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Hey Tek, I was told the same things and I grew up in a noisy environment, concerts, machine shop and all of that. I told my doctor I would give up some hearing if the ringing went away
My Dad has it some and we both have this thing where when we turn on the TV in the morning it is so loud seems like it gets worse as the day goes on too.
I can't stand loud noises now, the alarm where I worked went off a lot and it was horrible
Damn I love coffee and chocolate
I have a problem with loud noises also. Certain frequencies seem to really get to me. At times my eardrums actually hurt. My right ear is worse than the left.
I have some occasional tinnitus as well, it started this year, after colds I get fluid buildup in my ears and for several weeks after a get a low humming sound in my left ear, which stops whenever I hear a noise, it's sort of like a low toned microphone feedback, drives me nuts, I always have to have white noise or the TV on in the background so I dont have to hear it. Fortunately it is not that loud and it gradually goes away. I just have to take as many steps as humanly possible to avoid colds.
Before having this 'idiotic' ailment I could hear a sound, know what it was, and know which direction the sound came from, now....I'm like a dog tilting it's head at particular sounds, I hear it, have no idea of what the sound is, and tilt my head trying to work out what it was and where the hell it came from...frustrating and annoying! The ringing seems more pronounced after driving a vehicle for me also, I've put this down to the air 'pressure' in the vehicle while travelling as causing this, I've found no studies available so I can't research this aspect. If I'm in bed and the wife makes the *slightest* noise anywhere in the house that sound is magnified 500 times while before having this issue it would have just been a noise, recognised, and ignored as no big deal, this is why I would say my hearing is 'too good'.
The wife constantly tells me to get a hearing aid but as tek freek said, I don't think that would *improve* the situation, and possibly make it worse as suggested.
Most sounds, I assume, would go unnoticed by those who do not have this 'ailment' whereas I'm always wondering what the sound is because I can no longer recognise the sound anymore, this is my reference concerning dreamweavins' statement regarding hearing being 'too good'. Anyone else who doesn't have tinnitus would just ignore the sound because it is instantly recognisable and wouldn't take any notice of it, I've lost the 'recognition' part and the 'source' of the sound so am left wondering what it was and where it came from trying to get some recognition, this is as frustrating as the ringing itself.
Cure?...I don't believe there is one, other than smacking a flat board on my ear to burst the eardrum and make me totally deaf in that ear, maybe that will shut it up. These are just a couple of my personal observations.
Before having this 'idiotic' ailment I could hear a sound, know what it was, and know which direction the sound came from, now....I'm like a dog tilting it's head at particular sounds, I hear it, have no idea of what the sound is, and tilt my head trying to work out what it was and where the hell it came from...frustrating and annoying! The ringing seems more pronounced after driving a vehicle for me also, I've put this down to the air 'pressure' in the vehicle while travelling as causing this, I've found no studies available so I can't research this aspect. If I'm in bed and the wife makes the *slightest* noise anywhere in the house that sound is magnified 500 times while before having this issue it would have just been a noise, recognised, and ignored as no big deal, this is why I would say my hearing is 'too good'.
The wife constantly tells me to get a hearing aid but as tek freek said, I don't think that would *improve* the situation, and possibly make it worse as suggested.
Most sounds, I assume, would go unnoticed by those who do not have this 'ailment' whereas I'm always wondering what the sound is because I can no longer recognise the sound anymore, this is my reference concerning dreamweavins' statement regarding hearing being 'too good'. Anyone else who doesn't have tinnitus would just ignore the sound because it is instantly recognisable and wouldn't take any notice of it, I've lost the 'recognition' part and the 'source' of the sound so am left wondering what it was and where it came from trying to get some recognition, this is as frustrating as the ringing itself.
Cure?...I don't believe there is one, other than smacking a flat board on my ear to burst the eardrum and make me totally deaf in that ear, maybe that will shut it up. These are just a couple of my personal observations.
If your ears are ringing for the same reason mine are this won't work. This page explains the "Hair Cells" and the role they play in hearing.
Since mine are damaged and always "on" breaking my ear drums would simply mean that I would hear nothing (?) except the ringing. At that point I would probably blow my brains out...
I also hear only part of what is going on around me including speech. I normally listen to what is said then "fill in the blanks" to figure out what I missed using the context of the conversation. I do hear some very interesting conversations!
