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Tinnitus - Stop using masking = Bad for Brain Long Term
I am a deaf/hard of hearing elder woman with tinnitus caused by ototoxicity (multiple antibiotics treating C.Diff post surgery). I also have vestibular migraines and centralized vertigo because of the damage done to the cochlear and nerves of the ears. For treatment, I have been progressively using hearing aids with masking noise to tone out the tinnitus that has plague me since 1986. Problem is I now have progressive loss of word recognition and may need cochlear implants. I no longer use the masking since research now shows damage to the brain/limbic area of the brain from the assault of constant feedback of the masking noise which is louder than the tinnitus itself. Others around me hear it since they complain about the noise they hear coming from my hearing aids. I now hear just my tinnitus, which is a hissing sound - on the piano located 3 octaves above middle C - E flat. I am a pianist. Since having the masking turned off, I have had only one night of sleep interrupted by a loud episode of tinnitus explode in my dream/REM sleep. After 5 minutes, I went back to sleep. NEW research is closing in where it is located, how to treat it in different ways and what not to do and what one can try depending on why a person has the noises in their heads. I will never rid of mine since damage from the antibiotics, the MVAs caused damage to my brain, and other assaults all add up to a symptom that I will need to control and not eliminate in my lifetime. I am working with my Audiologist to come up with new ways to deal with this thorn in the side for now. Anyone else who wants to add their thread is welcome. Eloise (Headache Nurse)
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It sounds like you have found a way to cope with multiple stressors. I never knew people listen to masking at night. I have a masker option with my hearing aids but of course take them out before I sleep. The best thing I learned about using a masker is it should not be louder than the tinnitus. The masker is actually a backedrop to the tinnitus. Because as your story tells me; tinnitus is in the brain, not in the ears. You write "all assaults all add up to a symptom that I will need to control and not eliminate in my lifetime...."
The psychological aspect of that experience is profound. If you find a supportive audiologist that is half the battle. I live with 4 autoimmune illnesses and all of it I cope with knowing they are going to last for a lifetime. We find what joy we can find in each day. I am also a former RN (poet, yogi, baseball fan)!
It is a drag having to deal with so many difficulties. For once, it would be nice to have silence with NO noise....but that's not going to happen. Even when I swim, I still have the high frequency thrill. So like you say, I ignore it and do other things to fill my day.
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2 ReactionsI have had tinnitus for years. I just live with it but some nice if it ramps up, I have found that there are sounds on YouTube that helps me the most which are the crickets. You don’t use earbuds and you have the sound a little lower than your ears hissing. It greatly helps me get to sleep when it happens.
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2 Reactions@clee1946 I have to tell you I agree about those crickets! This is how I've helped myself the most on those nights that tinnitus is getting to me.
I had no tinnitus 5 months ago. I saw two different audiologists and two ENTs, one at Mayo Clinic, who gave me no answers. I was told that maybe I had a viral infection in December which makes no sense since I don’t have an infection now and it is getting worse every month. I am afraid that I will lose my hearing completely in a few months. I got prescription hearing aides which only help a little. They make sounds louder but there is little clarity.
I suspect that the tinnitus is caused from an anti seizure drug that I am taking called Depakote. There is apparently an uncommon association between Depacote and tinnitus. My only hope is to wean off of this drug and hope that I get some hearing back. I am at my wits end.
Has anyone out there had any experience with this drug reaction?
This drug has many side effects but not tinnitus. Because of the type of drug it is, the physician needs to closely monitor for perfect management your medical condition. You may get dizziness though. Since this is a new med for you and the symptom are new to you - this could be a new side effect for you. This should be reported right away to the doctor that is prescribing this to you STAT! They should give you another /different drug for your condition. Your physician may need to wean you off first before starting a new and different med. OR they may start a new one at the same drug level based on lab values. Always speak with you prescribing doctors about any new medicines and new symptoms you may have with it. NEVER assume that it is good to take something with symptoms that make you sick, fall down, dizzy, lose you hearing, raise your blood pressure, stop peeing or have diarrhea, are or will become pregnant. These and other symptoms can be lethal/hurt you if taken for the wrong reason. There are many different meds in the various categories of care you need for your condition. Your doctor and pharmacist can help you understand your symptoms and take better care of yourself.
I don't listen to any masking at night - the aids are taken out at night. I would love to have masking at night but too much buzz would kill my brain as the studies now show