Tinnitus: Symptom or Cause

Is tinnitus a symptom or a cause? It is both. That is why I refer to it often as a condition. It is not a disease. Although it can be just as debilitating.

Tinnitus is a symptom because it is an indicator that something is wrong in one or a combination of the following parts of the body:

• Brain (possibly due to TBI) - Something is short-circuiting the auditory center of the brain. 
• Cochlea - The cilia (tiny hair-like electrical transmitters) are damaged or destroyed, due to sudden loud noise exposure or long-term exposure to a certain noise that creates "a cowpath" of destroyed cilia. 
• Vestibular nerve - The cable running from the cochlea to the auditory center of the brain is damaged. 
• The heart - High blood pressure can cause a certain kind of tinnitus called pulsatile tinnitus. The sound pulses with the heart. 

Tinnitus is also a cause. It can cause secondary conditions and socialization issues for the tinnitus sufferer:

• Chronic depression
• Insomnia
• Immune system issues

Tinnitus is the stimuli and the secondary conditions are the response. The louder the tinnitus, the more prominent the secondary conditions become.  The reverse is also true. Therefore, tinnitus is a direct cause of the secondary conditions.

As an analogy, tinnitus is the fuel of the fire. The fire represents the secondary condition. When more fuel is added the fire grows larger. If the fuel is gone, the fire goes out. In the case of chronic severe tinnitus, the fuel is never completely gone. It is always burning to a greater or lesser degree twenty four hours a day. Therefore, the secondary conditions can flare up at any time that the tinnitus flares up.

A problem exists when the generally accepted perception of tinnitus is as though it is merely a symptom. Under that mindset, tinnitus can become under treated and underestimated as a debilitating disability.

Tinnitus: Insomnia

If your severe chronic tinnitus has lead to chronic insomnia some things may need to change.

First, consider that you need sleep in order to replenish cells, to maintain a healthy immune system, and good mental health. Sleep deprivation over extended periods can lead to a lack of mental clarity, poor judgement, slurring, personality shifts (extrovert to introvert), depression, and energy level shifts, worsening mood, and slower reaction times.

If you cannot sleep for eight to nine hours per night, because of your tinnitus, then you may need to work more flexible hours, work from home, or work for yourself, or not work at all (depending on the severity of your insomnia). You may not be able to sustain an 8am - 5pm job long-term. You have to ask yourself these two questions:

Is my tinnitus and insomnia presenting a safety issue for myself or my co-workers?
Is work stress making my tinnitus and insomnia worse?

You can act like you are full of energy for only so long, sleep deprivation will catch up with you in the form of reduced performance reviews, trust breakdowns, and lack of promotion to levels of greater responsibility, and a lack of ability to sustain gainful employment. No matter where you try to work you are likely to experience the same consequences associated with recurring sleep deprivation. Why? Because tinnitus is constant, with no cure,  it fuels the insomnia which creates all kinds of social problems.

Insomnia can lead to a reduced immune system. This can lead to skin issues like lesions, boils, rashes, etc. Contact a doctor if you begin to experience any of these symptoms.

You need eight to nine hours of sleep. If you can get four at night and four during the day it is better than only getting four and trying to get up at 6am and go to work. There are social stigmas to not working. Stigmas, like opinions, can only hurt you if you let them. Not sleeping can hurt you because it can lead to physical safety issues. Endure the stigmas and people's opinions and focus on staying safe. Above all, don't let your tinnitus get worse. Always remember that you have a choice.

Under a medical doctor's recommendation Lunesta or Ambien may help. But, don't expect it to give you a full night of sleep. If the tinnitus is loud enough it will override the sleep aid. You may sleep deeper but not necessarily longer. Plan on being groggy in the morning, enough so as to not even think about driving a vehicle.

If you've been drinking a lot of coffee in order to self-medicate your insomnia, you shouldn't do that. Coffee makes tinnitus flare up which will make your insomnia worse which will make you need more coffee and so on.  I switched to decaf coffee or tea.

