Docs: Here's another one - Tinnitus
 

Have had bilateral non-pulsatile Tinnitus (ringing) for about 12-13 years. When it first appeared, it scared the ***** out of me so I ran straight to the doc. Hearing test and MRI revealed high-freq hearing loss and no tumors (acoustic neuroma). Live with it. And I have.

In recent weeks, the steady high-pitched hiss in my head has gotten louder. Still bilateral, same pitch. Any reason to get reevaluated, or is it just more hearing loss? I don't work in a noisy environment, but listened to lots of loud music as a kid, etc. For the last several years I've been pretty careful to avoid loud noises and have started wearing plugs for lawn mowing, motorcycling, etc. So, no recent noise exposure can be blamed for the volume going up.

Open to suggestions. This is getting in the way. Anyone else have this?

Yes and it sucks.

Mine does not sound as severe as yours though.

I have it mildly. My only advice is if it bothers you when trying to sleep, get a nice loud HEPA filter. The white noise is a blessing from god. Or science, you are of an atheist persuasion :p

EDIT- you probably know this, but if you are taking more Advil than normal, it can add to the noise.

Possibly psychological, since you may be obsessing over it more lately? I have it as well, due to all those years of riding motorcycles without ear plugs. It seems that when I start paying attention to it, it gets much louder. Just a thought.

Got it from years of playing drums with no ear protection, loud music, car steroes etc.. One time I had a large wax buildup and it seemed to make things better, but since then I just hear it when it's quiet. I sleep with a fan and it's a lifesaver.

I got it from playing music with live bands.
I got on stage for the first time in 10 years earlier this year, and the soundcrew messed up the monitoring. It´s worse now than it has ever been.
My hearing is still pretty good, though.
I hear the steading ringing whenever the ambient sound falls below a certain level.
It gets worse when I´m stressed and when I´ve got a cold.
I manage OK. No problem sleeping even when there´s complete silence.

I use -15dB earplugs whenever I go to concerts, and I use a -40dB in-ear monitoring system when I play live myself.

I´s amazing how many people have this problem.
All my musician friends (100%) have tinnitus.

That makes sense. I've had a cold for the last several days (all but gone now)...I wonder if that's not part of the reason.

I guess there are a lot of things I'd change if I had the chance to live through my youth again...but high on the list would be to avoid loud music, motorcycles, etc. There's a price to pay when you approach 50.

fans really make all the difference when sleeping. I used to play guitar in a industrial metal band and it's done a number on my ears.

Working in sawmills and shooting high power rifles back in the 1960's...nobody even considered hearing problems caused by noise in those days. A friend was in the army during the 1950's...artillery. Same thing, no hearing protection other than sticking fingers in their ears.

A lot of young that men I know still think it is the manly thing to go without safety equiptment.

Youth is youth.

I've had it so long I can't remember when I first noticed it (young kid). It does get louder at times then goes back to normal (as I get older that "normal" does get louder), I just keep music on all the time, even if its low it masks the ring. I would say if it really worries you get it checked, even if it's nothing at least you'll know.

I have it as well. A rifle was the cause about 8 years ago. Trying to sleep in silence is the worst it gets, drives me nuts. I fall asleep with the tv on and a fan going. Colds amplify the condition. Reading this thread has had a psychological effect as well. As soon as I saw the thread title, I noticed the ringing.

It's all in your head. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo...s/dazzler1.gif

Am I real?

In an odd sort of alternative way I’m guessing …Yes? :confused:

Have it pop up every couple of months but only for 5-15 seconds, then it dies down and hibernates again. My Father had it and mine may get worse. Ex-wife used to have to sleep iwth the TV on at night for the same reason...

It's comforting to know that I'm in such elite company! Seriously, I didn't realize how common it is. Mine is consistent...never a break, but for some reason I sleep fine without any background noise. Go figure. I agree that thinking about it or focusing on it makes it even more prevalant. As previously said...it's all in your head. Just hate the thought of losing my hearing. All of us have already lost high-frequency acuity. Oh well...hopefully we'll never get an ailment that's any worse!

My high freq loss is due to being around jet engines, but do not hear that pilots have it any more than the average in the public.

Funny this subject should come up. Mine is service connected and the thing that gets on my nerves are the balance issues I have. I have it pretty severly. Sometimes I just wish what's left of my hearing would go away and taking the ringing with it. FWIW, the VA offers digital hearing aids that are really advanced and work well but unfortunately they seem to make the ringing worse. Some of you with this issue may not be aware but engaging in our favorite past time makes matters worse. I'm refering to road noise....not willing to give this up though and covering the mastoid process (sp) seems to offer some relief...sometimes.

No one mentioned the connection between jaw-clenching and ringing in the ears. Interesting.

If you are a teeth gnasher when you sleep, or you carry tension in your jaw, this could be the cause.

No, I'm not a Dr., but I did just talk to my ENT Doc about this yesterday!