Direction and source are also hard for me depending on both. When I hear a sound and c o c k (stupid filter!) my head my wife recognizes what I am doing and will tell me what it is.
In loud environments. like bars or restaurants, I usually can't hear what the people are saying at our table, but can clearly hear conversations on the other side of the room. Haven't figured that one out yet. Wearing hearing aids in this environment is pure Hell. I end up turning them off and taking them out. I haven't worn my $4000 hearing aids for over two years.
Lately I've noticed that on top of the constant ringing I am getting an additional ring that comes and goes. Those of you who's ears don't ring all the time should know what I mean. A ringing starts, normally in one ear, then goes away. I assume more "Hair cells" are dying and I'm in for a tough ride pretty soon.
Not sure I mentioned it earlier, but I have it in both ears 24/7.
Thanks for all the info from everyone. I knew I wasn't alone but really didn't know most of the sufferers dealt with the same issues....duh??? I've had a cold for about 4 days now and have been taking aspirin and it has been alot worse, especially with a congested head. I hadn't really thought about things that make it worse, except for salt. I love my coffee and chocolate too. My hearing seems worse, I live out in the middle of not much and would love to be able to hear the 'silence' but instead I hear the ring. I constantly have to ask people to repeat what they say, especially people who have a lower pitch to their voice. It really sucks, I guess all those Beatles, Stones, Led Zep, etc. concerts and albums that I loved so much have paid me back - you know what they say about paybacks I have some earplugs that I wear when my hubby goes to shoots, trap, skeet, sporting clays etc. They have been molded to my ears and I really hoped that they would help mask the noise, but it just muffles the good sounds, so I'm really deaf when people talk. I sure wish research would take a positive direction and start looking at it a bit closer. I can't believe with all of the technology we have today and all that we have been able to cure and conquer, that we can't find at least a medication or such that would at least help alleviate the suffering. People who don't have it have no idea how it affects our lives. It really is the pits. waaahhhhh, waaaahhhhh, wwwwaaaahhh.....
Since mine are damaged and always "on" breaking my ear drums would simply mean that I would hear nothing (?) except the ringing. At that point I would probably blow my brains out...
I also hear only part of what is going on around me including speech. I normally listen to what is said then "fill in the blanks" to figure out what I missed using the context of the conversation. I do hear some very interesting conversations!
Direction and source are also hard for me depending on both. When I hear a sound and c o c k (stupid filter!) my head my wife recognizes what I am doing and will tell me what it is.
In loud environments. like bars or restaurants, I usually can't hear what the people are saying at our table, but can clearly hear conversations on the other side of the room. Haven't figured that one out yet. Wearing hearing aids in this environment is pure Hell. I end up turning them off and taking them out. I haven't worn my $4000 hearing aids for over two years.
Lately I've noticed that on top of the constant ringing I am getting an additional ring that comes and goes. Those of you who's ears don't ring all the time should know what I mean. A ringing starts, normally in one ear, then goes away. I assume more "Hair cells" are dying and I'm in for a tough ride pretty soon.
Not sure I mentioned it earlier, but I have it in both ears 24/7.
Tek - I sure can relate to the 'filling in the blanks'.....Sometimes it's not good and you don't score too many points with people. Boy, some of the conversations that I think I hear should be written down, they can be pretty bizarre. I even have trouble with the TV. My hubby is deaf in one ear from working on a flight deck in the military, so he really can't help me out much either. I can't hear sounds in a crowded room and end up trying to read lips.....that's just plain dumb and I haven't conquered that feat yet at all.
ino- I am so sorry you're going through what I go through. Let me assure you though that even if your ear drum burst(they tend to heal) you wouldn't be deaf and if you ever go deaf, chances are the ringing would continue. Or so I've been told by a specialist.
This Too Good Hearing some of us have can be exasperating!! I hear noises blocks away from my house that no one else in the house can hear. You know the devices put on machinery for when they back-up or move through stores? The high pitched beep,beep,beep sounds?? OMG-I can't take it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ino
Cure?...I don't believe there is one, other than smacking a flat board on my ear to burst the eardrum and make me totally deaf in that ear, maybe that will shut it up. These are just a couple of my personal observations.
I've Tinnitus for about 20 years. For anyone hoping it will go away, it won't. The cause of mine, according to a doctor, is that the "hairs" in my ear that vibrate when hit with sound and pass that along to the brain are damaged and are now "always on". This was caused by loud noises when I was younger. Concerts, head phones, working in plants with no ear protection, etc. All those youngsters with the loud stereos in their cars are in for a rough time when they get older. Don't bother to tell them, it does no good. No more so than it would have when I was that age. Goes with the territory, ya know...