Tinnitus: Disuse Syndrome

For people with chronic and severe tinnitus, like me, our energy levels randomly peak and trough throughout each day. Some days we don't even want to move at all, because of exhaustion, insomnia, or depression due to the non-stop ringing in our ears.

When a tinnitus sufferer only moves to accomplish basic tasks to get through each day then disuse syndrome may be starting. After weeks of barely moving, the muscles begin to weaken due to disuse. As a result, the knees begin to ache, back pain begins, neck problems begin, and overall core alignment is off. Mood also worsens.

The Loop:
The pain treatment part of disuse syndrome may involve drugs that make the tinnitus worse and cause rapid weight gain which can feed the disuse syndrome.

The tinnitus sufferer is on a crazy loop of worsening tinnitus, physical breakdown, rapid weight gain and medications that lead to worsening tinnitus, physical breakdown, and more medications. It is very difficult to break the cycle once it starts. Fortunately, it is not impossible to break the cycle.

If disuse syndrome gets bad enough a few weeks of physical therapy may be a viable treatment.

People with chronic pain may also struggle with disuse syndrome. The best way to avoid the disuse syndrome loop is to exercise regularly.

If the tinnitus sufferer is not self motivated then he or she should seek and hire a physical trainer that can focus in on inspiring the tinnitus sufferer to get moving. The costs of a personal trainer and a gym membership are much cheaper than the medical expenses associated with unchecked disuse syndrome .

Mood should not dictate whether we tinnitus sufferers exercise. We may not feel like exercising but muscle weakening is not something that we should risk.

If your tinnitus is caused by high blood pressure then be careful not to overexercise. Ask your general practitioner and your hearing specialist what the right level of exercise is for you. See a psychologist if you notice a worsening of your mood.

Note: I purchased a Stamina 1690 pull-up bar online, for home use, and I force myself to use it everyday, especially when I'm not in the mood to exercise. I also walk my dog frequently.

Tinnitus: Noise Pollution Reduction System (NPRS)

One of the problems that tinnitus sufferers experience is surrounding noises that we have absolutely no control over (car alarms, movie theater sound levels, sirens, crying kids, public announcement systems, airplane engines, lawn equipment, etc.). Clearly tinnitus sufferers are more sensitive to certain sounds. These sounds can magnify the tinnitus for people like me with cochlear damage.

Specifically, I want to enjoy movies but certain sounds at certain pitch levels amplify the tinnitus in the movie theater. Many movie theaters offer free headphones but the headphones that they offer are not noise canceling headphones. The headphones are for people with hearing loss not for people with tinnitus.

I posted an iPhone solution to this problem in a previous post. However, I realize that not everyone who has tinnitus owns an iPhone. This alternative solution turned out to be even better. I call it the Noise Pollution Reduction System (NPRS).

Noise Pollution Reduction System (NPRS) Components:
(Note: I do not sell any of the components. You have to purchase them on your own.)

1. Insert hearing aid maskers into the ears (I use Resound Live TS) and turn on the masker. 
2. Then plug a pair of noise cancellation headphones (Bose Quietcomfort 15 for example) into a high-quality recorder (I use H2next ZOOM). If you plan to use this system outside frequently you'll need a wind screen for the recorder. It comes with the H2n Accessory Pack. 
3. Place the headphones over the hearing aid maskers. 
4. Turn on the headphones and adjust the recorder volume and mic gain to your specific safety and comfort level. 

Your quality of life may improve significantly, like mine. I was able to take my system to a Scottish Games festival and I enjoyed taking control over crowd noise, bagpipes, drums, and stage performances, and even low flying aircraft near the festival. I am no longer a victim of loudness. I simply turned the mic gain way down (on the recorder), turned the volume way down (on the recorder), and turned on the headphones, while having the hearing aid maskers running in my ears. 

