Any advice for a Tinnitus sufferer?

[Carpediem]

I've noticed in the past few months that the ringing / hissing sounds I constantly hear (i.e., Tinnitus) are a little louder and more irritating. I haven't gone to a doctor yet to confirm no underlying issues but I reluctantly will. Does anyone else have Tinnitus and if so, have you found anything to help lessen the 'noise'?

 

[mickeyd]

I have had tinnitus for about 50 years. I have been advised that it can not be repaired. I have learned to live with it and to "ignore" the white noise. If it is military-related, the VA will consider giving you hearing aid at no cost.


Good luck.

 

[Nemo2]

Mine is somewhat subdued, (and seems to be mainly in my left ear), and I've pretty much grown used to it......in fact, when I read the thread title, I thought "Hey, I have that".

What can be done to reduce it I don't know.

 

[Blueskies123]

I take citrus bioflavonoids and Ginko Biloba, it helps about 40%. I also learned to listen to the white noise and the mind tends to fad the sound into the background.

 

[Sunset]

If I listen for it, I can hear it, otherwise I don't notice it most of the time.
When it changes from a hiss to a high pitched squeal I notice it, and look to see if I stepped on the cat's tail

 

[Carpediem]

I take citrus bioflavonoids and Ginko Biloba, it helps about 40%.

Definitely going to try this. I read that Ginko wasn't proven to help but if it helped one person, I'm willing to give it a try. Thanks!

When it changes from a hiss to a high pitched squeal I notice it, and look to see if I stepped on the cat's tail

The first time I started hearing the higher pitch squeal I thought the fan I use at night needed to be greased, which I did. I was disappointed when the sound didn't go away and I realized it was my head that was squealing.

 

[Blueskies123]

Mine usually squeals only after too many drinks or Advil.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

You could try changing your diet. Magnesium helps with many auditory issues in general. And check PubMed for tinnitus and deficiency. From the first page I came up with B12 and zinc as nutrients with some research to consider:

"We observed that zinc levels decrease as age increases. In addition, there was a significant correlation between zinc level and the severity and loudness of tinnitus. Zinc deficiency was also associated with impairments in hearing thresholds."

 

[MRG]

I had Pulsatile tinnitus for some time. After going back on a beta blocker for hypertension it's pretty much gone.

 

[Freedom56]

I've noticed in the past few months that the ringing / hissing sounds I constantly hear (i.e., Tinnitus) are a little louder and more irritating. I haven't gone to a doctor yet to confirm no underlying issues but I reluctantly will. Does anyone else have Tinnitus and if so, have you found anything to help lessen the 'noise'?

My wife had it for a long time (years). The doctors did not help very much. She went for acupuncture treatments (which I think is a scam) for a few months and it went away. It has been over 14 years since she complained about the ringing in her years. I don't know if it was the acupuncture that actually did anything but at least she's better.

 

[GrayHare]

Has the skull-tapping cure worked for anyone? In my experience it works only temporarily.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bestof/comments/3l54rd/reddituser_amazes_with_cure_for_tinnitus/

 

[Amethyst]

I've had high-pitched tinnitus since my late 30's. It got really bothersome at times. It turned out I have lost some hearing in the same frequency as my tinnitus "appears" to be (since it's not a real noise, I'm not sure what verb to use). The loss is in the 4Khz and above range, mainly affecting my ability to distinguish multiple speakers and to clearly hear high-pitched female speakers.

The audiologist offered hearing aids as something that had helped some others in my situation. She was not pushy about it, and made no promises. After a couple of years of occasional use (in conversational settings and when listening to music) I can honestly say the aids have helped.

When I can clearly hear the high notes produced by birds, crickets, musical notes, high-pitched female voices etc, it seems to "drown out" the tinnitus. When I don't wear the aids, I can again hear the tinnitus, yet it is a psychological comfort to know that I can compensate for it any time I want.

 

[MRG]

Has the skull-tapping cure worked for anyone? In my experience it works only temporarily.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bestof/comments/3l54rd/reddituser_amazes_with_cure_for_tinnitus/

No but it's interesting. Further down that link a PT guy suggests why it might be beneficial.

Gotta love the Reddit community. I've learned a lot there.

