Is This Tinnitus ?

[CW1]

About 6 weeks ago, out of nowhere, I started "hearing" a sound in my right ear, difficult to describe especially as it changes, & comes & goes. Some days it goes pretty much completely. I noticed too, by accident, one day when it was particularly loud, when I shook my head I can hear a sleigh bells / bell on cat collar noise over it.

Saw an ENT guy this week. He can't explain the "sleigh bells" or why it can just stop, not "atypical symptoms".

When I had the hearing test just before seeing him, I wasn't sure if I missed a couple of really high frequency beeps, didn't help I heard the 2 nurses talking a few times. The conclusion was I've lost some hearing of some very high frequency sounds in both ears, worse in the right, & my brain is trying to even them up by creating this "noise".

Doctor has said it's "intermittent non-pulsatile tinnitus" & referred me to audiology for consideration of hearing aids & tinnitus retaining therapy. I am not the slightest bit deaf but he said it could give me some relief.

Yesterday the noise disappeared altogether. This morning I woke up to the noise in my LEFT ear for the 1st time ! After hearing it "in my head", it's now back in my right.

I know a couple of people with tinnitus, they've had it for years, & this is nothing like they describe. I'm thinking of asking for a 2nd opinion, maybe an MRI too. 

Any thoughts ?

[gingejbee]

Don't forget that tinnitus is only a symptom of something...it is not the diagnosed condition. So, yes, if you hear sounds that are not external (so the person next to you doesn't hear them), then that is tinnitus. The sounds people hear vary widely.

[Peter Pedant]

you have a diagnosis -  Doctor has said it's "intermittent non-pulsatile tinnitus"

which for some reason you dont  like

so you ask us walk-ins  - - ho hum must be AB

[gingejbee]

^but it isn't a diagnosis. It's giving a name to something you're experiencing. It's a symptom of one of several underlying problems...which maybe can be diagnosed.

[Hazlinny]

If you type "tinnitus" in the Search Panel on site, you will find many posts on tinnitus.  I developed this recently, noise in left ear which does come and go .. sounds like rustling paper/buzzing bee - really annoying.  Wait for Audiology test is 9 months here!  Had similar in right ear several years ago and did have an MRI scan - negative.  Tinnitus in that ear disappeared after a few months.

[CW1]

I get tinnitus is a "catch all", generic term. Doctor himself said it doesn't make sense, gave me an odd look when I mentioned the "sleigh bells". But I'm not imagining it !

"It's a symptom of one of several underlying problems...which maybe can be diagnosed."

Exactly, gingejbee. Treat the problem, not the symptoms.

Several years ago I had kidney stones & was diagnosed with hypercalcemia. Since then, a piece of calcium was found in a place no calcium should ever be. Daft as it may sound, I have wondered if there's maybe other bits in places it shouldn't be. Like my ear ? 

[CW1]

Hazlinny, I know I was very lucky getting the audiology test so quick, but my GP had referred me as "a 2 week emergency". Doctor at the hospital did ask if the GP had said what his thoughts were, to do it as an emergency, but all he'd told me to do was use a Beconase nasal spray. Made no difference, unsurprisingly.

I did do a quick search, but I couldn't find anything mentioning what I thought would be a BIG clue as to what may be going on, ie. this added sound when I shake my head. 

[Old_Geezer]

One is happily filtering out any head noises, then someone posts about tinnitus and, lo & behold, there it is, so obvious again.

 

Best of luck with yours.

[smurfchops]

When I shake my head I hear the bells as well....  I have a hearing aid for each ear, and I can always hear a whooshing sound, it is never completely quiet.  I feel I just have to live with it.  

[Peter Pedant]

more removals, this could be 'never find the answerbank"