r/tinnitus

Hey all,

About 3 weeks ago I woke up with ringing in my left ear that won’t go away. Started freaking out and have been stuck on this sub almost every day, which I know doesn’t help but I’ve been desperate.

I’ve been to two ents and an audiologist, they found no hearing loss and pressure in my ears seems normal. Second ent prescribed fluticasone in case of ETD ( have also had fluttering in the ear and random occasional pains. My nose also consistently seems some level of stuffed) but I am terrified of taking it and making the tinnitus worse.

Have any of you here taken it and had ok results (or at least no worsening of your tinnitus?). I really want to try it but am very afraid.

Some other notes about my T:
-definitely have bruxism, not sure about Tmj, but should probably have a mouth guard
- I work in the water for a living, and before this started had no issues but recently noticed the T will migrate to both ears/brain underwater and change tone. The ringing will stay louder for a period when I get out. The past few days this has randomly been happening out of the water too
-had a gnarly ear infection in left ear about a decade ago
-remember a loud concert that hurt my left ear about the same time, but no tinnitus then
-currently undergoing rabies prophylaxis, but issues started before

-probably have ocd/anxiety I need to deal with 🤪

Thanks for reading

So I’m a 26 year old male from London and I don’t go out every week or anything like that but only every so often usually when I get invited.

I was invited to a birthday party in April and decided to go but the next day I woke up with tinnitus in my left ear which hasn’t left and I can hear right now as I type this and is driving me insane.

What I don’t get is how so many people are out in shoreditch or Leicester Square every weekend and none of them seem to have to tinnitus. How comes I get tinnitus but all of my friends and everyone else seem to go clubbing way more than me and are off scot free why do I get singled out when I don’t even go out so often

If you have normal hearing thresholds, but you feel like your hearing has changed / been reduced, that is still a loss do you agree?

There is much more to hearing beyond the 8khz range. My entire surroundings are dull, I can hear stuff but they are distant and lack the nuances. To keep it simple, my ears don’t react to sound nor feel the vibrations/sensations. (Hearing but not feeling)

I hope there is a cure for this one day im 6 months in

Sorry, I feel like I post here every week.
Ive had tinnitus for 10 years, made in worse in only my right ear for about a month. All noise induced from earbuds.

The hardest part is dealing with the idea that I did this to myself, again. I spiral into so many terrible thoughts.
I habituated the first time since it was in both ears. But with only one ear getting worse, it feels impossible.
My old T baseline was reliable, wasn’t really reactive. Easy to mask & forget.
Now my right ear gets worse with sound, and reacts terribly & is somatic with my heads position.

I beat myself up everyday because I should have known better.. I let my guard down, got comfortable & now I have to pay the price.
I break down all the time thinking about how my life was only a month ago.. everyone says to just live life & try not to dwell on it. But I just can’t, it’s always on my mind & the guilt just eats away at me. I feel broken & I have to care for my family, especially for my daughter. But I just don’t feel like i’m here anymore. I feel like a ghost in my own body going through the motions. I lost the feeling of being alive & happy. It’s all made me a husk of the person I was a month ago. I don’t know how to let go and accept life isn’t fair. Maybe one day I will, but I have no idea when that will be…

So over time I’ve started to habituate to my tinnitus to the point where most of my day is not bothersome. Sleep however remains the big challenge.

I have slept with masking noise (purple noise) everyday since the two months this has happened. I put a timer on for around 30mins then fall asleep.

The trouble is I feel like I wake up way more than before. I have cycled prednisone a few times in that span of time which I know mimics cortisol (stress hormone) and can throw the body’s balance out of whack. It also makes it harder to sleep as mentioned by my pharmacist.

But even a few weeks after stopping that I am not getting anywhere near the same sleep quality as I once was. I am definitely slightly more stressed than before due to this condition, but otherwise my life and routine are more or less the same.

I do have a sleep monitor which I will start using soon, and I have data from before my incident so when I overcome the anxiety I’ll start comparing results (and update here). But was wondering if people had noticed in general poorer sleep.

I gotta be honest it’s my biggest fear as this truly will make the condition damage my body and quality of life.

Looking for comments based on experience on tinnitus caused by high frequency hearing loss.

To me it seems my tinnitus is kind of struggle between lost hearing and brain. Sometimes tinnitus is milder sometimes stronger. When it's high tinnitus, I have difficulty hearing high frequencies and things sound broken. When tinnitus is low, things like wind and rain sound muffled and weird, duller.