This solution gives you more control over the noise pollution and environmental noise around you. Just think, you'll be able to fly again, enjoy a movie, or turn down the sound of nearby lawn equipment, heavy traffic noises, sirens, car alarms, or crying kids.

Be sure to tell your hearing specialist what you intend to do and get some guidance before you implement this solution for yourself. What works for me may not necessarily work for you. Your hearing specialist may even help you to identify your limits for the recorder settings. This will prevent you from using the recorder in a way that would make your tinnitus worse.

What you believe your comfort sound level to be may be beyond your safe sound range. Get fitted for this solution by a hearing specialist. 

I keep my Resound Live TS maskers in my ears while I have the headphones turned on and plugged into the recorder at the movie theater. It really is amazing. I used to dread going to the theater. Now I enjoy it just like everyone else.

I inform the theater staff about NPRS before I go into the movie theater so that they don't think that I'm trying to record the movie. You may want to leave the memory card out of the recorder. You don't need it. The response from theater staff has been very positive. They are fine with NPRS and somewhat fascinated by the innovation.

The logic behind NPRS:
I used to have cilia (hairlike cells) in my cochlea that would buffer certain sounds. Those cells and hairs are damaged and no longer working. The Noise Pollution Reduction System, that David Werkheiser and I have innovated brings that former level of protection back.

NPRS may even be better than the natural protection of the cochlea because of the new ability to control noise pollution. For example, the cochlea can buffer noise but the cochlea cannot control the noise volume.

Some of my friends have already said, "Steven, you and David should patent this innovation and make a lot of money." David and I both agree that it would take years to patent the innovation and have it peer reviewed, etc. etc. I want people who have tinnitus to know right away when I find something that works for me. Hence, the creation of this blog. I am not a paid spokesperson for any of the products that I use or mention on this blog. I do not sell the products. Most of the products are available on Amazon.com.

NPRS is not a cure for tinnitus. It is a solution to a problem that tinnitus sufferers struggle with everyday, noise pollution that amplifies the tinnitus exponentially over time. Unfortunately, NPRS will not help tinnitus sufferers to sleep better. It may help to prevent the tinnitus from getting worse.

Researchers can take this information and use it to formulate a clinically approved system. I hope that the NPRS sparks a graduate student or medical professionals to research another innovation that leads to a cure for tinnitus. That would be great!

NPRS Innovator Backgrounds:
Steven Lucas holds a masters degree in adult education and distance learning. He is a former Navy intelligence specialist and former training manager that suffers from severe chronic tinnitus. Through his practical experience Steven is dedicated to helping other tinnitus sufferers find relief from the condition.

David Werkheiser is a nuclear engineer and graduate of Penn State. He is a systems expert who played an integral role in recommending components of the NPRS.

Tinnitus: Nasa Research

When astronauts work on the space station they often experience irregular sleep patterns and sleep deprivation that is similar to what chronic tinnitus sufferers experience every day. The results can be memory loss, inability to effectively multi-task, grogginess, etc. I believe that tinnitus sufferers can benefit from the research that Nasa is conducting.

Nasa is studying napping and its affects on the brain. I cannot imagine anyone saying to a supervisor, "I'm going to have to go take a nap. I'll be back in a few hours." But that may be exactly what the chronic severe tinnitus sufferer must do in order to work safely and effectively.

If a tinnitus sufferer does not get eight hours of sleep per night, because of the tinnitus, then the sufferer has to catch sleep as he or she can, in the form of naps. Naps may be an effective stop-gap measure in the fight against debilitation.

Granted, many people do not get eight to nine hours of sleep per night and are still able to work safely and effectively. However, lack of sleep combined with the continual loud sound of the tinnitus can lead to serious health, work and relationship issues.

Napping may be a treatment recommendation that very few medical professionals have considered. Yet it may yield some of the greatest results. There are social stigmas attached to the idea of napping. Those stigmas need to go away. Although it may sound laughable, Nasa is taking napping very seriously. I believe that we should too. The science behind napping is compelling and sound.

