Worsened tinnitus

[Mogdog]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can give some advice. My 88 yr old mother has had tinnitus for a long time and has managed well with it. Unfortunately a couple of days ago it became a lot louder and she is having great difficulty coping and sleeping. It is a loud whooshing in both ears. I will contact her doctor and audiologist and ask advice. She is worried she will suddenly find she is deaf. Does anyone know anything about tinnitus suddenly becoming louder?

It's such a worry as she is elderly with other health issues too.

Many thanks.

[Happyrosie]

Hello Mogdog. We all experience T in different ways. Whilst I've had mine probably since childhood, I didn't really notice it as I thought it was normal just as it's normal to have two arms. I began to notice it abut fifteen years ago (age late fifties) when it got louder. Now it's much louder, and the tonality of it changes.

You are doing the right thing in encouraging her to seek further advice.

Do remember it is a very common condition, though very irritating and sometimes quite disabling - if you let it. In many ways its up to the sufferer to rise above it, so as to speak, as there is no cure.

Your mother is lucky she has you looking out for her.

[Mogdog in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you for the reply Harryrosie. Did yours ever reduce again, having increased in loudness? She has been good at rising above it and managing, but unfortunately she is finding the increased loudness too much.

[Happyrosie in reply to Mogdog]

Hmm no, it's never really reduced. I have hearing aids and that helps, becuase the real world is a little louder and drowns it out. Sometimes I get louder noises for a few minutes which then go away, but otherwise its the same old same old Big T sitting on my shoulder.

[Mogdog in reply to Happyrosie]

Thanks, that's what I thought but hoped not! What a horrid and debilitating condition it is. It sounds like you are managing it well. Do the hearing aids make the real world louder then but not the tinnitus? I'm guessing that's how it would work.

Thanks again, it's so helpful to speak to someone who knows from experience what it is like. I will be contacting her doctor tomorrow.

[Happyrosie in reply to Mogdog]

Yes, mogdog, the real world is a little louder and the T is the same volume as it ever was, when you have HAs in.

I expect you’ve read the British Tinnitus Association website. Doctors can be a little dismissive as they have no cure for us, but it’s as well to have things checked

[daverussell]

It can spike which can very stressful - which results in a viscous circle. This can be temporary or at least take time to habituate.

Sound therapy can help - tinnitus.org.uk/Pages/Categ...

[Mogdog in reply to daverussell]

Thank you, I shall look into sound therapy. Is that mainly used at night? It makes sense a background noise or something else to focus on would be helpful. Let's hope the increased loudness is temporary.

Many thanks.

[daverussell in reply to Mogdog]

Yes mainly at night or during quiet activities. Note it should NOT be used to mask the tinnitus but at a volume below the tinnitus.

[Mogdog in reply to daverussell]

Thanks very much. Will look into that.