Tinnitus

I know tinnitus stems from the brain. I watched a 45 minute video on it and it's the mis communication between the ear and the brain due to constant exposure or medical issues that cause the silica in the ear to not process sound efficiently so the brain is getting mixed signals from sound it is trying to sort out. I only said I needed to see an audiologist or an ENT to make sure it isn't something else that is causing it. I've done extensive research, trust me. In fact, my neurologist also told me I could see an audiologist if I wanted to but there was nothing they could do to fix it. If it's something else like wax, something that can be fixed surgically like a growth, tumor or if it's injury to ear drum at least I'd know what was causing it. I've never had one refer me to an audiologist, it's been my idea to see one then they tell me what they think. The drainage I get every now and then that feels like sand in my ear certainly isn't coming from my brain.

There are audiologists who have tinnitus programs. There is no cure but they help with masking and for some, hearing aids help.

Widex Zen, Tinnitus Management i App Store (apple.com)

Widex, a manufacturer or hearing aids located in Denmark, received the award for innovation related to tinnitus at a world wide conference . There is some interesting data, along with access to what other hearing instrument manufacturers are doing relative to tinnitus.

There is interesting information at this link about how hearing aid manufacturers are developing apps that help mask tinnitus. Scroll down to the bottom of the article for information about a variety of hearing aid manufacturers who are working on this.

I cannot tell if you've had responses.and I want to say may God bless you and comfort you. Did you look at your chemotherapy drugs? My husband was on a chemotherapy drug Cisplatin at a higher dose and he had the ringing of the ears and it was pretty bad… So they lowered the dose twice, and the ringing stopped.

Never been on chemotherapy drugs. I do have vertigo and have had it for 40+ years. I have inner ear problems and a lot of sinus infections that require antibiotics. That's the main reason I need to see ENT because of vertigo.

I read an article on this too.

I think one day there will be a cure when they can figure out the receptors in the brain that is having a hard time figuring out what to do with the misinformation of sound. It's similar to a station that doesn't come in clearly but you keep adjusting and soon the signal is clear and you can make sense of the words on the radio. The part of the brain responsible for processing the sounds is getting interference and it doesn't know what to do with the noise. It doesn't know how to process it. It's really complex and since so many people suffer from it, it's only a matter of time before they get it figured out.

Noise exposure is commonly known as a cause of tinnitus. Both hearing loss and tinnitus are the most common disabilities experienced by military personnel returning from combat zones. Most often they come together, but not always as one or the other can happen alone.

It's important to use protective ear plugs when in extreme noise. That includes when pursuing recreational activities like hunting and attending live sports & musical events. Tinnitus and hearing loss caused by extreme noise are both becoming more common. Important to understand that this causative factor is likely the only one that can be managed easily.

We often attend NFL games. Fortunately, our team plays in an outdoor stadium, so the noise is a bit less than in an indoor stadium. It is sad to attend a game in an indoor stadium where the announcers on the 'big screens' are running decibel meters and encouraging the crowd to make it louder. Anything over 85 dBs is dangerous to hearing. Sometimes the dB meter at those stadiums goes up over 130 dBs. Not good. Wear ear protection to the games!

I have had various degrees of tinnitus for 7? maybe years? The ? indicates that it is currently not very intense, and/or I have adjusted to it, or my general hearing is getting so bad that I don’t “hear” it anymore? That’s unlikely. Anyway, yes, I know it originates in the brain, and yes, I know it’s often caused by prolonged noise exposure. Mine (never had earbuds, never had a boom box - yes, that old) most noise causes would be vacuum cleaner or hairdryer, neither of which I use for hours. Especially the vacuum cleaner. Humor aside, I wanted to share my somewhat unusual road to tinnitus. Following timeline accordingly 7+ years.
Came back from 9+ hour overseas flight, had routine Dr.’s appointment about 10 days later. I always get somewhat stuffy ears on long flights due to pressure changes, so doc saw excess ear wax. Nurse proceeded to (quite roughly, I thought) flush both ears. 2 nights later I had the ocean cresting in my bedroom/ears. Really loud. As if you’re on an angry beach. Tried to ignore, tried to read to exhaustion, tried to run fan - no help. Eventually I did get some nights of sleep simply because one has to sleep. And then very gradually the whooshing got softer, until by May (started late January) it had faded away. Yeah!
But no. Next year, same time, overseas flight TO Europe - all good. Nice Hotel. Snowy night. Window open. And crickets. ???? Snowy nights are known for absolute silence. Not crickets. So - tinnitius 2.0 . Still same sort of thing today. In total silence just a really irritating high-pitched hum. Normal every-day life bearable. But I will never, ever, again, experience the dead silence of a snowy winter’s night.
End of essay.

I know .. my tinnitus is those noisy crickets...I wish for silence but after 30plus years . Never no silence...it is a shame our doctors cannot help us .....