Here is a link to the Nasa research study: 

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/03jun_naps/

   

Tinnitus: Ten Stages of Debilitation

Imagine walking around with a bull-horn next to your ear for 24 hours a day. How would it impact your quality of life, your sleep patterns, your work, your health, and your relationships? What if it was so loud that you could no longer ignore it? This is what chronic severe tinnitus is like.

Tinnitus is currently the number one condition facing the Veteran's Administration. Since tinnitus can present secondary conditions such as chronic insomnia and depression, it can be debilitating and lead to suicide.

Although the topic of debilitation is difficult to discuss it is important to recognize that knowing about debilitation stages can help treatment providers know how to treat a patient before debilitation progresses.

Here is how debilitation can happen:
1. The tinnitus gets worse for more than a year.
2. Insomnia sets in.
3. Friends, family, co-workers, supervisors begin to notice a difference in behavior, judgement, work performance as a result of the insomnia and constant annoying tinnitus.
4. Work performance declines. (This can reduce the tinnitus sufferer's likelihood of being promoted or sustaining gainful employment.)
5. The tinnitus sufferer begins to avoid annoying environmental noise and stressful situations that might impact the tinnitus.
6. The tinnitus sufferer has to endure unending probing questions, ridicule, disbelief, and insensitivity by people around him or her. Depression worsens.
7. The tinnitus sufferer begins to avoid people due to a lack of trust.
8. The tinnitus sufferer losses a job. At this stage, Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs begins to set in but in reverse. Instead of self actualizing the tinnitus sufferer becomes dependent on the very support system that is failing him or her.
9. The tinnitus sufferer losses something cherished (e.g. a marriage, a home, family and friend abandonment).
10. The tinnitus sufferer becomes more depressed and begins to isolate at home. In the worst-case-scenario he or she becomes suicidal.

Stage #2 above is the point at which a treatment team should be sought by the tinnitus sufferer. A good psychologist can help the tinnitus sufferer navigate the social affects and wrong thought patterns associated with chronic insomnia.

No medical professional should ever say, "You have tinnitus, just deal with it." For the tinnitus sufferer whose support system is failing him or her, the only support may come from a good treatment team. Chronic and severe tinnitus is a very serious condition that is equal to an amputation of a limb. Tinnitus is just less visible than an amputated limb so tinnitus tends to be taken less seriously.

In the case of my tinnitus, my cilia cells inside of my cochlea have been amputated. There is no prosthetic for cochlear cells. The hairs are non-regenerative. People who have chronic severe tinnitus have not had a quiet moment since the tinnitus started. It is no wonder that people with chronic severe tinnitus sometimes feel hopeless, worthless, and exhausted.

Some people wrongly believe that tinnitus is not that bad because no one has ever died from tinnitus. They fail to see that the secondary conditions caused by tinnitus can lead to suicide. Long-term sleep deprivation in addition to a consistently loud sound over time is torturous.

If you have severe chronic tinnitus and you feel that your support system is failing you then you should join a group like the American Tinnitus Association for social support. It may take your friends and family years to truly understand what you are facing on a daily basis. The ATA members understand immediately. Also, chronic pain management techniques may be helpful.

Here is a link to an image of tinnitus: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical/IM00193
Here is a link to a video that illustrates tinnitus due to cochlear damage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGMOrp1i_aQ

Tinnitus: White Noise Masking

I used to use a fan to mask the sound of my ringing ears until the ringing got so loud that it was above the sound of the fan. I turned to Resound Live TS hearing aids. They do help. Plus, I was fitted for them by my audiologist. So I am absolutely sure that the masking is at the right range specific to my ringing ears.

There are some white noise masker Apps available for download from the iTunes Store. There is one called Tinnitus. I tried it and it may help some people who's ears are in that range. My ringing is not in that range and so it did not mask my ringing.

There is an App that I've tried that I like. It is called White Noise. The App allows users to mix sounds. I mixed the Heavy Rain and the Thunder sounds and found that it did mask my ringing a bit. White Noise App didn't mask my ringing as well as my Resound Live TS but it is nice to have a different sound to listen to that has a similar affect.

