How common is Tinnitus?

[Mcoco]

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?

I am usually fine during the day when I can mask while working with classical music or similar, but getting to sleep at night is the main issue for me at present. Mine is now a mid-level buzzing sound. I live in the US Deep South, and the sound is similar to the sounds that crickets and other insects make at night in the countryside. I grew up in the country and often went to sleep as a child to similar sounds so for the last few nights I have tried to imagine that I am back there listening to insects buzzing and chirping as I fall asleep. Amazingly, it has worked. Obviously, that won't work for many others, and it won't keep working for me if the sound changes in my head.

I did see have my first medical appointment on Friday with my primary care physician. My ears are physically clear and eardrums are fine. More tests to come with referral to ENT and audiologists, but I am already getting in the mindset of just having to habituate.

This thread has been so helpful to me. Thanks to all who have posted.

DH has tinnitus, and has always had it, although he didn’t recognise that for a while. It got worse after a phase of live gigs and raves in his early 20s so he thought he’d brought it on himself until he figured out that he’d always had a background high pitched whine and could never experience « silence.»
I assumed he had damaged hearing (he doesn’t, has had it tested), until DS started sharing symptoms. DS is 18 now and has similarly said when he was little he thought it was normal so didn’t say anything. They are both introverts and could both be described as « highly sensitive. »

Interestingly, DH is adopted and traced his birth family about 20 years ago. We now know and get on with extended family and have found out that his Mum, sister and auntie all have some form of it. Until then I had never heard of it being genetic but we are now convinced it is.

Have had it for many years, is currently very loud, 8/10, very rarely have respite but one random day last week it reduced to a 2/10 and it was so lovely to have a short time of relief, as it’s incurable I try to stay relaxed about it and not lose my mind but would love to experience life without it

Do you wear ear plugs? I hope you do. I agree how do musicians cope?

Where do you attend cbt? Does it help?

So pleased you are managing to sleep by imagining you are listening to crickets. Our brains are remarkable.
This post is amazing such helpful comments.

I am helping at my daughters prom next week. Absolute dreading be around loud music I am regretting putting my name down now. I have earplugs but not sure if I will cope well. Any advice?

I had it since 2019 after a viral infection - didn’t think about it until I saw this question but was very hard at first to adapt but now, I don’t mind it

Oh forgot to mention, I’ve had countless hearing tests, blood tests, MRIs of my brain and no issues.

Quite common. I mostly stopped noticing it after 6 months I think. Outdoor life helps as does white noise

My son has had it since a toddler, maybe before. He is Deaf and many Deaf people do have it.
He used to bang his head before he could communicate and then when he could would say about the noise in his ears. It was diagnosed when he was primary age, although his consultant always said he had it.
He is in his 30s now and he says he doesn't notice it most of the time, but when he is stressed or drinks alcohol it is very bad.

You can seek sessions through your GP (NHS) but I think waiting lists are long. I pay for mine privately. If you Google it there will be therapists in your local area. It's expensive though (£70 for an hour 🙈). It is helpful but I'm struggling at the moment. I'm ignoring my normal tinnitus and it's buzzing (& static) away in my deaf ear but last night I was awake at one and then four with this low rumble in my good ear. Argh, I need to just let the noises, accept it and not panic. I'm still resisting this new noise as I really don't want more tinnitus. I'm still in fight or flight mode.

It’s interesting that extreme stress can bring on tinnitus. Mine probably kicked off big time as I realised my marriage was going t*ts up, although I suspect menopause played a part.

Had it for about 10-12 years in one ear.

Also really helpful to know that hearing aids help. I’m finding it really hard to hear in certain places which have little to soak up the noise bouncing round the room. I keep reading that hearing loss contributes to dementia, too.

Going to get checked out.

I will research CBT although I will probably wait as I am finding it ok to ignore now.

You will adapt to the new noises too but it must be frustrating. Hopefully the CBT will help you and your determination will definitely help.

Its still driving me mad. Mine is post bilateral ear infections 3 months ago.
I've had a hearing test and do have HF hearing loss in both ears - worst in the affected ear. I may try out hearing aids to see if they help, but don't seem to need them day to day as don't perceive my hearing is affected.

