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Original poster

How common is Tinnitus?

190 replies

Mcoco · 15/06/2025 22:48

I developed tinnitus in December in one ear after an ear infection. I am habituating now, slowly but I am getting there. My question is how common is tinnitus? Does anyone else have it too? Do you find you can just block it out?

OP posts:
Nannyfannybanny · 17/06/2025 14:38

Mcoco,no not hereditary, very common,my son is autistic and has rapid cycle bipolar,he wears ear phones a lot but with low volume. He has no deafness. When he first got it,he was given a steroid nasal spray which he said helped at first.. he's not very impressed with the CBT, but he would be a difficult subject.they asked if I had worked in a noisy environment, nope mostly nursing, mostly nights.

Original poster
Mcoco · 17/06/2025 18:08

Nannyfannybanny · 17/06/2025 14:38

Mcoco,no not hereditary, very common,my son is autistic and has rapid cycle bipolar,he wears ear phones a lot but with low volume. He has no deafness. When he first got it,he was given a steroid nasal spray which he said helped at first.. he's not very impressed with the CBT, but he would be a difficult subject.they asked if I had worked in a noisy environment, nope mostly nursing, mostly nights.

Not genetic at all then. I hope the ear phones help him cope. CBT sometimes helps people but I have read a lot of negative views about it. At least your son is trying everything. It may be hard adapting CBT for a child with autism.
Nursing is not noisy at all so no answers for you. I think most of the time the medical profession haven't got any answers and we have to sadly just cope.

OP posts:
TrentCrimmsflowinglocks · 17/06/2025 18:32

I got it from having Covid in early 2020. Menopause has undoubtedly made it worse...

Original poster
Mcoco · 18/06/2025 08:38

TrentCrimmsflowinglocks · 17/06/2025 18:32

I got it from having Covid in early 2020. Menopause has undoubtedly made it worse...

That's a shame menopause made it worse. I hope you have habituated a bit too it.

OP posts:
OldWomanInACardigan · 18/06/2025 08:51

I've had Tinnitus in both ears (although one is worse than the other), 24/7, for 18 years, following a car crash. I can ignore it for a lot of the time.

Original poster
Mcoco · 18/06/2025 12:03

OldWomanInACardigan · 18/06/2025 08:51

I've had Tinnitus in both ears (although one is worse than the other), 24/7, for 18 years, following a car crash. I can ignore it for a lot of the time.

I am sorry to hear that. 18 years is a long time. So encouraging to hear you can ignore it most of the time. I find I am fine some nights I need to use a sound machine though.

Can anyone recommend a good portable sound machine to take on holiday?

OP posts:
Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/06/2025 12:06

I have it too, both ears, high pitched constant 'whistling' sound. I actually don't even hear it mostly because background noise distracts me from it and I run audio books overnight (to help me sleep) so I'm very rarely in silence. I only 'hear' it when everything else is totally quiet, which is rare!

FragrantJasmine · 18/06/2025 12:22

My husband had it on one side for years and was told by medics to just put up with it.

Eventually, one referred him for an MRI, and it was a tumour causing it.

Flowers73752 · 18/06/2025 12:37

I have had it for years. Mine is a wooshing sound. It used to be a couple times a month and then when I was buying my first house I had it constantly everyday. GP sent me to the hospital and it turns out it was being made worse by stress. As soon as I completed on the house it went back to normal immediately! It does seem to be worse now though. I get it whenever there is no sound. It doesn't bother me too much but I have been told there are support groups available for people who have it

Original poster
Mcoco · 18/06/2025 22:15

FragrantJasmine · 18/06/2025 12:22

My husband had it on one side for years and was told by medics to just put up with it.

Eventually, one referred him for an MRI, and it was a tumour causing it.

Your poor husband that must have been a shock. Did they remove the tumour?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mcoco · 18/06/2025 22:16

Flowers73752 · 18/06/2025 12:37

I have had it for years. Mine is a wooshing sound. It used to be a couple times a month and then when I was buying my first house I had it constantly everyday. GP sent me to the hospital and it turns out it was being made worse by stress. As soon as I completed on the house it went back to normal immediately! It does seem to be worse now though. I get it whenever there is no sound. It doesn't bother me too much but I have been told there are support groups available for people who have it

Stress causes so many things even tinnitus!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mcoco · 18/06/2025 22:18

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 18/06/2025 12:06

I have it too, both ears, high pitched constant 'whistling' sound. I actually don't even hear it mostly because background noise distracts me from it and I run audio books overnight (to help me sleep) so I'm very rarely in silence. I only 'hear' it when everything else is totally quiet, which is rare!

It is true I find I too am rarely in silence. Silence is unbearable with tinnitus!

OP posts:
Nannyfannybanny · 19/06/2025 09:43

Stress doesn't cause tinnitus,it can exacerbate it,or make it more noticeable.. I have days when it's so loud I can't hold a conversation. There is a tinnitus society and a lot of areas have their own local support groups. Several people a year sadly commit suicide because of tinnitus.

Original poster
Mcoco · 19/06/2025 14:14

Nannyfannybanny · 19/06/2025 09:43

Stress doesn't cause tinnitus,it can exacerbate it,or make it more noticeable.. I have days when it's so loud I can't hold a conversation. There is a tinnitus society and a lot of areas have their own local support groups. Several people a year sadly commit suicide because of tinnitus.

