New tinnitus- GP wants MRI - risk of worsening my tinnitus???

[golf2021]

I had back MRI with VERY loud noise- is it a big risk to go forMRI as my GP proposes??

[jacobite33]

You can put ear plugs in if I remember correctly

[rabbits65]

No try and go for the mri scan , I had one and your not in there that long . It’s best to rule out anything else that might need some attention .Good luck

[doglover1973]

I'm waiting for an MRi scan. I plan to wear earplugs underneath the ear defenders they give you. I hope it's not too loud though. All the best golf2021.

[bridgeit]

I've had more MRI scans than I can recall. None worsened my tinnitus. I put my own earplugs in (I like "Mack's" swimmers silicone plugs) under the hospital's headphones. I can't hear a thing with those in; they mould to your ears. I just tell the radiographers to do what they need to do and come and tell me when it's all over. They're happy with that. I also keep my eyes closed and recite poems or songs I know in my head.

I've had some very lengthy scans too. No ill-effects.

Hope this reassures you.

[Amanda_Brighton]

I had an MRI and I had earplugs under headphones. The machine was loud but my tinnitus was louder throughout the session. And the tinnitus was definitely no worse afterwards.

[bantams]

Hi golf2021, I had a MRI scan in February regarding my Tinnitus, I was just given ear plugs and it lasted about 10 minutes and yes it is very loud. I did think at the time that it would make my Tinnitus worse, but I can say no it did not make my Tinnitus worse and at least the MRI scan did not show any problems so at least it was good to know that

[Luxjim]

I had an MRI couple of weeks back (for arthritus not tinnitus). Took my own ear plugs but was given ear plugs and headphones and although the MRI is loud I could hear my tinnitus alongside noise of MRI so the the ear plugs and ear defenders certainally did the job and it wasnt too bad.

[_Barnabas]

I had the MRI and it made no difference to the tinnitus, ear plugs and classic FM through the headphones they provided. The results showed no damage to my ears etc which was good to know.

[Wringing1212]

I've commented on this many times here. I had an MRI brain scan at UCSF in a Tesla scanner that's head brace would not host ear deafiners. That was a big mistake. My nurologist ordered a brain scan with contrast for my T but he didn't specify the venue. The scan took 40 minutes and when I left the scanner, my tinitus had more than doubled. I immediately started having hyperacusis and eventually developed pulsatile T with a low motor like sound. I followed up with ENTs, Audiologists and T specialists at UCSF and they said they would never recommend brain scans for T patients. The risk usually outways the benefits. Often it's the patient who wants the scan out of fear that they have a tumor, which is seldom the case.

I've since checked around and found that different scanning facilities offer better ear protection and some scanners are not as loud. The higher the detail of the scan, the louder the scanner.

GE sent out a technician to inspect the scanner and reported that it was operating within the FDA guidelines, which are actually set by GE. They also claim that the 3M foam ear plugs that reduce noise by 17 decibels are adiquite. That's simply not true because much of what we hear is conducted through bone rather than the ear canal. The scanner is designed to penetrate through all of that tissue.

I have received written apologies from officials at UCSF. My T remains louder than ever.

Wear the big ear muffs (ear deafeners) along with ear plugs. The big ear deafeners will cover enough bone to muffle the noise.

[bennevis21]

Hi MRI is about 110 decibels which is loud but a good set of ear defenders gives about 30db protection which drops noise down to 80db which is quite safe

[Wringing1212]

These numbers are a linear generalization for sound resonance that by design, has a multidimensional impact. MRIs are very advanced in their engineering but are inadequately described by the practitioners. The devil is in the details. So yes, you are right about those numbers, that's what GE and 3M have stated, and dictated to regulating agencies. As you've said, the ear protection should be applied, but the 30 decibel benchmark is susceptible to many variations. It's critical to prevent the conductivity of bones and tissue that are outside of the ear canal, that also Play a roll in our hearing.