Before you use any masker, you should speak to an audiologist. A masker could make your tinnitus worse if you have subjective tinnitus like mine. If you find yourself turning the masker up louder and louder you'll eventually turn it up to unsafe levels that can damage your ears. So be careful.

Tinnitus: SCUBA Diving

According to two audiologists, SCUBA diving will not negatively affect or aggravate tinnitus. The Diver's Alert Network (DAN) has also stated that tinnitus should not curtail diving but recommends seeing a hearing specialist before diving with tinnitus (just to be on the safe side).

Here is why SCUBA diving does not affect tinnitus negatively:

Pressure only affects air spaces of the body (lungs, esophagus, nasal passages, mouth, and eustachian tubes). The cochlea, vestibular nerve, and the brain are fluid filled spaces not air passages. In my case, the damage is in the cochlea. Since pressure does not affect the fluid filled cochlea, SCUBA diving has no negative affect for me.

I've noticed some temporary relief from my tinnitus while SCUBA diving and for a few hours after each dive. My theory as to why this happens has to do with temperature. It certainly is not pressure at depth that causes temporary relief. I think what is happening is that as brain temperature cools it causes the AC current in the brain to drop causing temporary relief. A few hours later, on land, as the brain returns to its normal temperature the AC current raises back up and the tinnitus suddenly returns. It is like a light switch being turned on.

If, however, the eardrum is damaged (which mine are not) then one would not want to be diving. It is possible for someone to have a damaged eardrum that could cause tinnitus-like symptoms.

High blood pressure may trigger pulsatile tinnitus (a pulsing sound in the ears). SCUBA Diving does have some impact on blood pressure. It has more to do with how the alveoli in the lungs absorb and process the compressed air molecules in the lungs.

Other factors that impact blood pressure are reactions to unfamiliar surroundings, cold water, and underwater stress or panic. These factors can raise  blood pressure quickly. Don't spare the expense. Buy the equipment that you need to be as comfortable as you possibly can be in the water. The best practice is to get a dive physical as regularly as needed.

If you suffer from hypertension and tinnitus then dialogue with your medical providers to come up with a solution. Keep in mind that the solution may be, "Don't dive."

Just because someone is a SCUBA diver and has tinnitus doesn't mean that SCUBA diving caused the tinnitus. As scientists and statisticians often say, "Correlation does not imply causation."

If you are experiencing insomnia as a secondary condition of your tinnitus then be honest with yourself and realize your limitation and find something else that gives you as much enjoyment as SCUBA diving but is safe for you to do.

You may be going through a time where your treatment team is trying to adjust your medications to match your lifestyle. Let the team know that you want to SCUBA dive. Ask if it is okay to do so. Always land on the side of safety. If your conscience is telling you not to dive then don't dive until you know that it is safe.

Be mindful not to SCUBA dive while under the influence of medications that may limit your ability to safely dive.

Also, if you are suffering from chronic insomnia as a secondary condition to your tinnitus, consider that your immune system may not be as strong as it used to be. Bacteria in the water, that you used to be immune to, may affect you. Your skin could present lesions, rashes, boils, etc. If this happens, see your doctor right away.

Tinnitus: Solution for Controlling Environmental Noise Levels

Summary: The following solution is not a cure for tinnitus. It is a solution to a problem that plagues tinnitus sufferers. The problem is that many people with tinnitus have had no control over loud or annoying environmental noises that aggravate the condition. This is a solution that works for me.

Background:
As subjective chronic tinnitus gets worse there are certain noises (lawn equipment, etc.) that trigger the ringing and make it even louder.

Since late 2009, I have had great difficulty in attending any of the following events:

1. Going to the movies

2. Going to church services

3. Going to concerts or plays

4. Going to any ceremony whereby a PA or sound system is used.

5. Flying (due to annoying engine and internal compartment sounds)

I did go to some of these events but I paid the price of sleepless nights with loudly ringing ears.