I have only been struggling with this for a year or so. Not sure if things are stable yet or still brain adapting.

Anyway. Those of you have had tinnitus longer? Did you have this kind of period where you can still remember what wind or rain should sound like but then damaged hearing can only deliver part of it? Is this the source of tinnitus? Will it always be this kind of push and pull? Thanks for reading.

wtf is the relation even??????

My ENT did a very basic check told me I should basically just accept the situation even though he ignored my other symptoms that I told him about, I’m wondering are these normal symptoms and should I get a second opinion?

Symptoms: clicking noise when swallowing, my ear canal always feel full/open, my ears feel stiff and tense, lack of earwax/dry ear wax, breathing with my nose on the left side disappears from time to time, sensitive to s’ sounds, loud noises are uncomfortable, my nose doesn’t empty from debris, there’s also a type of bleeding feeling in my ear or it feels like liquid is pouring out.

I refuse to believe that my condition is this simple and my other symptoms are irrelevant.

Morning Everyone, I have tons of ad videos of tinnitus being resolved with neck adjustments.

Has anyone tried this?

My tinnitus ringing is in both ears, but I also have loss of hearing and balance issues. On days when my tinnitus is really loud my chances of having a vertigo event is really high.

In ONE ear

It’s very strange. I have had tinnitus for 6 years. went to a concert the other day and in my left ear the ringing is a bit louder than normal. Trying not to freak out over it… whatever. But this experience has made me think about tinnitus, something I haven’t done in forever, and I realized my right ear is completely silent. As in COMPLETELY quiet. I’m floored! Sure my left ear is a bit buggy but hey a win is a win right?

It's been about a month and a half since I got T and a month since my last post on here and I was hopeful that it would eventually disappear. Thankfully, it has gotten quieter most likely due to habituation but I'm now starting to accept that this will be with me for the rest of my life and I'm only 20 years old. I haven't yet gone to an ENT, but when I do go I'm anticipating that they'll find what's causing it just to then pull out the usual "just live with it." I don't think my T is a jaw or neck issue and I don't take any meds.

While having T, I've read many many stories of people with it, from people with successful lives to people who are constantly in a crisis. It's given me a weird sense of ambition on studying and finding permanent cures for T covering everything that causes it, and extending into finding ways solutions for hyperacusis and other conditions. I'm curious if anyone here has felt this way before, and have brainstormed any ideas on what permanent solutions there could be? No wrong answers! Fire away! This invisible monster must go eventually.

Did air condition or wind cause anyone tinnitus? Or maybe etd?

Does steroid help you?

I feel a lot better about having tinnitus, hidden hearing loss, and extended hearing frequency loss compared to before. I'll never truly get over it, but I know I can find happiness still. I'll always think to myself, "How would've this sounded like, " "How would the air feel in my my ears," or "I wish I could properly hear this or them."

The only thing that bugs me is how alone I feel. I have no one to really talk to and process my pain.

My parents don't take me seriously. They get mad or frustrated when I tell them because they think im making it up. They think that because my audiogram looks good, there shouldn't be any problems hearing or any severe tinnitus.

My sister, who made me go to the concert, which resulted in my hearing loss, doesn't care either.

That especially hurts because I didn't want to go with her and I took her there even though my parents didn't want her to go, because they're the type who hates any kind of city for some reason. I did a lot for her in life and spent a lot of time helping her with various things.

She bought a ticket even though I didn't tell her I was going to go. She then guilt tripped me constantly when I tried to pull out even at the last minute.

It's my fault for not understanding that a concert could give me hearing loss, but it's frustrating that she downplays everything that happened and what im feeling. She even made fun of me, too. When I put on earplugs and I cant hear the concert, of course im going to think maybe im overreacting.

The only one who believes me is my other sibling. They know because I used to be a lot more alert in my surroundings and used to get irritated at the slightest type of noise.

I don't even react to a lot of things anymore, I love being loud and energetic, but its hard because I literally can't feel my voice in my ears anymore or any kind of sound, vibration, air and temperature. My dad was test driving a car, and he was like "woah can you hear that engine roar!". I can hear it, but I can't feel it, so it sounds incredibly dull.

I don't know if anyone is even looking for a treatment for hidden hearing loss or if it's even something audiologists take seriously. Does anyone even know that you can lose all feeling in your inner ear? That its even possible to lose the ability to feel the air, the temperature, the humidity in the air, vibrations, echos, reduced volume perception and no sharpness, or clarity to sound? Everything sounds so soft and quiet now, like someone put a volume control on my life, reduced the sound quality, and put a sock on the speaker.

