Long term tinnitus

[FinchleyN12]

I have had Tinnitus fir over 30yrs and have no idea what caused it. It has got louder as I have aged, I am 75 and I have lost most of my HF hearing. I was tested and tried out hearing aids fir a month, but found they made me more aware of my Tinnitus because I was hearing noises I had not heard for a long time. I was teally looking forward to hear a bird sing but found it was just a squeak that was muddled with my T and I spent my time trying to differentiate between the sounds. I should explain my T although very loud, I have had no major problems ignoring it except when talking about it. I do sympathise though with people Who find it puts stress all the time, and I am not sure you can teach someone how to ignore it except when there is no external noise when you can mask it somewhat. I am not asking for help because I feel I have it under control but it is very interesting reading all the different posts.

By the way I used to sail and still find the sound of the sea and wind very soothing.

Cheers Pete

[scamp12]

Thanks for that Pete I have found much the same and think being able to accept the fact that I have it now and ignore the noise and not getting stressed about it has helped. I know it's hard to get through the fight or flight stage but it does get to a stage where life is normal again. Keeping the mind occupied with a good hobby is a major part of the path.Hope this is of help to those who are worried it will never change I was the same but ok now.

[Positivechangeplease]

Hi Pete, I’m much younger at 43 but I’ve experienced tinnitus in some form since I was young due to hearing loss and operated upon ears. I agree it must be difficult to ignore when you can’t hear at all and hearing loss makes fixing it much more difficult. I’ve tried the technique and found relaxing and accepting as a way to reduce it but it doesn’t get rid of it. But I do have some hearing. I wonder if you persevered with the hearing aids and employed these distraction techniques you might find it starts to lessen. I imagine hearing aids would make it louder initially but would hope as it becomes more common the tinnitus would die down. Something to try? Understand if it’s too confronting and uncomfortable as I recently was offered hearing aids but I somewhat manage with my mild hearing loss in one ear and wondering if the techniques I employ for accepting tinnitus is the best way I can deal with it for now.

[Happyrosie]

I’m sorry your hearing aids don’t help your hearing! I used to have NHS Prescribed ones from about ten years ago and I found they helped with the Big T because it makes real world more prominent therefore the phantom of T is less pronounced.

I’ve now started to pay for my own hearing aids. Expensive but worth it - the clarity I get from both bird song and organ music at church makes them worth it.

[Bellyboo]

Morning Pete. My T situation mirrors yours though I’m 72 and had T for 40 yrs. I’ve not 100% learned to live with it but it’s encouraging that you seem to have habituated. My ear phones help and I can hear bird song which I’m great full for. Can I ask do you drink alcohol? I’ve stopped because I thought it may be making my T worse. I had a big whisky last week which was wonderfull and had no extra problems the following day! Though it helped me have a good sleep. Not many people had it as long as us two. Would love to chat with you about your journey as talking helps.

[FinchleyN12 in reply to Bellyboo]

Hi There

I will try to explain how I get on with my T. I joined this group because for the firstime ever I tried our some hearing aids and was interested in how people found them whe had T. I tried them more for friends and family than for myself really as I had the id complaint that I was hard if hearing. I knew I had list HF many years ago but to be honest it never really bothered me much, its a bit like what you havn’t got you don’t mis if you know what I mean. Anyway after a month of trial I gave the aids back as although they helped in a small way I found that they were more a nuisance than advantage fir various reasons because of the T. They actually made me more aware of the T as I was hearing sounds and trying to separate them from my T. I was never sure if they were in properly and on 3 occasions one fell out without me noticing and apart from nearly stepping on it I have a dig which might be tempted. I have always been able to ignore my T by doing exactly that. I now have to learn again as I am very aware of it. Just seeing it from the funny side I have been accused if talking a lot but I do think that us my way ti control the sound. I do find it easy to concentrate in lots of different things which helps me. So what I am saying without be unsociable or un caring is taking about it to anyone including my wife who by the way did not know I had T for many years does me no good. I am sorry if that sounds a bit antisocial but its just always been my way I hope you understand. I am glad ti have resd your and other peoples messages and if yow want to reply to my ramblings I will read it I promise but may not reply

All the best

Pete

[Bellyboo in reply to FinchleyN12]

Hi Pete…do you like a drink and if so does it affect your T

[FinchleyN12]

Yes and no

[Potter57]

Pete, gave you persevered with your aids? I’ve been having the same issues. Had them a month and T gone through the roof