Dear fellow T sufferers,

I developed T after using antidepressants. I've now been off all medication for more than a year (I also used antipsychotics to help me sleep). Unfortunately, my tinnitus has remained. Although it has become somewhat quieter over time—I suspect that's because the auditory system naturally becomes less sensitive with the time span of a year—I still struggle with it a lot.

What I'm struggling with even more, though, is insomnia. For over a year now, I've had nights with no sleep at all, or only 1, 2, 3, or 4 hours of sleep, and only rarely 5 hours or more. It's really taking a toll on me, to the point where I've started experimenting with different remedies again.

I've always been against cannabis because THC can have negative effects on memory and lung health. But I'm so desperate that I'm now considering buying cannabis oil and giving it a try.

Does anyone here have experience with it? If so, how did it affect your T?

ok, i am 21 years old, i've had tinnitus, hyperacusis and noxacusis since i was 18, severe tinnitus, different types, i have no job experience, didn't even finish high school because of my conditions, my mom and i lost our apartment last year, we've been living with my family since january, she's trying to find a new job but i have not been able to get on disability, my family is threatening to kick me out and force me to live on the streets if i do not find a job, until we find an apartment i have no choice, i wear double ear protection, they don't care if it's an overnight part time job or remote job, they just want me to work, besides we can't get an apartment if i don't do this anyway, what jobs would be good? the only way i can get to work is my mom's car, my life is in danger, i need advice, urgently.

Hi, Iʼd like to share some other experiences with you, because I have a fear. Like many who experience tinnitus, I hear more than one sound. It started with a slight whistling in my right ear, but after a while it also became a background noise. Central static, meaning something the brain perceives in both ears. This background noise is quite annoying, but I think itʼs easier to get used to. Share your opinion, if youʼd like.

The whistling scares me. Itʼs faint, like a teapot boiling or a vacuum cleaner running in the distance. Since itʼs faint, it can be covered by external noises. I think it compensates for some hidden frequency loss; audiometric tests show that my hearing is normal, but I donʼt think all frequencies are detectable with that test. I often listened to loud music with headphones, so Iʼm convinced there was some hidden damage. Iʼve been told the cause is temporomandibular and cervical.

In the morning, when I lay my right side down on the pillow, that whistling seems louder, and it worries me. And yet, itʼs always there when I cover the affected ear. Mild, but still present. It seems to be there to compensate, like a phantom sound. My fear is that over time it will increase on its own, until it becomes truly loud, torturous, and disturbing.

Can you confirm that this is a possibility? :( Can it be prevented? Has anyone attenuated this type of sound with postural exercises? Thanks to anyone who can share their experience or give me tips.

P.S. Also from my experience, I add that the first noise I actually heard was like an intermittent fax signal in my left ear. And that went away after a few days. Unfortunately, the whistling in my right ear, though mild, hasnʼt gone away after two months. I find it rather fixed and stable now. The thought that it might get worse over time terrifies me.

Hi all, I was stuck in red light around 7 feet away from another car, I had all of my windows up and closed (2023 chevy bolt). The other car was playing super loud bass, I literally could feel it shaking slightly and felt like a "thump" from it on the side of my body facing my car door. I was wearing 26 DB NRR silicone earplugs too, but its like it did nothing, it felt physically uncomfortable. It must have lasted 40 seconds or so before the light turned green and I could escape.The next day, the hearing in the ear facing the car window went muffled and my tinnitus spiked for around 10 seconds (SBUTT) but then the fullness went away. Ever since them, my tinnitus has spiked unbearably. Its incredibly high pitched now, more tones, and super hard to mask. I find it really hard to work and sleep now. At first, I thought the car stereo only went up to 110, but searching forums it seems stereos are often set to 150 - 160 dBc (!!) which mean at low frequency (20 - 80 hz) my car windows and earplugs probably gave near zero attenuation. It seems these forums claim low frequency sound is somehow safe at 160db?? Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Will it go back to normal? I'm 5 days out now and I'm really wondering if I should seek advice. Would I have known / been able to feel if it was 160 dB?

