Suddenly developped tinnitus

[PointedEars]

Hi, I am new on here having recently been told by and audiologist and subsequently my GP that I probably have Tinnitus. It seems predominant on the right hand side and I have been referred to ENT for further investigation. A month or so ago I also got updated hearing aids on the NHS because I have moderate hearing deterioration. I didn't use the previous ones because they didn't seem to help much but these new ones seem to be much better and I am slowly growing acustomed to them.

What prompted me to ask for another test (it was actually due anyway) among other things was a loud huming/pulsating noise particularly during quite times such as when trying to get to sleep or reading together with a noticeable change to my hearing.

Apparently my audible range has not changed much since my last audiology test 6 years ago. From a brief look at the graph that the audiologist showed me, my hearing tapers off after around 3.5khz dropping quite singificantly by 7.5khz and I hear nothing after about 8khz, no matter how loud it is. In any case, they don't test above 8khz, but there probaly wouldn't be much point anyway! The graph was comparable to my last test showing only a very slight change.

I eventually realised that the pulsating noise seems to be in time with my hearbeat and it can be a bit disconcerting and raise anxiety levels. It also makes it difficult to get to sleep sometimes. I have tried using a Tinnitus app which plays a soothing sound for around 15 minutes and it does seem to help sometimes, although I am not sure whether I should be using it yet? The reason I say that is because from the manual I see that my hearing aids can have a Tinnitus mode enabled which can plays sounds but this is supposed to be used with guidance. Knowing very little about this condition and not yet having been properly assessed I am not sure whether or for how long I should use it? I am also puzzled as to why this condition appeared quite suddenly. Is it an age thing? Curiously, I don't seem to notice it when I am wearing my hearing aids. I am hoping to get further information and guidance one my referral appoitment happens, but as of yet, there is no indication as to when that will be. It may be a whle. In the meantime, I though I would sign up, introduce myself and get a bit of background information.

[nelliebligh]

When you get a pulsating noise in time with your heartbeat (ie speeds up & slows down as your heartbeat does) it's called pulsatile tinnitus. I had that for just over a year and, unlike normal tinnitus, I found that wearing earplugs at night actually helped my pulsatile tinnitus. There will be other posts on here if you search for 'pulsatile tinnitus' and also online if you google it.

[PointedEars in reply to nelliebligh]

Well I do need to hear my alarm to get me up to work so I am not sure that earplugs would help on workdays although I could perhaps try them at the weekend. Come to think of it, elevated of background noise when I am wearing the hearing aids probably masks it when I am wearing them so i don't notice it.

I just looked up pulsatile tinnitus and the description certainly seems to fit. Lets hope the ENT appointment comes sooner rather than later.

[Happyrosie]

along with what’s been said.

Some people here have found ENT appointments to be a little less than useful, so don’t keep your hopes up. There’s no overarching cure for tinnitus though many ways to manage it, and you might find it useful to browse through the website of Tinnitus UK, the specialist charity. If you go googling, don’t believe any cures asking for your money unless recommended here or by tinnitus UK

[PointedEars in reply to Happyrosie]

That's a but unfortunate, but I guess it also depends on who you get. Having read up a little on pulsatile tinnitus, it seems that the ought to be referring me for further tests to rule out other problems. However, I understand that there is no actual cure and tht being the case, a cure would not be a realistic or acheivable goal to strive for. It seems more reasonable to strive for developping the most practical and best possible coping strategies

Unfortunately I can understand that something like this might make the sufferer vulerable to be exploited by unscupulous parties looking to make an easy buck while not really offering any kind of solution. I appreciate the warning. I would generally only follow therapies recommended by the NHS here in the UK, or recommended by a professional body and only when understanding the problem and how any therapeutic strategies actually work from a scientific perspective. So I understand, for example, that a louder sound can smother a quieter one and provide a distraction, which is how the tinnitus apps work.

Anyway, I guess I need to see what happens with ENT but not be expecting too much. In the meantime I will just keep using the Re-sound app to help me get to sleep when the tinnitus is too distracting.