Strange tinnitus noice

[AFRANG]

Hi all. I am new here. I am a tinnitus sufferer for the last 15 years. The whole thing started after a bout of ear infections and loss of some of my hearing. To start with it was a low level pulsatile tinnitus, which I got used to rather quickly and it didn’t really bother me much over the years. However, approximately a year ago after another bout of ear infections and the loss of the remaining hearing in the same ear, my tinnitus changed completely, from a low level pulsatile tinnitus to a very loud level normal tinnitus. At one point I had 3-4 different sounds at the same time. My ENT doctor suggested a scan to exclude any serious conditions and in fact I had two scans a MRI and an Angiography scan and all was OK. My doctor’s verdict was the usual one. Nothing to do about it and try to get used to it. After some very tough months with sleepless nights and all, I am now able to say that my situation has improved considerably. The tinnitus is still there, but I am now used to it and can sleep without taking sleeping pills. However, approximately a month ago I experienced something completely different. One night I went to bed and I had a sharp zip noice, like an electrical discharge, in the same ear. It didn’t last more than a second. Since that night I have had the same noice several times. It varies in strength. It’s sometimes very weak and sometimes so strong that I feel a bit dizzy, but it always last no more than a second. It comes mainly, when I am lying down, when I go to bed and again, when I wake up in the morning. It doesn’t keep me awake and it goes away, when I get up. I’ve read everything I could find on the internet related to tinnitus, but nothing about this particular noise. Has anyone had the same experience? I am going to see my ENT doctor next week, but I presume he’ll tell me that there’s nothing to do about it and I’ll have to get used to it.

[Hidden]

It sounds like fleeting tinnitus - you get the sensation of hearing dropping out and a high pitched noise which usually lasts less that 30 seconds then fades away. Completely normal in people with or without tinnitus and doesn't 'mean' anything. I think people with tinnitus notice it more as their auditory system is extra sensitive anyway due to having tinnitus. I remember having the fleeting episodes on and off throughout life but I have them at least daily now I have tinnitus. Annoying, but normal.

[Hidden]

Also sometimes called SBUTT - sudden brief unilateral tapering tinnitus.

[AFRANG in reply to Hidden]

Thanks a lot for all your replies. I’ve never heard about SBUTT before. It’s good to put a name to a problem 😀. I’ve now found several websites on the internet about the condition, It’s worth having a look at them.

reddit.com/r/askscience/com...

Hi

[Happyrosie]

Like the other posters, Afrang - I get this now and again. Because I use this site daily I notice it more!!!! Just part of life's rich pattern

[doglover1973]

Welcome to the forum Afrang. I get this too - in my deaf ear - but I didn't quite know how to describe it. You've put it into words very well. It usually happens in bed at night or early in the morning. It's good to hear your T . situation has generally improved . All the best with ENT.

[rabbits65]

As usual with this Tinnitus it’s a mystery to unfold . Many strange and wonderful noises , nice to know that we are not alone, that’s for sure . Take care .

[elsieadams]

My tinnitis also started from an ear infection and was refused antibiotics from a trainie dr. I also lost hearing in my right ear which came back within a week along with the high pitch noise for the last six years. Some days not so strong and others just make life a challenge. I also have experienced this electrical charge noise as well. I think it might be a result of tension or in my case with osteoarthritis in my neck could be the bone spurs. It is hard to say. When you tell people they look at you as if you are crazy. My dr keeps reminding me of the masking devices. Why would anyone put out a couple of thousand dollars to have more sound in your head which just tries to coverup the ringing with other sounds . Makes no sense to me. I have bought an ombus form pillow which is helping relax my neck and sometimes a certain way I place my ear on the pillow helps make the sound not as intense. Now they have a drone up in Mars detecting small amounts of oxygen. This really makes me frustrated when billions of dollars could be put towards researching conditions that we are told there is no cure. Stay safe and well.

[doglover1973 in reply to elsieadams]

I've often thought this elsie. If they can put people on the moon .. why on earth can't there be a cure - or at least some relief - for tinnitus?! Not to mention all the other under funded, under researched conditions 😞

[Wringing1212]

Agreed! These symptoms give us evidence of the cause of T. Bones spurs in the neck have been dismissed by audiologists, ENTs and neurologists. Nuropthy must play a roll in T. Ear infections, head trauma, neck trauma, reactions to medication and now, Covid long, all can result in T.

To Afrangs' point, these different symptoms keep coming, all defying the reality of sound and seem more electronic or mechanical. In parallel, visual malfunctions often have these digitally graphic or static like affects in our perception, suggesting that our brains work more like computers than something organic.

Repetitive stress, both physically, or mentally, creates either tension or scar tissue around the nerves. The trasing of those impulses is key in determining where the damage is or has occurred.

One of my nuerosurgeons stated, I could operate and repare the impinged nerves at c-5 c-6, but I can't promise it will relieve your tinnitus..........but isn't he curious? No, he has other cases that are more directly life threatening he'd rather focus on.

They love to order brain scans but almost never find anything. That's a good way to get rid of you ringing in their ears😏

If they'ed put the money they make from MRIs into T research instead, we'd at least have more scientists employed in the subject rather than engineers playing with magnets.

Back to Afrang: is this electrical sound static like hyperacusis, buzzing like a fallen powerline or humming like an electric motor? Do you consider your activities or posture at the time of day it happens? Could this be a mechanical problem in one ear, or is the sensation cemetrical?