feel so stupid - gave myself Tinnitus- any advice?

[twobone]

I drove my caterham at high speed without earplugs and now over a week later my ears will not stop ringing.

I have hope that it will diminish, but fear it is permanet damage.

The fact that it was preventable is driving me up the wall.

Any words of hope or wisdom (other than wear earplugs you jackass!)

[GH85Carrera]

What ? What?

Just get a tetanus shot to prevent lock jaw.

Oh you said Tinnitus. It sucks. No cure as yet. Maybe someday with stem cells but nothing in the near future.

[Christien]

It's not likely tinnitus, if I understand that condition properly. Being a musician, I've met a few people with it, and they've all said that it comes on gradually over time, from long-term exposure to high-decibel environments (orchestra players).

Back in high school I used to go to club concerts all the time with no hearing protection, and stand near the PA speakers. I remember after one in particular, my ears rang for over a week. After that, I decided it was time for hearing protection.

If the Caterham is really that loud, and you want to drive it often, consider having custom ear plugs made (we call them musician's earplugs, but they're also used by construction workers, etc). They take a mold of your ear canal so the plugs fit very well. They don't alter the frequency balance of sounds, just cut decibel level. I had some made years ago and swear by them. The only downside is having the mold goop injected into your ears - it's the grossest feeling in the world

[flatbutt]

mine started ringing this year and wont stop. had a Dr check me and he said learn to live with it. But I'm 60 yrs old, if you're young it may fade.

[twobone]

thanks guys - fingers crossed for it to fade.

As dorky as it will look, I will be wearing ear defenders and/or ear plugs in the Caterham.

The wind comes around the windshield and pounds the side of the head right at the ears.

[masraum]

It may fade, but I doubt that it'll ever go away completely. It only takes one time to do it. I went to a club once and sat at a table right next to the speakers. That night definitely caused damage that was perm.

I have a solution for the OP, he should definitely give me his Caterham. THAT would surely fix his ears!

[5String43]

Unfortunately, tinnitus does not go away. I've had it for a long time. Don't like it much, it certainly affects what and how I hear - but oddly, I've more or less gotten used to it. As far as I know, there is no cure, though there has been a lot of loot spent on research into some sophisticated strategies, including noise cancellation. So far, nothing.

[vash]

my experience.

the first time i got a ringing it diminsihed to nothing..the next time it did diminished but almost to nothing. so on and so forth.

now i hear it ringing all the time. sportbikes with loud exhaust, and firearms.

ironically, it is at the worst when i am sitting in the woods..and it is dead silent. i am usually hunting..which cause all the problems in the first place.

be smart with your ears.

[GH85Carrera]

You might think about a muffler for that Caterham.

[Zeke]

Medicines you may take contribute to/cause tinnitus. Even aspirin. I have been wearing ear protection for many years because I knew I was damaging my hearing. I can't hear a conversation in a crowded room. Yet, I didn't have the tinnitus until about 5 years ago. Been wearing ear plugs or muffs (better) for 20 years.

[azasadny]

See an audiologist. My wife saw one for her tinnitis and hearing loss and she is glad she did.

[Christien]

Originally Posted by twobone

As dorky as it will look, I will be wearing ear defenders and/or ear plugs in the Caterham.

Call me crazy, but I think if you're driving a Caterham, the LAST thing anyone's going to notice is earplugs! And even if they do, I highly doubt you'll notice their taunts from inside their Corolla.

[twobone]

Doctors advice is give it a month and then come see me then. I think I will give it another 10 days and if its not subsiding - then push for a referral.

[Amail]

Originally Posted by azasadny

See an audiologist. My wife saw one for her tinnitis and hearing loss and she is glad she did.

Can you expand on this a bit? I've had tinnitis for years, and the doctor told me the only cure was to sever the auditory nerve. You go deaf, but the tinnitis is gone.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by milt

Medicines you may take contribute to/cause tinnitus. Even aspirin. I have been wearing ear protection for many years because I knew I was damaging my hearing. I can't hear a conversation in a crowded room. Yet, I didn't have the tinnitus until about 5 years ago. Been wearing ear plugs or muffs (better) for 20 years.

do you think this is from years of being on the job site with running machines? I am experiencing the same thing. I notice I have to ask people to repeat themselves in a crowed and loud room.

[Brando]

I'll be standing in line for the stem cell treatment... 58% deaf in my right ear :\ Bad tinnitus in my left. Combination of loud hobbies, LOUD work environments and a lot of ear infections as a kid.

[Schrup]

I've got it bad, need to see a doc soon. Damn F16s, I can still hear them.

[fingpilot]

Too many years sitting next to a mach burble on the roof over my head, and the DV window next to my ear. Spent more time in the left seat than the right, so the ringing is worse on that side.

[rusnak]

Is it contageous? Don't give it me, man!

[wdfifteen]

I first went to a doctor for it about 10 years ago (I'm 61 now). He said there is no cure, get used to it. I find that it comes and goes - sometimes it is so annoying I think I'll go crazy, other times I barely notice. I have tried and tried to find a correlation between activities, food, stress, etc. and the flare-ups but they seem random. I hope yours goes away and never comes back. It's no fun.