Do I have tinnitus?

[Sugarplum1811]

Hi everyone,

So for a few weeks I’ve been getting this ringing in my ears. It’s a very high pitched ringing but doesn’t fluctuate, kinda sounds like a flatline. Before it was on and off and I could only hear it at night before bed when it was very quiet but now it’s constant. Every time I try and relax and lay in bed the ringing starts. It’s not very loud but loud enough to annoy me. During the day if I’m out and about and busy then I won’t hear it at all but once I’m laying in bed or in a quiet setting then it starts to ring. I’m only 19 and I’m just hoping it goes away or i’ll End up tuning it out so I won’t hear it anymore.

I feel like I’ve always heard sounds when it’s very quiet and maybe I’m just concentrating on it too much now? I don’t know and I haven’t consulted a doctor yet as I’m in the process of moving to uni and thought I should wait to register there. Any advice or tips on how to manage would be very helpful! Thank you

[Vibe19]

White noise at night helps many students sleep in noisy settings. Even those without tinnitus.

[berry76]

Try not to focus on this head noise too much because that will surely make it louder. In a "silent"

sound chamber exercise the majority of entrants all heard something! I use a sound box from the BTA at night which just masks all the many sounds which are running through my head since 2003 - and I still manage to function well (at 79!) Hopefully Uni will give you much more interesting things to think about. Be happy.

[Sally07]

If you only get it in quiet settings, then it's probably quiet enough for you to tune it out over time. Going to uni will mean you have lots to do and your mind will be busy which will make the process easier.

As to whether or not you have tinnitus, it's tricky because t has so many definitions. I would say that if it is t, the kind you have is extremely common. Since getting t, I've spoken to many people around my age (22) and discovered that even among young people, t is common, much more so than I thought when I first noticed it! As people have suggested, white noise at night can help. Also being around friends and having fun!

Best wishes!

[ShakeelaBTA]

Hello and welcome to the British Tinnitus Association forum.

Do feel free to ask any questions, I hope that you find this a helpful and supportive place to help you manage your tinnitus.

We have some resources that you might like to check out in addition to our home here:

tinnitus.org.uk (information and support details)

takeontinnitus.co.uk (free tinnitus management programme)

If you’d like to sign up to receive ‘Focus’, our new free monthly e-newsletter, you can sign up at tinnitus.org.uk/forms/conta...

Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call [phone])

Kind regards

Shakeela