Tinnitus has got worse

[Shoelover72]

I have had tinnitus for around 20 years. in the main I’ve been able to ignore it. Just recently though it has got very loud, difficult to ignore and making it harder to hear people or concentrate. i think a mixture of stress and being peri-menopausal might be the cause

What can I do to help myself? Should I visit my GP?

[Happyrosie]

please start off by going to the website of Tinnitus UK which gives lots of information.

You can indeed go to your doc if you are concerned. Many docs (I know from reading comments here) are very dismissive. Many are helpful.

NICE (National institute for Clinical Evidence ) publishes guidance for gp’s. You can access this by going to NICE website and put “tinnitus” into search box at the top. Armed with the information therein you can approach your doc with confidence and in control.

Just remember there’s no “cure” and be wary of searching Dr Google too much. Or Facebook .

[Tal-r789T]

I'd recommend visiting the GP - minimum they can initially do is inspect ears, check no damage/infection/wax, and then refer for audiology and ENT. These take time so best to get started. You will most likely find GP dismissive, I'd ignore that. If you read other posts you'll find a common thread. If they don't refer please ask for referral.

[Shoelover72 in reply to Tal-r789T]

Thank you for your reply.

I was referred in my early 30s. MRI scan and nothing found apart from asymmetrical hearing loss. When I chose to get hearing aids 3 years ago, I was referred again. CT scan. Again nothing found and me still with asymmetrical hearing loss.

I have had tinnitus since my early 30s and could ignore it but lately (maybe stress related, maybe peri menopause 🤷🏻‍♀️) I can’t.

I was at the audiologist yesterday (Specsavers) and they did check my ears.

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

We have a general guide to tinnitus and menopause - the connections are far from clear and lamentably under-researched, but it is certainly a link which is well worth following up.

tinnitus.org.uk/understandi...

[Shoelover72 in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Thank you. I’ll take a look.

[Tal-r789T]

Hi, sounds familiar. I've had hearing loss now and it's quite pronounced, ha for both ears. Tinnitus is now manageable again - doesn't go, but manageable and life is happier as I'm able to hear people now.

I'd always recommend a check on any change - you don't know what's caused it, and sometimes viral/bacterial infections that could cause issues can be caught.

I hope Specsavers have given you a hearing test and discussed the results. If you are eligible and need ha then they can supply NHS ones.

If you have not been to GP can only recommend you go, discuss a d state there's been a change.

[Shoelover72 in reply to Tal-r789T]

I went back today as I still couldn’t hear out of one of my hearing aids. I ended up having an in situ test with my hearing aids in place. I’ve now been booked in for another test on Saturday as my left hear has changed significantly compared to my test from February. He double checked my ears and could not see anything at all.

[Tal-r789T]

Sounds odd - sounds like another test to look and see would be best - but if your hearing has deteriorated rapidly best to check with doctor. Have you had any ear infections or similar in between the tests?

[Shoelover72]

No, no ear infections since Feb. I’ll see what the audiologist says on Saturday and take it from there. He’s referred me before, so I know he’ll do it again if needs be.

[Ana20]

Hi! I’ve had T for almost 17 years. It has got worse for the last 6 years and especially this year. They recommended Doppler for carotide ( ok) and now MRI, which I had one in 2017 but they found nothing wrong.

Could you tell me how you can appreciate your T on a scale from 1 to 10? Mine is around 8 I think.

Good health!