Quick Question

[Maxi80]

Hey

Wont trying to mask tinnitus stop you habituating? I’d rather try the habituating route if it’s possible than covering up the noise. It seems the most sutstainable way?

Cheers

[Happyrosie]

I’ve never tried masking myself, but posters earlier this year have said they’ve been told this.My personal view is - just get on with your life and ignore the T. I am in charge of my life, and not T!

[rabbits65 in reply to Happyrosie]

I fully agree with your philosophy Happyrosie, however do remember that some people’s tinnitus is much more severe than others . It also takes many months to adjust . Everyone needs to try what they can to help themselves, we are all different . I am trying to adjust my life , life with T though is “ no joke”

[Happyrosie in reply to rabbits65]

You are quite right, rabbits.I am extremely lucky because I’ve had it since, probably, childhood and so I thought everyone was like this. So I just got used to it. Mind you it’s much much louder now - I can hear it over the engine of a car travelling along a busy motorway. I dislike background music so I don’t know if I could bear masking sounds,

[Maxi80 in reply to Happyrosie]

Sometimes I do buckle and play loud music for a while to take the edge off. But, as I say it isn’t sustainable. Some days I feel strong enough to fight it other days I’m a mess 🙈

[Maxi80]

Sometimes I do buckle and play loud music for a while to take the edge off. But, as I say it isn’t sustainable. Some days I feel strong enough to fight it other days I’m a mess 🙈

[Lynne-H]

Hi Maxi80

You don`t have to use the masking noise to cover your tinnitus. Whatever form of masking you use (I usually just have the radio or tv on) you have to have it so that you can still hear your tinnitus then eventually your brain is supposed to filter out the noise of the tinnitus.

Have a look at the BTA information sheet about Sound Therapy.

I`ve had tinnitus for six years and have habituated once and am in the process of doing it again although this time I don`t feel as bad about my tinnitus as I did the first time, probably because I learned a lot from my first experience of it and know that things can get better eventually.

Acceptance is the key - I believe that you have to accept your tinnitus before you can make any progress.

Lynne

[Maxi80 in reply to Lynne-H]

Thank you, that gives me a lot of hope ❤️

[rabbits65 in reply to Maxi80]

I agree everyone , it’s been fantastic reading all your posts. I was in absolute despite a month ago over this tinnitus . I believe mine is different to everyone else’s. However , I now realise everyone is and has gone through the mill. I’m not alone. Thank you everyone too , Happy New Year

Penny

rabbits65

[rabbits65 in reply to rabbits65]

Correction despair

[daverussell]

I was told by two independent audiologists that this to be true for the masking feature as part of my hearing aid - namely using it throughout the day.

However, on the balance of whatever negative effects something may have, there are times that we just need something short term. Likewise, as a comparison and not a suggestion, anti-depressants may be really effective, but only as a short-term fix to get us into a better place.

In terms of a solution, I've personally found sound therapy at night to help me sleep an excellent option. However, I was aware I was becoming dependent at night and actively ensure I use it when necessary. But then again, just being proactive and "doing something" will have a positive, albeit a Placebo, effect. There is no evidence to show that any particular form of sound therapy is better than another - pubs.asha.org/doi/abs/10.10.... In other words, there are cheaper, and free options.

[Judyspal]

You don't cover the noise,I listen to white noise or nature sounds to help with my tinnitus,but you have the noise lower than the noise of your tinnitus. That way your brain accepts the tinnitus by you focusing on the other noise of your choice

[Level42]

Hi Max 80

Just read your message on habituating.

I'm only some 3 weeks into having Tinnitus, and currently having a hearing test week tomorrow, so just wanted to say after fireworks going off last night as I was just being able to shut down to go to sleep, I ended up getting up and out of bed .

I then came across a website called Rewiringtinnitus.com

I only briefy read the introduction which curiously was about habituating which I found interesting and wondered if you or anybody else might have found or practised with his website techniques?

I know it can be wrong to read some websites with bogus claims etc, but reading it and meditating it did eventually get me back to sleep, probably wrong time to be reading that, as I did have a strange dream after, but thankfully did get relief and slept after a rather anxious day yesterday.

I think Tinnitus could be a minefield, with very few constant predictions, but would appreciate any positives on this, as you asked would background sound inhibitate habituating in the long term , while you start to practise habituating?

Wishing you all a healthy New Year

Level42

[Woodentop99]

When this unwanted lodger first came into my life back in 1972, I was young, free and full of life, mr T was a “pest” fortunately because of my age early 20’s I was able to carry on and the best way I can describe it is I drowned him, he went so far back in my brain it took me 5 seconds at least to “purposely “ find him, I had “ habituated” without knowing, roll on to October 2018, he returned with a vengeance the T had spiked, I didn’t know this could happen and he rose from the depth with a noise impossible to deal with, it put me on my knees I was instantly floored, the word “ habituate” sadly does not exist anymore, my audiologist insists I set my maskers to include mr T not drown him out, though I can for a short while Just for some respite,he drove me to the edge fortunately I had the right people around me, initially I had the energy and drive to get on with my life as a young lad, a lot more difficult now but I “ fight the fight” every day, please folks strive for habituation that’s like winning the lotto, sadly now we have mrT in situ, with mrC ( Covid) trying to squat also,,, keep fighting they fight,,, HNY.

[Maxi80 in reply to Woodentop99]

Are you hoping to habituate again? You’ve proven it can be done

[Woodentop99 in reply to Maxi80]

Absolutely no chance, purely down to , I am not active enough to totally distract myself, 40 years ago it was girls, footy, discos, so never still, nowadays it’s Arthur, you may know him as Arthuritis!!! So no way as active, I am ok the way I am but the volume of mr T ‘S volume is in outer space, so no chance in my opinion, but strange things happen, you never know???Will continue to fight and face the fight.

[Maxi80 in reply to Woodentop99]

You don’t need to avoid the tinnitus. You just have to accept it. Don’t mask it. It will always be there but it doesn’t have to be your central focus.

[Woodentop99]

For me it’s 100% impossible to avoid, no one knows each other’s level of T, initially in comparison to now I would say it was 7/10, now it’s 1000/10 ( yes, one thousand) or simply it could be that I am a poor coper and cannot accept this, believe I totally accept, without getting to morbid I am so happy that I am here and able to write this as without a wonderful support , family,friends, gp, audiologist to name a few I would not, T is the same horrendous level each day and with help of maskers and fighting the fight I at present am in charge Not him, have tried everything from acupuncture, pills and more pills , herbal stuff and finally cbt, that did help but only when mentally strong enough as anxiety was through the roof and thoughts were not good, I fully accept this and would/will do anything to fight it , ease it , cure it, probably not in my life time, though I am determined to carry on the fight and appreciate every day,, I often think how loud is my T compared to others, I know, no way of measuring it, but if it were that bad it’s vital a good plan is in place and regular follow up by the services, I feel very lucky , I have that, a lot do not.

[Maxi80 in reply to Woodentop99]

What services do you use?