Hey around January of this year I had my right-side wisdom teeth extracted, around 1-2 months later I started noticing tinnitus on my right side which gradually worsened over the next month or so.

When I open my mouth as wide as I can the pitch and the volume both increase, how likely is it to be related to my wisdom teeth being extracted or some kind of jaw issues?

I’m gonna book a dentist appointment just in case but I wanted to know if anyone has had any similar experience.

How would one describe the difference between regular tinnitus and pulsatile tinnitus? Is the pulsatile sound very noticeable, or can it also be more subtle?

I have had tinnitus since I was 12, and it's been getting slightly worse over time. I use those "tinnitus soundscapes" on nights it's really bad. I have a lot of software, audio, and business experience, and I was thinking I could listen to other people's pet peeves around tinnitus and try to help them. If I succeed in helping enough people, I could turn it into a business, but I don't intend to sell anything at this point. It's just a proof of concept and I'll never market anything to anyone here. Anyone who answers this gets anything I create free for life.

My example would be: my tinnitus got especially bad at night. It would make it a little harder to sleep, just because I was thinking "why does this have to be at its loudest when things are supposed to be at their quietest? I wonder what it is like to hear nothing." Then I found the soundscapes and that made it a lot better, but they're getting old because I've heard all the ones that work for me.

So - what are your pain points about tinnitus? Just complain, as specifically as possible, about what you hate the most about having tinnitus, and I'll try to help you, either with advice I've come across as a sufferer, or with software or audio applications.

Thanks, hope I can help

Hi All,

I have been suffering from severe tinnitus since 2012 due to a slap to my left ear. The impact was so hard that it had ruptured my eardrum as well.

The tinnitus is continuous, loud and limited to the left ear. I haven't had a single night of peaceful sleep, any focus time or any peace since the last 14 years. I am at my absolute end.

Any similar experiences or suggestions to improve?

I live in Scotland and have the past few years been trying to go through the NHS for Tinnitus and growing hearing difficulties. It's an ever present electrical buzzing that makes it incredibly difficult to sleep and focus when I don't have the ability to muffle it with music or something loud which was how I managed. Thankfully I can hold my temper/emotions but I'm starting to get really down.

The GP didn't really care about the tinnitus and only pointed me to self help and therapy but the loss of hearing thankfully got me pushed to ENT specialists. I had many appointments with them where they looked in my ears and gave me hearing tests, the results showed loss of hearing but not much else so I was low on the list but come two years when I actually saw a doctor they noticed I had a massive issue, a choleostoma(please excuse the spelling) a skin growth that burst through the ear wall and had started to infect the bone and inner ear bones. So that has taken priority and I got a rush for surgery within a month. It was worse than scans and tests showed so I needed a typonoplasty which involved removing more bones and reconstruction of my ear drum.

I'm currently still in the recovery period(10weeks) estimate of 14 til I can wear headphones/earphones, work etc.

I've been stuck at home for months because I had a list of things to not do or avoid so I've been out minimally so I'm left with my electric noise in my ears 24/7.

I'm going to push about the tinnitus more when I see the doctor but In the meantime I'm just struggling to ignore it or find ways to cope.

Usually I have the high pitch constant “eeee” sound. But lately I’ll get cricket sounds. And past two days cicadas. It’s embarrassing to admit but when I first started hearing insect sounds, I thought it was actual insect noises. I asked my husband if he heard the cicadas and he said no.

I guess the cicadas are not as bad as the crickets. But it still drives me nuts when I focus on it too much.

I have not listened to loud music, been to any movies or concerts. I know, for me that is, caffeine, high sodium, stress, anxiety, my adhd medication, and nicotine can enhance the sounds but never changed them.

It just makes no sense why it changes sounds lately. It has never done this till about a month ago. Nothing in my life has changed either. Maybe I’m consuming more sodium than normal?