 

[Senator]

I have had tinnitus for about 50 years. I have been advised that it can not be repaired. I have learned to live with it and to "ignore" the white noise. If it is military-related, the VA will consider giving you hearing aid at no cost.

If it's military related, you even get disability payments and free healthcare for life.

 

[Rianne]

I have tinnitus. Background noise helps me as well as a white noise machine when I sleep. Sometimes I forget about it, until I'm sitting quietly. It is really awful, sort of like floaters in the eyes. Not much they can do about either.

 

[Eagle43]

I have had tinnitus for about 50 years. I have been advised that it can not be repaired. I have learned to live with it and to "ignore" the white noise. If it is military-related, the VA will consider giving you hearing aid at no cost.


Good luck.

Me too. It never stops.

 

[marko]

My wife had it for a long time (years). The doctors did not help very much. She went for acupuncture treatments (which I think is a scam) for a few months and it went away. It has been over 14 years since she complained about the ringing in her years. I don't know if it was the acupuncture that actually did anything but at least she's better.

Had severe tinnitus for over two years. Just suddenly popped up. Couldn't hear a thing! Totally deaf on one ear.

Even went for MRIs and to Mass Eye and Ear. Drs said get used to it.

ONE session of acupuncture fixed it. Still need occasional sessions but it is pretty much gone for thr past 5 years.

 

[Bir48die]

I have tinnitus. Background noise helps me as well as a white noise machine when I sleep. Sometimes I forget about it, until I'm sitting quietly. It is really awful, sort of like floaters in the eyes. Not much they can do about either.

+1

Have both. Ringing has been 30+ years. Used to ramp up when I was stressed or especially after flying. Seems have gotten a bit worse lately. My wife gave me a bad time for a couple years about noise machine while sleeping. I sat down and explained I live with this 24/7. No more complaining.

Weird thing though even with tinnitus my hearing is acute and a light sleeper. However background noise really affects me at public places but that happens to most of us getting old

 

[Ticker]

this reminds me of the time years ago that my grandmother commented on the change in Louisiana mosquitos. She suddenly realized that they no longer "buzzed" even when they came close to her. Poor dear didn't recognize that her hearing was too far gone to hear them anymore.......

 

[Amethyst]

I'm another "poor dear" - mosquitoes sneak up on me quite easily now. My tinnitus sounds like mosquitoes.

When I was a teen, my high-frequency hearing was so keen it caused problems. I could hear the "starter hum" of florescent lights. It was actually painful and I sometimes could not stand to remain in the same room - or the store.

this reminds me of the time years ago that my grandmother commented on the change in Louisiana mosquitos. She suddenly realized that they no longer "buzzed" even when they came close to her. Poor dear didn't recognize that her hearing was too far gone to hear them anymore.......

 

[KCGeezer]

Doc told me to cut sodium to below 1500 mgs a day. I can tell when I go over for more than a day or two since the ringing starts coming back.

 

[dixonge]

Has the skull-tapping cure worked for anyone? In my experience it works only temporarily.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bestof/comments/3l54rd/reddituser_amazes_with_cure_for_tinnitus/

yep, temporary. Seems like it has caused most of the frequencies to die down, but I notice the remaining few pitches more. But overall volume reduction. Tried both sets of tapping solutions.

 

[Ginny]

My tinnitus has been around for a year, after some hearing loss. No reason. Hearings aids help my hearing. I also go to a tinnitus support group meeting once a month. ATA.org. It sucks, but now I'm retired with my pile and I'm gonna spend it!

 

[JTOrt]

I'm another "poor dear" - mosquitoes sneak up on me quite easily now. My tinnitus sounds like mosquitoes.

When I was a teen, my high-frequency hearing was so keen it caused problems. I could hear the "starter hum" of florescent lights. It was actually painful and I sometimes could not stand to remain in the same room - or the store.

I have the same issue, when I was young I could not stand the horizontal hold frequency in analog televisions and often adjusted it until it was tolerable. Now I have a constant squeal, worse when I am tired or unhealthy.

 

[grasshopper]

I have the white noise /hissing, Costco's hearing aids solved my hearing loss and tinnitus. My go to was not being able to hear those pesky rattlesnakes anymore.