So sad 😞

OP posts:
sonjadog · 19/06/2025 14:24

I have had it for three years this autumn. I got it after covid. It is like a constant whispering/swooshing in my ears. The first few months were HARD. I couldn't sleep, had panic attacks and just generally fell apart. I went to a specialist (paid a huge amount to go private) and they found no damage and generally tried to reassure me. The advice I got from the specialist was to tell myself it wasn't a big deal (reduce the stress that was making it worse) and train myself to consciously listen to other sounds. I was also on anti-depressants for about three months to help me deal with it. If it hadn't got better, I would have considered a hearing aid.

The treatment worked and within three months I had habituated enough to stop taking anti-depressants and to go back to normal life, but it took about another 18 months for me to stop being nervous about flying, listening to music and other potential issues. It doesn't bother me now at all and live life as before. You will get there, OP. Try not to panic and you will get through this.

familyissues12345 · 19/06/2025 14:32

I have it, have had it for 6/7 years. Fairly mild, can’t really hear it until I think about it, or I’m in a very quiet room.
Think mine is linked to my eustation tube (sp?) as my ears are very crackly in general

FragrantJasmine · 19/06/2025 14:36

Mcoco · 18/06/2025 22:15

Your poor husband that must have been a shock. Did they remove the tumour?

Show quote history

They gave him 4 options. Watch and wait, surgical removal, radiotherapy or gamma knife. He went for gamma knife. Very straightforward, the treatment took minutes. I think he had one night in hospital and was absolutely fine.

Original poster
Mcoco · 19/06/2025 15:33

FragrantJasmine · 19/06/2025 14:36

They gave him 4 options. Watch and wait, surgical removal, radiotherapy or gamma knife. He went for gamma knife. Very straightforward, the treatment took minutes. I think he had one night in hospital and was absolutely fine.

Show quote history

I am really pleased to hear that and glad it was so straight forward too. Did his tinnitus go once it was removed? I hope so.

OP posts:
FragrantJasmine · 19/06/2025 15:42

Mcoco · 19/06/2025 15:33

I am really pleased to hear that and glad it was so straight forward too. Did his tinnitus go once it was removed? I hope so.

Show quote history

No, he still has tinnitus and he lost lots of hearing because of the op. 😂

Original poster
Mcoco · 19/06/2025 15:45

FragrantJasmine · 19/06/2025 15:42

No, he still has tinnitus and he lost lots of hearing because of the op. 😂

Show quote history

Sorry to hear that no pun intended! The main thing is the tumour has been removed and he is healthy.

OP posts:
EdithStourton · 19/06/2025 15:49

I have it - it started during the menopause. It has very gradually got a bit louder but mostly I'm able to ignore it. It's not audible when eg I'm listening to the radio when cooking. If I'm out of doors, other ambient noises generally block it out.

It's most noticeable when I trying to get to sleep.

A few months back it went completely silent for about 10 minutes, I have no idea why, and it was bliss.

Original poster
Mcoco · 19/06/2025 18:26

sonjadog · 19/06/2025 14:24

I have had it for three years this autumn. I got it after covid. It is like a constant whispering/swooshing in my ears. The first few months were HARD. I couldn't sleep, had panic attacks and just generally fell apart. I went to a specialist (paid a huge amount to go private) and they found no damage and generally tried to reassure me. The advice I got from the specialist was to tell myself it wasn't a big deal (reduce the stress that was making it worse) and train myself to consciously listen to other sounds. I was also on anti-depressants for about three months to help me deal with it. If it hadn't got better, I would have considered a hearing aid.

The treatment worked and within three months I had habituated enough to stop taking anti-depressants and to go back to normal life, but it took about another 18 months for me to stop being nervous about flying, listening to music and other potential issues. It doesn't bother me now at all and live life as before. You will get there, OP. Try not to panic and you will get through this.

Did the anti depressants help you habituate do you think? I am so happy you have habituated now. It's these types of posts that really give me hope. Thank you for your advice. I really try not to panic and in many ways am getting used to it. But like you did I worry about making it worse. I am helping at my daughters prom next week and will wear ear plugs but I am still nervous.

Can I ask you what do you do when. Flying. That's my worry in July do I wear earplugs the whole time I know many previous posters said they don't.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mcoco · 19/06/2025 18:29

EdithStourton · 19/06/2025 15:49

I have it - it started during the menopause. It has very gradually got a bit louder but mostly I'm able to ignore it. It's not audible when eg I'm listening to the radio when cooking. If I'm out of doors, other ambient noises generally block it out.

It's most noticeable when I trying to get to sleep.

A few months back it went completely silent for about 10 minutes, I have no idea why, and it was bliss.

Oh wow that must have seemed so odd! Such a shame the silence didn't last.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mcoco · 19/06/2025 18:30

Thank you everyone for your encouraging posts I love reading them and they are helping me so much. more than any specialists I have seen!

OP posts:
Alaosh · 19/06/2025 18:33

I’ve had pulsating tinitus for a while now, drives me up the wall, but recently spoke to a specialist who’s going to look into why and hopefully solve it fingers crossed!
I hate silence these days, which I used to love just silence and thinking but constantly hearing it means I’m now always playing white noise or music.