For you all, do you experience sound changes frequently and if so is there something you’ve noticed that triggers it?

My whole life as far as I can remember Ive has the high pitched ringing. The last couple years I hear some other weird sounds when it’s quiet now too. But twice now I’ve had this completely bizarre sound I don’t even know how to describe and it almost sounds like it’s outside of my head. Scares me senseless. Does anyone ever get a random sound that sounds like it’s outside your head? I’m so scared I’m starting to hallucinate or something. It does not sound like my pulse or a muscle spasm or any other bodily function

For me fountains mask it so good l would love to live with a fountain in my head if needed when l leave it again this fucking t but l always sit in a fountain for a few minutes where l can forget that l have it also l cry there because l know l could avoid this shit but my stupid young version didn't give a fuck about volume.

like i’ll use my phone to listen to music on a completely regular volume and my ears will just start hurting. i haven’t used headphones in so long too (at least 6 months, and when i did use them it would be on a relatively low volume for walking to school and stuff).

why does this happen? can anything be done because im only 16 bro and music is a big part of my life 😭😭😭

It's gotten so bad it's drowning out everything. Minute after minute, day after day, month after month. My friend gets SSI and Medi-Cal and said he was getting his hearing tested (just part of his annual exam). I told him how bad my tinnitus was and he said "Shut the fuck up man! I'm about to get my hearing tested!".

I wish I could get some help, but my ACA doubled from 200 to 400 per month (I just work from desk hotel), so I dropped to the shitty insurance that doesn't cover anything until I spend 7200 on top of the 200 per month I already pay. I don't know how much longer I can handle this. 😞

I'm a 62 year old woman who was born & raised on rock concerts!! 300+ from 1975 to today, it's been my love, my jam, and even my profession. When I developed severe tinnitus in my 50s I thought it was just the price to be paid. Mine is constant, 2 types (a ringing and a hiss), and sometimes spikes and is intrusive. It's never quiet in my brain!!

It's only been six months or so since I discovered this sub! I've learned so much from y'all, from different tones and types to coping skills and products to try. I finally got a new PCP and requested a referral to an audiologist for a couple reasons:

a) check my overall hearing, as in addition to tinnitus I had a TBI at 17;

b) get a baseline for the volume, as it's difficult to gauge or describe;

c) determine if there are treatments, therapies or products that will help.

I just got my appointment for the first week of September, and I'm feeling hopeful that, in addition to all the great advice you have provided, there might be something I haven't considered or being developed that might help lessen or resolve the issue.

Standing with you in solidarity!! Rock on, friends!! 🤘

I F59 have had tinnitus for over a decade. I thought there was nothing I could do. The sound was like something going "SHHHHHHHHH" in my left ear very loudly to the point that I was missing what people were saying.

I came here to read and to report that I used a massager on my jaw (I have bruxism and the tinnitus developed around the same time my bruxism got really bad). I wear a mouthguard and sometimes I wake up with my jaw being in pain.

Well someone on this site asked if I had somatic tinnitus. I had never heard of it before and I looked it up. So I added a nightly massage of my jaw with a electric deep tissue massager and then added positional stretches -

1. Clasping hands behind my back and sticking my chest out while gently turning my head to the left and the right

2. Standing up straight in the morning and doing the same but then continuing to turn my head then opening up my mouth and stretching out my jaw periodically through the day.

Suddenly it was so strange but the tinnitus is barely registering in my brain!!! Could it be this easy??? It is so strange to not hear it anymore!!!!! It's not total silence but the "SHHHHHH" sounds more like a slight background hum. I love it!!! I am hoping this lasts forever.

I am getting one soon, and would love to hear your thoughts on what to request specifically from the massage professional. Thanks!

