The OL likes a fan with ionizer for the allergen-reduced air. I like it for the pink-ish noise....I sleep with pink noise at night. Helps a lot. Trying to fall asleep in a dead quiet room makes it really tough to not focus on the ringing.
White noise is more harsh sounding and gets irritating to me after a while. Pink or brown noise is more mellow and pleasing to me.
I've been looking for a name and documentation for my problem for years. I've just researched the term, and THIS is it. For decades, I've experienced a "spasm" in my ear, like something tugging on my eardrum when exposed to certain sounds, even at very low volume. I've described it to several ENTs, only to have them shrug their shoulders. It is associated with pain when hearing sounds that are no where near loud enough to cause pain for most people. A soda can pop top is excruciating. A low-volume sine wave can cause a constant spasm with pain. Sometimes.
I considered the problem neurological, because sound present in only one ear can cause a spasm in the opposite ear. For instance, if I am on the phone at low volume, or using headphones and sound is coming into only one ear, the opposite ear can "spasm". The spasms are highly correlated with the audio signal. Sometimes, the ear receiving the signal will spasm as well.
Thank you so much for this information. Perhaps there is some treatment to help reduce the discomfort, or perhaps not. But it is a relief of sorts to even know it is recognized and has a name.
"A soda can pop top is excruciating." YES! I get huge explosions in my ear from the sound of a soda can opening. My other nemesis is packing tape.I've been looking for a name and documentation for my problem for years. I've just researched the term, and THIS is it. For decades, I've experienced a "spasm" in my ear, like something tugging on my eardrum when exposed to certain sounds, even at very low volume. I've described it to several ENTs, only to have them shrug their shoulders. It is associated with pain when hearing sounds that are no where near loud enough to cause pain for most people. A soda can pop top is excruciating. A low-volume sine wave can cause a constant spasm with pain. Sometimes.
I considered the problem neurological, because sound present in only one ear can cause a spasm in the opposite ear. For instance, if I am on the phone at low volume, or using headphones and sound is coming into only one ear, the opposite ear can "spasm". The spasms are highly correlated with the audio signal. Sometimes, the ear receiving the signal will spasm as well.
Thank you so much for this information. Perhaps there is some treatment to help reduce the discomfort, or perhaps not. But it is a relief of sorts to even know it is recognized and has a name.
Yeah that's physiologically pretty shaky.I just saw an interview w/ Lukather ..., he was saying that the exact frequency you hear is the brain compensating by replacing what's been lost ? I've never heard that before so maybe it's dubious ?
Anyway, he also talked about a phone application that supposedly helps re-train the brain to NOT do it anymore.
I'm one of the lucky ones that don't have tinnitus ( yet ), so I didn't pay attention that closely. But I'm sure an internet search might locate the information.
GOOD LUCK !
Great write up, thanks! I especially liked this part:"Ever find anything that helps?"
Yes, this is my story (I'll try to make it short):
About three year ago, I suddenly noticed a tinnitus. As for a lot of people, it got a devastating effect on me. Furthermore I knew the consequences it can have on one's life after a beloved one got struck some years ago. I even managed to count 3 different tinnitus (1Khz on right ear, one high pitch in both, and one pulsative high pitched white noise)!
Note that I live in a country (The Netherlands) where the medical community does not believe in chemical treatment for tinnitus. Therefore they might give you the corticosteroid shock if it's not too late to stop any eventual inflammation, but that's it. If you want more, go to Germany or France (where I originate from actually).
After doing all checks at the ENT (nothing really noticeable - good audiogram for my age and nothing on MRI), I followed a cursus at a company specialized in hearing and speech retraining on advice of the ENT. In my case a hearing aid device would not be of any help...
The cursus first explained what is tinnitus, its probable causes (not only hearing loss but also mechanical) and the effect it has on people with the negative loop of feelings (you hear it, it gives negative feelings and reaction, therefore you focus on it, therefore it triggers even more negativity etc.)
It sounded like a Kluber-Ross change curve had to be followed here...
My first step, with the help of the specialists, was therefore to understand the negative impact that these noises create on me. It didn't take me long to understand that this was fear and anger. Fear as I knew the devastating impact on people's life and fear not to be able to play anymore in a band or go to shows or anything noise related. It was also anger, as I knew the risks, I always protected myself in noisy environments, and still I somehow fucked up. Not talking about the fact that it took ages for getting an appointment at the ENT.
The second step was to break the negative spiral. I managed to get over my anger by focusing on the good job and attention that the specialists gave at my case. Fear was a bit more difficult to battle. But the ENT and the specialists told me that as long as I protect my ears and avoid the 90dB limit (etc.), it would be ok (keeping in mind though that you can't stop aging and its potential consequences -hearing loss, therefore tinnitus, etc-).
The third step was therefore starting experimenting: Playing very low volume at home, going to parties with full blocking ear plugs, rehearsing with ear plugs + over ear protection (!), even going to shows more protected than usual as well. It was possible. Of course afterwards the ringing can be somewhat harder than usual for a few hours. Well, I was told by the specialists that this is a normal reaction of the brain, as well as hearing them more when waking up (what a symphony in my head in the morning indeed!). But here is the difference: I started associating the tinnitus with having a good time (it's a consequence of having great fun). The brain likes these type of associations and this is another retraining method actually (I did not want to use white noise generators yet).
So did the ringing go away? No, actually some of it is worse than 3 years ago. Does it have a negative effect on me? Not anymore. Can I sleep despite the ringing? Like a baby.
This is my experience and I am proud that I went from a very dark place in my head (the railway was not far from my house) to enjoying life fully again.
Good luck!
What is "SCM"? I don't know that acronym/abbreviation.That is reassuring, against the general perception that once it becomes chronic, is forever. Mine is coming from some sort of neck issue, it's two years already and it becomes worse or better depending on neck positions, neck pain (mostly SCM and back of the head .... ) the days I have less neck discomfort and crepitus it almost goes away. But unfortunately doctors where I live (Germany), or at least those I visited so far, are quite useless. Honestly I came to terms with my T and I'd be very happy if Just I could get rid of my neck pain and tension, but seems it will take long yet.
SCM is Sternocleidomastoid.What is "SCM"? I don't know that acronym/abbreviation.
I might try the BreatheRight strips, since it seems a cheap enough thing to test, and I frequently wake up with a sinus headache and stuffy nose....
Ah! This is where a lot of my neck pain issues lie, probably due to a nearly 30 year old whiplash injury....SCM is Sternocleidomastoid.
Interesting you said it’s been more intense the last few days. I’ve had Tinnitus for at least 20 years (I’m 55) and the last few days I’ve found it’s become more intense as well. What part of the world are you in? I’m wondering if it’s something weather related.
I have two amps and they both have power scaling, but it seems that no matter how low I have the volume on the amps, and I can get them really low, they seem to still bother my ears. Listening to a TV at the same volume doesn’t have the same effect. Is there something specific about a guitar speaker that would make the symptoms worse? I also try not to have the amps pointed directly at me.
One thing that does affect Tinnitus and make it worse, is caffeine. I try not drink coffee too late in the day so that the ringing isn’t too loud when I go to bed.
I have a coworker that recently developed ringing in his ears after getting the covid shot.
I'm not on either side of the fence, just wanted to mention for the conversation.
Loss of taste or smell is not a side effect of the vaccines, it's a symptom of Covid. From Yale Health https://yalehealth.yale.edu/yale-covid-19-vaccine-program/covid-19-vaccine-side-effects:No idea at this point if it’s a temporary or permanent thing, as it seems most report things like taste/smell returns with time.