Here are the two questions that people immediately ask me when I explain this problem to them:

1. Why not wear earplugs during these events? 

Answer: Since the ringing is inside of the ears, earplugs enhance the sound of the ringing resulting in louder and more annoying ringing from within. In short, earplugs make the condition worse. 

2. Why not wear hearing aids during these events?

Answer: Hearing aids can help to mask and distract the tinnitus sufferer from the normal everyday ringing sound inside of the ears but does not block annoying environmental noise. 

Problem Statement: 
Outside environmental noise is being produced that makes the tinnitus worse. This results in me living a life of explaining why I can't attend certain events or avoiding people so that I don't have to explain.  

My theory:

If I can control or filter the volume of external noises entering my ears I can limit the annoyance level and attend events like I used to be able to do.

Key Components:

Resound Live TS Hearing Aids (with maskers)

Noise Cancellation Headphones (Bose)

iPhone

iRig Recorder App (free)

Here is how it works: 

I have my Resound Live TS hearing aids in my ears with the maskers on. I have noise cancellation headphones on and plugged into the iPhone while running the iRig Recorder app. I do not need to be recording in order to hear and control the volume of environmental noise. As a result, I am now in control of the loudness of sounds entering my ears and am therefore not as easily irritated by annoying external environmental noise. I am in total control of the headphone volume. I can now attend events 1-6 above.

Does it work?
It absolutely works to buffer against noises that would otherwise aggravate the tinnitus. I have personally tested it at a movie theater, against low-flying aircraft, against lawn equipment. I found myself in a movie theater turning the volume up and down as needed and enjoying the movie rather than being forced to listen to aggravating noise levels that just a few days ago I had no control over. 

Implementing the Solution:

If you decide to use this solution you'll need to download iRig Recorder to your iPhone and go to Setup. Once in Setup check the Latency settings. I have my "In Level" set to 15 and the "Out Level" set to -8. Adjust it as you deem appropriate for your tinnitus.

While still in the Latency Setup on iRig Recorder, you should use Ultra Low and then scroll down to Background Audio and make sure that the button is not red. If it is red, click on it to turn it gray (even though it reads "ON" it is off if the button is gray).

After your Latency settings are set in iRig Recorder you will be able to press the home button on the iPhone and then put the iPhone in sleep mode (by clicking the top right button on the iPhone). This will save battery power and allow you to use the microphone and headphones while the iPhone is sleeping. Make sure that your headphone is turned on (otherwise you will hear nothing).

You'll be able to go to a movie theater and enjoy the movie at the level of sound that is most comfortable for you. You'll also be able to adjust the sound at will during the movie.

There are two cables that come with your Bose Noise Cancellation Headphones. One has a microphone and the other one does not. Make sure that the one with the microphone is plugged into your headphones and the iPhone.

Remember that this solution works for me. You may have a different level of tinnitus or have a different cause, remember to always consult an audiologist about whether this solution is right for you before you implement it.

Credit:

I knew that I needed a systems expert to help me work through the solution. I called a friend who is the greatest systems expert that I know. Within a few days of contacting him we had the solution.

David Werkheiser, a nuclear engineer, and I teamed up to provide this solution. David was instrumental in helping to research and recommend key components.

Tinnitus: Drugs

Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs can negatively affect tinnitus. Be sure to ask for a printed list of known side effects of medications that are prescribed to you before you take them. Also, do your own research before you take medications (over-the counter or prescription). You may have to inform your doctor that tinnitus is a known side effect of a drug that he or she has recommended. Ask if there is a comparable drug that does not list tinnitus as a side effect. 

Also, tinnitus may not be listed as a known side effect of a drug. But, if you experience an increase in ringing in your ears after taking any drug you should consult your doctor immediately. Ask if there is a comparable drug that does not cause the loudness or annoyance of your tinnitus to spike.