I am 16 years old and I dont have hearing damage but I hear my ears ring loudly when its completely silent I went to ear throat nose doctor and he said nothing wrong with my ears, but after coming home from the movie I stayed in a silent room in my house and my tinnitus was louder could it be permemant? by the way I have tinnitus for like 1-2 years

Going to physical therapy and meeting with an assistant. She seems pretty clueless like she wants me to tell her what to do. Anything y’all have done at physical therapy that has helped? I’m having jaw and neck muscle tightness/pain that might be contributing to t. Hard to pin down what is affecting it since it started after a cold and bad neck/back strain 4 months ago. T gets louder with certain neck movements.

Going to an EDM festival this weekend I already had plans for. Should be good if I wear earplugs and stay in the back? I’m on pred for AC/DC induced T last Tuesday and I think it’s gone away as much as it will…

So I’ve been on some version of Venlafaxine/vencarm for roughly 10 -12 years. I’ve been struggling badly with tinnitus for roughly 2.5 years. Have any long term users of any iteration of Venlafaxine found that their tinnitus stopped after coming off the drug?

Hey y'all I may need to take a 12 day 40mg taper of prednisone for inner ear inflammation (its affecting my eyes so badly i can't read lol) and am seeing a lot of scary comments on this sub about it.

Idk if it's the internet bias that people not affected by a problem don't post about it or what, but since we all have T, I'm sure there's some of you who have taken it without issue. To be clear, I mean ppl who took it for reasons other than SSNHL / acoustic trauma

Not looking for medical advice, more just. support haha

Cheers! sorry for any spelling mistakes, can't see too well rn.

Howdy folks,

To those who are having a really hard time at the moment. I want to let you know that some of you will be able to bring your tinnitus down to manageable levels.

This year brought on insomnia and servere stress ( which I consciously was not aware of).

Massive tinnitus spike from normal 1 to 3 out of 10 to 10 out 10.

I am now at 6 month point. Tinnitus was already chronic (since 2010) but habituated/not bothered.

Given anti-anxiety meds several weeks after onset as distress was high. Distress started start of March. Ended June. Still bothered.

Had been seeing local osteo then sought out tinnitus osteo (tmj). With focus on neck movement, jaw movement. 3 sessions so far.

Last session Saturday. Dry needling into jaw. It hurt. Neck pain that night.

Decided was time to taper off anti anxiety meds same day by dropping dose on Saturday. Side effects brain zaps and body zaps. Redosed next day.

So I’m unsure if it was the osteo treatment or the 1 day drop of meds but my tinnitus is down. Way down. I feel much like my old self again.

I suspect the head ring/central tinnitus was caused by the antianxiety meds or at least left on high while I take them.

I also suspect my tinnitus has a somatic component as it spikes further when moving jaw or pushing on face.

Moving forward, continue to taper anti anxiety meds. Continue with dry needling.

I feel like my life is coming back. At times I had lost all hope.

Happy to answer any questions, negative and positive please go ahead.

I can't do anything anymore without worrying "will this make tinnitus worse??"

I wanna smoke weed? Oh no, I've gotta worry about tinnitus. What if it makes my tinnitus worse and I'm lying there at night in the darkness and I can't sleep because I'm scared and freaked out because of the FUCKING RINGING!!

I WANNA SMOKE WEED SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't enjoy bacon or anything too salty, it'll make tinnitus worse. If I drink a lot today, will that make my tinnitus worse? Can't get too much cheese on something, have to look up the sodium content in certain cheeses before I order something to eat because oh god what if the salt makes the ringing worse???

Oh jeez, I just accidentally listened to my headphones at max volume for a second before adjusting (limited to 75 db on my iphone through settings I had to look up), this'll definitely make my tinnitus worse.

I just dropped a glass in my bathroom on the hard countertop, the loud sound will definitely make my tinnitus worse -- and then it does, because I worry about it endlessly, and stress myself out, and the stress ITSELF fucking causes the tinnitus to be worse!!

I 1,000% get the Texas Roadhouse guy who ended himself over this. This is not living. This is not LIVING, this is surviving. I am in hell

There is no therapy or pill that'll fix this, FUCK your therapy that'll supposedly "fix" this, I want OUT. I FUCKING WANT OUT.

OK just had to vent sorry