If this is my new normal then I’m better off dead

I've had pretty constant tinnitus ever since i was like 17 or so, i used to blast music in my ears all the time. I've since stopped blasting music and i even stopped using ear phones as much, only for calls and such, but lately despite all of that, my tinnitus has been getting a lot louder lately.

i went to an ENT at one point to see how much hearing damage i have and they said my hearing was pristine, so the tinnitus seems to just be something my brain is creating. And I've since come to peace with it, the constant ringing used to keep me up, but i can now live with the loud silence. But lately it has gotten a lot louder though... and i don't know if i should go back to an ENT or what... It's not enough to keep me up at night, but it's to the point where it's starting to make me worry/feel a little uncomfortable at times.

If anyone knows of any potential causes for me to look into i would greatly appreciate it

TL DR: lots of things going on and I'm having a spike - what do I do now? Advice needed.

About a week ago there was a tragic accident - a relative died. It was horrible. We had to resuscitate them. Later the paramedics arrived and a helicopter landed nearby. Rest in peace, they will be missed.

And all of this happened on a very hot day in the sun and I was already out working in the heat before that. I was exposed to a lot of mental and physical stress.

So I needed to deal with death while having sunstroke and being dizzy for a few days (and some sunburn). I got an initial tinnitus spike that was noticable but not too bad, so I didn't think about it much (mind you I have strong OCD). But this first spike resolved after 3 days or so.

After I got better I went to the shopping mall to distract myself. Suddenly I heard a tire screech in the parking garage. It happened further away from me and the loudness was still "okay" in my eyes, although loud. I did get a weird feeling in my right ear when it happened - although I was exposed to noises like that before without much issue.

Later that ear spiked. And it's been like that for a few days now.

I am bad at dealing with T and my right ear is more difficult to deal with. It recently improved and it was easier to deal with - now it's back to being reactive again (luckily only sometimes). I also have this variable, jumpy morse code like sound in my right - now it's louder and more continuous. That one relly gets to me.

What caused my spike? The physical exhaustion, the mental stress or the noise? The emergency scene was loud, lots of yelling, and the helicopter also. But it was still within the "bad, but shouldn't cause issues" territory loudness wise. Was it the tire screech? Or all of those together?

I'm now constantly checking my T.

I hope my spike will settle. I have an audiologist appointment booked in a few days since my ENT is on holidays *sigh*.

Any advice?

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice from fellow tinnitus sufferers. I will preface this with I have been to my PCP and a dentist but have not been to the ENT or audiologist yet. But I am slowly going crazy!

My story:

My high pitched tinnitus in my right ear started about 14 years ago after my ear drum ruptured on a flight. I've acclimated and am fine after all this time, but now I have a NEW noise in my LEFT ear. It's slow rumbling that sounds maybe between 60-100 hz.

I can't tell if it's internal or external, I truly don't know. I live in the country so it being something external feels unlikely since where I live is residential with a handful of small family farms. I have posted a few times on NextDoor and no one has said they hear anything, and neither does anyone in my house.

So, I'm lead to believe it's internal. It started in April and I went to see my PCP in the beginning of June. I've been on allergy meds for about 3 weeks, and had 5 days of no rumbling that promptly ended this morning.

This morning, my ears feel stuffy and a bit wet. This rumbling is driving me so mad that the high pitched tinnitus doesn't even seem that bad anymore.

Does anyone know what might be happening? I am waiting until my next checkup with my PCP to see an ENT or audiologist since I have a history of health anxiety and feel specialists don't take you seriously if you make the appointment without a referral.

I have tried to cover up my tinnitus at night before sleep but nothing seems to work. I can still hear it because it’s silent at night, even if it’s on full volume. I don’t use headphones because I don’t want to damage my ears. I can distract myself from it during the day or in public with loud noises, but I can’t find a good audio for tinnitus relief.

I kinda got used to the ringing now after almost 1.5 years since I got tinnitus. But this physical feeling is the most annoying. Like with every sound that my body wants me to pulk my ear. It is frustratingly annoying.
Anyone else have this?
I kinda want to know how to make this better

First I don’t mean any offense to people that have worse issues than I do. I understand there are people that have it worse and may envy the level my issues are at. My heart goes out to ya’ll.
Second I think this is more of a hearing loss post than much else. I don’t believe mine is as severe as I can find many like minded people.