Sigh. I"ve actually left work for a while as the sound (its very noisy at work) causes the tinnitus to roar. I was coming home and had to lay down for an hour before it would start to settle down. I think its called hyperacusis. I"m hoping that part calms down in time as I can't not work forever!

I have posted earlier in the thread. So you know I’ve lived with tinnitus for 17 years, and when it started my world fell apart. It took a good two years for me to manage it and thrive. I am still affected by hyperacusis (acute hearing) but can self talk my way through the spike.

You will get there @Mcoco It is a bumpy road. We are programmed to evolve and survive. You will get there, but I’m so sorry, but it’s not a quick fix. So LOTS of self care in the meantime.

Mu top op is sleep as a way of processing the feeling. I manage a spike by going with it, and tsunami of feeling associated with it but ensure I rest as a recovery after. Then I’m not always expecting my body to operate beyond its reasonable capacity.

I have had tinnitus for years after an ear infection. It drove me barmy at first but tbh I zone it out now.

I can hear it if its quiet at night etc but it doesn't bother me.

It gets better as you adjust to it.

@mjf981 I'd recommend giving hearing aids ago
As I posted further up the thread I've had tinnitus for over 30 years and have got used to it. However since having hearing aid 2 years ago I've found that I'm much less aware of it when wearing them

Thank you for all your replies. Its so good to know that you eventually adjust. Goldenpatchwork thanks for your honesty and advice. It does sound like it takes a few years to get used to it.

I am on holiday at the moment and was dreading the plane journey. Thankfully I haven't noticed a spike! Although I am on a noisy beach all day and the crickets are noisy at night. I think I will be more aware of T when I return home.

Have you discussed hearing aids with your doctor? I know of people who have found them a huge help. You will adapt to this noise but while you are still resisting it, it will make that harder (as I am sure you already know). I looked into the hearing aids but never proceeded with them. I found however just knowing that they were a possibility in the future helped calm me down and adapt.

I have had tinnitus for years.
Never mentioned it to a doctor. Continual whooshing sound.
Slight pain. Sometimes it becomes like a heartbeat. And feels like my head is going to explode.
Night time is worse. I didn’t know what some posters say that hearing aids might make it a bit better. I thought it would be worse.
I don’t think my husband or family even knows I have it. No point complaining.

I did get an hearing aid for my hearing loss ear a couple of years ago but I have severe hearing loss in that ear and I couldn't make out any speech through it. It was just picking up junk sounds like the hoover, hand dryer etc and that was distorted. I saw my ENT about 6 wks ago about the new tinnitus in my good ear. He did a hearing test and luckily my hearing in that ear is ok. I asked him should I persevere with the hearing aid in my bad ear but he said with my level of hearing loss he said there's no point. Cros hearing aids are an option which is where a hearing aid in my deaf ear will pick up sound and travel it over to my good ear but that won't make a difference to my tinnitus. The tinnitus in my bad ear can't be masked at all. It's too loud. The shower masks it a little but I can still hear it. The new tinnitus I can mask with certain noises during the day. It annoys me mostly at night. I've habituated somewhat to my old tinnitus but this new tinnitus is a flipping pain. I'm still in fight/flight mode. It's been pretty grim but at the same time I can switch off from it now and again.

By some ‘woo’ coincidence, I am experiencing a tinnitus spike.

I have found this website and the approach is spot on. In my current level of escalating anxiety, reading this has really reassured me and is helping to bring my anxiety down to ‘I WILL get through this.’

It’s good to be reminded just how challenging tinnitus and it associated conditions - hyperacusis, misophonia, tympanic spasms - is. I realise how ill I was when it started and how helpless people were to help me. Instead, I found people to be really impatient and rejecting. I did good to survive the experience and thrive as well.

The author is Glenn Schweitzer.

www.healthyhearing.com/report/52824-Tinnitus-spikes-solving-a-difficult-problem

I hope your spike goes quickly goldenpatchwork. Do you know what caused it at all? The link you sent was so helpful thanks for sending it. I am glad it is helping you and I certainly found it reassuring. We will get through this 💪

It's still driving me mad 4 months after my bilateral ear infections. I'm feeling totally hopeless for the future. I tried anti depressants but they made it worse! So stopped them now.

My main tone - the deep drone stops/starts when people speak. I can't even watch TV as it is far too distracting. Does anyone else have something similar?!