Don't automatically assume that the doctor is even thinking about your tinnitus or is empathetic to your ear condition. You may have to continue to repeatedly remind some doctors that you have the condition. Some doctors still view tinnitus as a minor condition. Other doctors are up to date on the issue.

Tinnitus: Action Planning

This post is for people who have experienced chronic (more than 12 months) severe ringing in the ears. People who have experienced acute (less than 12 months) mild ringing should ignore this article because acute tinnitus cures itself within the year.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms as a result of your tinnitus do not wait to get help. You'll need to take action immediately.

Symptoms:
1. Calling in sick often, to work, in order to catch up on lost sleep due to tinnitus. (One study showed that this is part of the condition.)
2. Rapidly diminished ability to sequence or organize thoughts or ideas
3. A marked increase in forgetfulness or loss of mental clarity or focus
4. Reduced ability to speak clearly (slurring)
5. Hearing loss
6. Poor judgement
7. Losing track of time
8. Continuous exhaustion
9. Thoughts of harming yourself
10. Inability to control the volume (or loudness) of your own voice
11. Increased irritability
12. Increased aggressiveness
13. A continuous downturn in mood
14. Unusually high levels of frustration
15. Increased anxiety or irrational fear

Action Plan:
I. Assemble a Treatment Team (to help guide you):
1. Audiologist
2. Psychologist
3. Psychiatrist
4. General Practitioner
5. Neurologist (if recommended by 1-4 above)

II. If recommended by your treatment team (and when you feel it is appropriate) communicate your condition to the people who most need to know and who most care about you:
1. Spouse
2. Friends
3. Family
4. Co-workers
5. Supervisor

III. Network with other people who actually have the condition:
1. Join a group like the American Tinnitus Association (ATA). I've been a member for nearly two years now and you'd be surprised at the diversity of the membership (actors, basketball players, musicians, military veterans, etc.) who are all on your side.

IV. Keep track of new technologies that may help to relieve some of your symptoms.

Tinnitus: MRI Affects

MRI machines can negatively affect tinnitus. I had an MRI and it raised the ringing to a super high-pitch. I'm not kidding when I say that it sounded like an opera singer was singing inside of my right ear. I heard that sound for three days after the MRI and then it calmed down to the normal ringing. I was concerned that it was permanent damage. I'm glad that it wasn't. If you have tinnitus and your audiologist or doctor recommends an MRI, they may not know about MRI affects on tinnitus. I recommend that you ask to use an MRI that has a music headphone that you can wear during the MRI. It may help to mask your ringing. Some masking is better than none.

Tinnitus: Techno Gadgets

Here is my experience with techno gadgets:

Cure-omonics 

I'm calling them Cure-omonics because they claim to be a cure. But, you know who I'm talking about right? They are selling this product for a hefty price. The music has wind-chimes mixed in that negatively affected my tinnitus. You might have a different experience. 

Hearing Aids with Maskers Built-in - I use maskers everyday. The maskers actually do help to mask some of the high-pitched ringing.  I'm using Resound Live TS. In my opinion, it is far better to listen to the sound of the masker than it is to listen to the highest pitch of my tinnitus. Maskers don't help me sleep better. But maskers do help me to better control my voice so that I'm not talking over the high pitch ringing. (A.K.A. YELLING!) 

Noise Cancellation Headphones - I purchased a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones. Why? Because loud or annoying noise (traffic, printers, lawn equipment, sirens, movie theater sounds, microphone feedback, jet engines or propellers, etc) can make tinnitus worse. My goal is to "control my context" by bringing those noises down to levels that are safe for me. The Bose headphones work for me. I can take them to a movie theater and still hear the movie but at a much safer level and best of all...I can keep my maskers in my ears at the same time. Noise cancellation headphones are expensive but, in my view, are worth every penny that I've spent on them. 

Note: Someone asked me if I am embarrassed to wear hearing aids in public. My response, "I would wear a funny hat in public if it relieved my tinnitus even a little bit."