Backstory - lived in the south whole life. Go dawgs! Lived life around music and one of the most important aspects of life. My dad plays and sings. I play guitar and sing. I’ve had tinnitus since I was 18 working construction. Never bothered me because it was small and I only ever heard it in very quiet rooms. Never had issues sleeping stress never heard it though the day. Joined military at 19 been around loud machines a such.

Fast forward 6 years later work in law enforcement in the community I grew up in. Last September and old friend stopped by showed me a new .44 magnum he had and I knew better but I shot it without ear protection. Context I grew up shooting guns like that on occasion and it’s never did anything than make my ears ring for a couple hours. I thought hey one gunshot isn’t gonna hurt my hearing seriously I mean my ears already ring in quiet rooms what’s the worst that could happen. Wasn’t as educated on hearing loss as I am now and now i do realize I was a dumbass. It immediately changed “something” like the tinnitus I already had became significantly louder in left ear and my humming sounded different. Like not centered in my head. Immediately half concerned cuz for one loud noise make ears feel weird. About a week later I forgot about it. Tinnitus was louder at night but nothing that kept me from sleeping. Playing games with headset sounded normal. Music sounded normal.

Fast forward a month took my new girlfriend to our first SEC football game. DID NOT REALIZE HOW LOUD THAT STUFF WAS. Great game. One of the best memories I will have hands down. One issue. During the game everytime the crowd roared my left ear would scream with hyperacusis (lol new term I learned last month). Never experienced noise feedback like that. After the game it felt like my left ear didn’t exist, my humming was completely one sided, And music was pushed more towards the right ear. Immediate concern that I brought it up to my girlfriend. She said get a doctors appointment and I put it off like whatever. Tinnitus didn’t really change. Driving around in a car music still sounded off in my left ear. It was like I could hear the music louder with my right ear. In my gaming headset audio was very slight right sided. But eventually over months I gotten used to it I guess or it got better idk. Stopped worrying me and I forgot about it 99 percent of the time. Was more cautious about my ears at this point because I’m noticing changes.

Fast forward to April. Got sick and the tinnitus in my left ear was horrible. Had sleeping issues. It was like it was screaming at me. Went away about a week. I still remember the day I stepped out the shower and was like I CANT HEAR IT and the amount of euphoria I got from it. Realized something was wrong though. Never had ringing ears when sick. Was very cautious about hearing.
A few weeks later Went to the between the hedges country concert and brought ear protection. Didnt want to experience what I did again or make it worse. Went to the concert, wore the protection for most of the concert.

Woke up the next morning everything changed. I had tinnitus in my left ear like I’ve never experienced. I did not know it could get that bad. It was trauma inducing. 24/7 non stop. Could not sleep, could not watch tv. Nothing. I would put on marvel movies and try to distract myself best I could. I was in a stress state 24/7. Ended up having a panic attack a week later. (I’ve never had anxiety issues). This was day to day for me. Hearing changed. Could not hear as clear in left ear. It was almost like the ear wasn’t there. Didn’t have issues conversations but music was definitely one sided including vocals. It’s been about two months dealing with this.

A month into this event I don’t know if the tinnitus calmed down or if my brain is used to it. There are times it’s loud but I don’t generally worry about it anymore. I don’t have sleeping problems or panic attacks anymore. It’s not something I would only hear at night. It turned into a part of my life. Last night had a bad spike but whatever. My thing is now. Since I’ve stopped focusing on tinnitus I’ve payed attention to how my hearing actually is and it’s very different. It’s like my world is right sided. Disorienting at times and this stresses me out now. Even someone talking to me I can hear them louder in right ear than left. Headphones on everything is right sided. Don’t like to play video games anymore because of the hearing difference. I don’t like to sing anymore because I get somewhat hyper accusis from my own voice and I can hear myself different and it’s not centered. I can’t hear certain crickets in left ear. I got a hearing test with the military and hearing frequencies were all normal up to 6000 hz. I did a test with my headphones on and I can’t hear frequencies above 9,000 hz in my left ear. I think my right goes up to 14 hz. I awaiting an appointment right now to get further testing.

My question is if there’s anybody with similar hearing differences and I’m not asking if hearing comes back cuz I’ve recently learned that one’s the cells die they don’t come back. Is that does this difference get easier to deal with. Does life ever feel normal again. Because this difference has thrown my whole perception of sound off. I’m checking my ears 24/7 and I’m stressing bad. I’m hoping I can get used to this difference between my ears but it’s a hard task.