Newbie from USA

[Nonna3]

Hi from Plymouth, MA,USA! I've been following this site for awhile and joined today. I came down with tinnitus 5 years ago after a sudden viral ear infection, with a minor hearing loss in my left ear. I don't have to tell anyone what it's like to suffer with this. Mine is a high pitched,searing laser-like whine. I've seen the ENT and TMJ doctors, audiologists and homeopathic healers ( which made it worse with essential oil treatments). When I am tired/stressed, the sound sensitivity goes off the charts. The audiologist can only offer hearing aids with noise masking, but I can't sleep in them and it seems like a lot of money for white noise. I am currently trying a one wireless earbud in one ear with an app, and I am somewhat encouraged. Has anyone else tried this approach?

[_Barnabas]

Hi Nonna

Greetings from the UK.

I am looking into ear generators / hearing aids and will see if I can get them free from our National Health Service. I know how effective sound therapy / enrichment is in taking the edge off of Tinnitus but am unsure as to whether ear devices will help or ultimately hinder habituation. There is part of me that thinks if I just endure the tinnitus I will get used to it quicker and therefore habituate. Thankfully I now sleep well at night and hearing it in bed bothers me much less than hearing it during the day. I guess it’s because I know sleep will come soon and give me some rest bite from the noise.

[Nonna3 in reply to _Barnabas]

Thanks! Can you explain what “ habituation” is?

[_Barnabas in reply to Nonna3]

People define habituation in different ways but essentially it is the brain getting used to the noise so it no longer hears it. It just becomes another unimportant background noise that you no longer notice. One theory is that Sound therapy or Tinnitus Retraining Therapy can help with this. The important thing is not to mask the tinnitus completely but to set the noise just below the level of the tinnitus.

[Catlioness41]

Hi Nonna3, I have been suffering from medication induced tinnitus for the last 8 weeks. Have come of the meds but no change. I have a loud high pitched squealing in both ears. At first I thought I was going to go crazy, and my anxiety levels went through the roof, and I cried a lot through fear, and didn't sleep. Then about 4 weeks ago decided that I couldn't live with the tinnitus ruling my life any more. I now keep myself busy each day, and try to habituate where possible. I also downloaded a brilliant tinnitus relief app called resound Pro. When I go to bed, I put one headphone earbud in and have the app tuned into babbling brook at a volume level which is below the level of my tinnitus and this helps me sleep nearly every night. Ironically listening to anything with over the ear headphones makes my tinnitus spike big time. Hope this helps. Jo

[Philip6]

White noise is a great help. Lots of good Apps, I use one called Sleep Pillow. I have white noise playing all night and always have a radio on during the day. You can buy speakers that go inside a pillow, so only you can hear the sound, or there are headbands with tiny speakers built in. I’ve had tinnitus for over 20 years, I hear it all the time, never a let up, but I’m ok most of the time.