I have tried countless remedies, even muscle relaxers, and nothing works. I asked a doctor if I had someone intentionally deafen me if it would stop. After a look of incredulity and a long pause the answer was no, because those hairs are still damaged. Actually, I don't think he wanted to answer honestly. I doubt anyone would ever do it anyway, but I was pretty desperate.
If you have Tinnitus you do have a hearing loss. Everything that creates sound in the range of your Tinnitus you never hear, it's overpowered by the constant noise.
Some things I have learned over the years:
It's worse in winter when it is dry.
It's worse when I drink coffee, eat chocolate, or take in any stimulant like caffeine or tannin (teas contain this), aspirin, etc.
It's worse when I'm stressed.
It's more obvious when it's quiet unless I'm paying attention to something else, or preoccupied with something.
Hearing aids don't help. All they do is make everything I can hear louder. What I can't hear still isn't there. I was told that if my hearing was improved by a hearing aid that the ringing would not be as noticeable. Lie.
Suicide is not an option. Well, maybe. It has been a serious consideration on more than one occasion.
I don't think there is a great effort being made to find a solution. I doubt there ever will be. Since it is a "hidden" problem and not considered life-threatening (how many reported deaths are there from Tinnitus?) there will be little effort put forth to find a cure.
If you have it plan on having it the rest of your life.
Great post!
All I can add is I do the thing with the electric toothbrush - just below my ears and against my jawbone. With practice, I've been able to get my ears to "drain" by doing this, thereby releasing some pressure and making it seem a little better. Exercise and drinking plenty of water does the same thing, but the winter months are harder. I was fortunate to have a good doctor from the get-go who told me it will never go away and that the best thing is to let your brain adapt to it. I'm sure other people's tinnitus must be more severe than mine, but the first 2 years or so I wanted to shove an awl in my ears at times!
The other thing I do is meditate. This was nearly impossible at first because it seems that you are drowning out everything BUT the tinnitus! Silent rooms were hell for me. However, I have trained myself to concentrate on the sound - make it as loud as possible in my mind - and then to ignore it and listen to every other little sound you do not notice when going about your life and make the tinnitus fade away. It's amazing the power of the mind. It's been about ten years now, I must say that my tinnitus hardly affects me anymore. I do, however, notice the occasional severe reaction to a sound (like an alarm or interference on the radio) that does not seem to be bothering other people.
Thanks for all the info from everyone. I knew I wasn't alone but really didn't know most of the sufferers dealt with the same issues....duh??? I've had a cold for about 4 days now and have been taking aspirin and it has been alot worse, especially with a congested head.
Something I learned about aspirin that could be an old wives tale, I'm not sure; An indication of overdosing on aspirin is ringing in the ears. Uh, folks we have a problem!
Also, about aspirin, if you use uncoated aspirin and you've had it for a while open the bottle and smell it. If it smells like vinegar throw it out and replace it.
I have lost most of the hearing in my left ear and I have a ringing sound all the time. I was diagnosed with Sudden Nerosensory Hearing Loss. No cure of course, but a low salt diet helps. I did find something over the counter called Lipo-Flavonoid, it's made by doctors for ringing in the ear. It helped a lot a first, I still take it, but it doesn't help as much as it first did. You can get it at Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens.
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I have some earplugs that I wear when my hubby goes to shoots, trap, skeet, sporting clays etc. They have been molded to my ears and I really hoped that they would help mask the noise, but it just muffles the good sounds, so I'm really deaf when people talk. I sure wish research would take a positive direction and start looking at it a bit closer. I can't believe with all of the technology we have today and all that we have been able to cure and conquer, that we can't find at least a medication or such that would at least help alleviate the suffering. People who don't have it have no idea how it affects our lives. It really is the pits. waaahhhhh, waaaahhhhh, wwwwaaaahhh.....
Boy, some of the conversations that I think I hear should be written down, they can be pretty bizarre. I even have trouble with the TV. My hubby is deaf in one ear from working on a flight deck in the military, so he really can't help me out much either. I can't hear sounds in a crowded room and end up trying to read lips.....that's just plain dumb and I haven't conquered that feat yet at all.
