What does your tinnitus sound like?

[ILikeToBeBesideTheSea]

I'm so worried that I'll never get used to mine as so many different noises/fluctuations. I have different tones in each ear which can fluctuate pitch or come and go intermittently and a general high pitch static sound that feels like it comes from the head but presume it's both ears. Anyone else have changing/fluctuating tinnitus? (Only had it 3 months so far......)

Bit of a depressing thought that this is permanent.

If it is only in one ear, make sure you visit a doctor (if you haven’t already) as there is a small chance it could be an acoustic neuroma.

@ILikeToBeBesideTheSea

Knowing what's caused it might help to accept it. Just woke up with it along with misaligned back teeth/tight jaw muscles one side but ENT said unlikely to have caused it especially since it's both ears.

Sounds like it's caused by TMJ. Have a look on google. I have it but have tuned it out mostly now.

In one ear it sounds like a crackling, crunching noise. That’s pretty constant. Th either ear is not as frequent, and that’s a high pitched squeaking noise, which comes on so suddenly that it shocks me.

High pitch whine in one ear, whooshy static sound the other 🤯

@BrokenCircle the sudden change in pitch shocks me sometimes, it's quite crazy what our bodies are capable of!

Mine started at about the same time that I started getting quite serious anxiety, so I wonder if it’s connected. For a while, I convinced myself it was wax, but I got it checked out and there was no issue.

I have a variety of noises, I don't notice them until they change. I have a high pitched continuous whine, a loud hissing, a low hum, static, crackling. Sometimes in one ear, or the other or both. I find it easy to tune it out. Had it as long as I can remember. I blame the many Rock concerts I stod in front of the speakers at in the 80s.

I've had mine 9 years. It's usually a high pitch buzz or a whistle, almost. It's not too loud usually but if I'm stressed or upset it gets worse. It doesn't usually bother me any more.

@MossandRoy I could understand if I had attended concerts/gigs/clubs/anything loud regularly but I haven't ever been into loud music so I don't think it's damage to ears that's caused this. Maybe anxiety but I wasn't particularly anxious or stressed when it started, so who knows. A terrible mystery!

A couple of months ago, I started hearing a rhythmic sound, a bit like a noisy dishwasher maybe, in my bedroom. I thought our NDNs might have some new appliance that was running through the night. Then I could hear it in the kitchen, two floors down, as well. My DP couldn't hear it, but she is a bit deaf. A few days ago, it occurred to me that it could be tinnitus (which I've never had before). However, I only ever hear it at home, and I think just in my bedroom and the kitchen - any thoughts from tinnitus experts here?

@BrokenCircle

Mine started at about the same time that I started getting quite serious anxiety, so I wonder if it’s connected. For a while, I convinced myself it was wax, but I got it checked out and there was no issue.

Mine did too! I had a massive panic attack and the tinnitus came on within a couple of days. I'd not long left an abusive marriage and ExH ramped up his behaviour several months later, hence the panic attack.

So general consensus is that I'll be able to live with it not bothering me too much eventually. Hard to imagine but hopeful it will happen.

I usually ignore mine apart from lying in bed at night or in the shower.

However just saw your thread title and seeing the word makes me instantly hear it!

Mine sounds like a high pitched swirling noise, but then has smaller back and forth ringing tones inside that.

I find ASMR helps to get me to ignore it and sleep

How can anxiety cause it?

I’ve no idea, but I added it to the list of anxiety symptoms, which is pretty long.

I’ve had tinnitus in my right ear since 2007 - it’s never gone away and is always noticeable although the volume does go up and down at times. It’s a very high pitched tone - if you think of a washing machine’s final spin cycle and then strip out all the sounds apart from the very highest - that’s what it sounds like.

Mine is caused by menieres so I also have a feeling of fullness in that ear as well which makes it harder to ignore. Soon after I was diagnosed I got sent to a tinnitus clinic at the hospital where a very patronising woman told me that as soon as I recognised that it wasn’t harmful then my brain would get habituated to it and it wouldn’t bother me any more ... 14 years later and I’m still waiting ...

I have different sounds too, OP. It really is your reaction to them that will help you habituate to the little fuckers.

If you react with panic/annoyance/exasperation, your brain goes into fight/flight mode and they start to dominate. But if you just get on with life the little fuckers will get bored and fade into the background.

If they make an appearance at bedtime put an audiobook on to distract you but don't try and drown them as that is indulging them - like toddlers

Best of luck, OP.

@BrokenCircle If caused by anxiety then maybe there is hope it could go as other anxiety symptoms can come and go/be better or worse.

I hope so.

It just makes me feel so mithered all the time.

Op, I'd like to reassure you that you will learn to tune it out eventually and there will be periods of time that you will not be not aware of it.

Mine sounds either like a high pitch dog whistle or, if it's particularly bad, a steam engine blowing out steam when stationary. My tinnitus is bilateral and I've had it for nearly two years. My DF had it, my DB has it and my 17 year old DS also has it.

My ENT consultant said stress will make it worse and suggested relaxation; also reducing alcohol intake. Menopause can trigger tinnitus too he said (not sure if that's relevant to you) so it's not necessarily a permanent condition.

There are times when I have completely forgotten it's there. I believe in my case there is a connection to my neck problems and will be trying some osteopathy when restrictions relax. It's worse after running and when slouched on a sofa.

I have joined some facebook tinnitus support groups and these have been helpful.

@Bloodybridget - I believe some chemotherapy can cause tinnitus.

@ILikeToBeBesideTheSea

It just makes me feel so mithered all the time.

As annoying as it is to be told this, you will get used to it and notice it less and less. The more you think about it the more you hear it.

I remember 15 years ago recently after getting it, crying my eyes out for hours in the bath because it wouldn't go away. Thinking how can I live with life with this? And really getting bogged down.

I can't get mine to go away by willing it to. I have to distract myself with something else. I'd say it took me a couple of years to adjust.

You will learn your own management technique for it, listening to white noise at bedtime. Not thinking about it, not talking about it, not reading threads about it.....

I have the whole range, some high pitched and some low, rumbling, but the loudest is just the right pitch to muffle men's voices, even if I'm not consciously hearing it.