affected by so many other things.....If you're feeling down and on your own, the volume tends to appear much higher and thus a higher number is assigned to it. On the other hand, if you are feeling great and all at one with the world, the tinnitus tends to melt into the background and thus a much lower number can be assigned to it.

I know this is as clear as mud but I hope it helps.....It is very much an expression of how you feel about it at that time but it can be used to express how you're feeling it is affecting you when you talk to others or your specialists.

[ade-the-pade]

My level is very much linked to my mood. However, it never goes away. It is there 24/7. When I am happy it goes more into the background. I have hyperacusis in my left hear so am aware of noise constantly. When I am low it annoys me more. It is definitely louder in the evenings.

My partners says that I often say "this is the loudest that it has ever been". Not sure how trues this is. I use my scales of "surviving" "winning" and "living". Surviving is when I am keeping my head above water but not happy. Winning is where I have something in place that is keeping the T at bay. This could be distraction, sound enrichment etc. Living is where I am doing things and have forgotten about it for that time.

Most days now I am winning with some periods of living. I get the odd days of surviving when I feel a bit sorry for myself.

My answer is also as clear as mud!!!

[Lesley2065 in reply to ade-the-pade]

I really love your description of levels of tinnitus and think i will treat it the same way from now on. Today Im winning😊

[ade-the-pade in reply to Lesley2065]

Wishing you many more days of living

Ade

[Alex03111978]

So...Do the mood, the stress, anxious really impact T perception? Do you agree at all?

[tomlwatson in reply to Alex03111978]

My answer is most definitely. Even when T is raging, if my mood changes, the perception of T shrinks. So, it is for sure helpful to lessen stress and anxiety and increase, at least my prospects of, joy.

[Alex03111978 in reply to tomlwatson]

Thanks

[drumcraw in reply to Alex03111978]

hi alex. i find when im really concerned about something and its uppermost in my mind, myT. level goes down i might be the exception to the rule but ive found that happeneing over the past few months, ive had T. for over 4 years but this has happened fairly recently. craw

[Angela-H]

Hi Alex, I don't measure my T - there are days when it is very quiet, like today; days when I don't hear it at all (most of this week as my daughter and partner have been staying for 6 days, just left) as I am so busy and distracted that my tinnitus has no chance of bothering me.

But then, there are those occasional days when it is really bothersome through stress, eg motorway driving, or unexpected loud noise - for instance a flipping ukele band playing in the foyer of Sainsburys!

I think we all have to manage our lives as best we can to help - my lifestyle has had to change to accommodate T. Love and best wishes, Angela xx

[redcarboy]

I was thinking on the lines of a 1-10 scale, I would put mine at a 6-7 as I hear it over almost all daily sounds but that's obviously only my opinion???

[Lesley2065 in reply to redcarboy]

I hear mine constantly and it can go up or down at any moment, but since Ive been using my hearing aide with masker it goes into the background a lot more than it was.

Do you have hearing aides with maskers?

Lesley

[redcarboy in reply to Lesley2065]

No I don't have hearing aides but I'm at the ent on the 13th so I'll ask about them thanks

[drumcraw]

hi redcarboy. mine too is about that level on am ordinary day and i hear it over everything too so i would agree with your opinion and rating scale.