Do You Have Tinnitus?

[10ClarionSt]

There was a feature about this on the radio this morning. I have tinnitus. Had it since I was teenager and worked in a weaving shed. If you have never been in a weaving shed, I can tell you it is one of the most noisy environments you could be in. In those days there was no H&S and no PPE. You bought your own work wear and protection. For years I didn't even know I had it. I knew I had high pitched whistling in my ears but didn't know there was name for it. The sounds have a slightly different pitch in each ear and I've noticed they get louder as I get tired. I've just learned to live with it. It doesn't stop me sleeping, nor does it hinder me in any way. It's just there and will never go away, as there is no cure. It's similar to those bleeps you hear when they scan products at the checkouts, but higher pitched. And constant. If I was asked to help anyone who also suffers, I have to say I wouldn't know what I could do. So, if you have it too, you have my sympathy.

[Pete65]

Mine is a hissing noise.
It is louder, or most noticeable, if I feel any stress.
But for the most part, I ignore it, and it does not really affect my life.

[wolf63]

My noise resembles the noise I used to hear in some of the indoor animal displays at Edinburgh Zoo echo-ish. Some men's public toilets also sound similar tiles an water.

Try adding an auditory hallucination or two and a snoring cat. I haven't slept for a whole night for years.

[Old_Geezer]

I have a mild version of it. Most of the time I don't notice, but when I do, like when someone brings the subject up, it seems obvious. Can't say I can tie it to any loud sound events. We all get ringing in the ear sometimes, and one day it didn't stop for me. A high pitched, multi-frequency non-stop whistle/hiss/whatever.

[albaqwerty]

lawdy, a most unpleasant thing to suffer.
I hope, at some point, there may be a cure for the noise

[Garaman]

I have had tinnitus for about twenty years, just in one ear where I had a Stapedectomy. I am quite good at ignoring it most of the time, but it does get louder and more annoying when I remember I have it (as now).

[Eve]

Yes, for many years with Menieres. It changes, it can be a very high pitched whine (usually half my hearing shuts off with that one), to a lower whine, the sound is like a tuning fork.

Other times I get pops and crackles like loud rice crispies.

Sometimes a strange noise, a bit like a much quieter MRI machine, the noise it generally makes, not the really loud ones while you are being scanned.

Recently I've had some strange sounds when I'm near something like a busy road but I think that is something to do with the grommet I have.

[anagram]

My menieres has caused total hearing loss in my left ear, coupled with the constant tinnitus, every day sounds become distorted. Subtitles are a must, no matter how loud the tv is I can't understand what they are saying. Bass sounds are the worst, they reverberate in my head making it feel like my head will explode. The tinnitus sounds are hard to describe....rushing water and high pitched whistling are there all the time, other strange noises come and go. Social occasions have become a bit of a nightmare and as a previous poster (I'm sorry I forget who) mentioned pubs tend to be avoided as you can't follow conversations...and pubs with music are a real no no.

[Eve]

I find pubs and other noisy places difficult too, on the telephone as well. Rushing is a good word to describe what I can get near busy roads and similar. That's when I tend to notice that one anyway.

Currently got a pulsating tuning fork one and hot horrible ear ache. It's that weird high frequency kind of sound, almost like when you switch the TV on with a remote before it's on properly. Does that make sense? Thinking maybe more of old TVs, like I have.

[jennyjoan]

I have it too due to deafness and Menieres - I don't know if you know it can be caused with stress and taking pills.

Mine is a bee buzzing in and out of the ear. Drives me up the wall but thank God it goes away and I get a welcome break.

[hc4361]

I get the hum. I have found to my relief that having the ceiling fan on at night is a big help - it cancels out the hum without being loud enough to stop me sleeping.

[jno]

anagram, yes, I've given up the cinema too ; watching either DVDs or telly with subtitles switched on is the only way.

[bainbrig]

I had it pretty badly in the 1990s. An ENT consultant recommended I try a strong NASAL spray (Flixonase, prescription only), as he suspected partially obstructed sinuses.

And it has worked, over the years, keeping my tinnitus down to very low levels, say 2 or 3 out of 10 (high = 9 out of 10, low = 1 out of 10).

Not saying it would work for everyone, but worth pursuing just in case.