ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: Denise S on February 06, 2010, 12:49:00 pm
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This question is more aimed towards those post surgery that had SSD and tinnitus.
If you have had both and got a Hearing Device, have you noticed it helping decrease the tinnitus??
I ask this after reading something on a website www.askdocweb.com/tinnitus.html
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I am SSD and have a BAHA. Fortunately, I don't suffer from tinnitus - didn't prior to my surgery either.
My doc told me that a BAHA wouldn't affect tinnitus either way. Wouldn't cause it, wouldn't eliminate it, wouldn't make it worse.
But that was just a BAHA. I don't know about conventional hearing aids.
Jan
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This question is more aimed towards those post surgery that had SSD and tinnitus.
If you have had both and got a Hearing Device, have you noticed it helping decrease the tinnitus??
I am SSD and had tinnitus before and after surgery. I wear a BAHA and it has no effect whatsoever on tinnitus. I understand that many doctors want to make sure that patients who are considering BAHAs, TransEars, etc. fully understand that these devices will not "cure" their tinnitus issues. On the other hand, they don't make the tinnitus any worse!
Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
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I am trying out a conventional hearing aid- had it about 2 weeks now- I have about 25% hearing in my right ear. I now have tinnitus after having gamma knife- but did not before. I was afraid the hearing aid would make the noise worse, but it doesn't- the noise gets louder as the day goes on- some nights just feels like its screaming, which makes hearing more difficult because of the distraction it causes, but overall doesn't appear to be interfering with the sounds and speech I now realize I was missing.
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I'm still "pre-treatment." But I've had a hearing aid for six months, and it gets rid of my mild tinnitus completely. The only time I have tinnitus is at night, when I take the hearing aid off.
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What hearing aid is this that gets rid of the tinnitus? This is very interesting?
Mei Mei
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I wish there was a hearing aid that gets rid of tinnitus!
I had the BAHA put in with the surgery, because I knew I would lose my hearing. Tinnitus before surgery worsened after surgery with the SSD.
I don't think the BAHA made the tinnitus worse. It was already pretty screamy.
SO I have the BAHA on hold right now. Abutment unscrewed, but can be activated again when I feel up to it.
So my answer Denise is- I was just more keenly aware of my severe tinnitus with my BAHA after surgery! :o I'm willing to try it again tho some day.
Maureen :)
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Yes, I agree, Moe, that tinnitus gets worse after the AN surgery. My tinnitus was mild before the surgery, but now that I am deaf in the AN ear it got much louder. Sunfish said that she got a hearing aid that makes the tinnitus softer which is the first I've ever heard anyone on this site ever mention this happen. I'd love this to happen but know for sure it won't happen with the BAHA.
I guess you can't wear them in combo, can you?
Mei Mei
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Yes, I agree, Moe, that tinnitus gets worse after the AN surgery.
I think this must be very individualized. My tinnitus was mild pre-surgery and has remained mild two years after my translab surgery.
Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
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Definitely individualized because I had moderate before surgery and I hardly notice it now.. It's louder to me at bedtime and there are no other sounds..
Regards,
Brian
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When I have read on tinnitus, I seen where sometmes Hearing aids or devices may help with it. That's why I ended up posting it here to see if anyone has noticed that. Looks like really only 1 has had that. Just found it interesting ;)
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I don't think my situation can be compared to yours all that well. I still have plenty hearing in that ear - mixed hearing loss. I have moderate conductive loss due to injury or otosclerosis, as well as sensory-neural loss from the AN. I use the new Dot(squared) 20 by ReSound, which helps overcome the conductive loss, but won't do a darn thing for the loss from the AN.
I have regular tinnitus, as well as a weird, whistling noise when I shake my head, which no one can seem to explain.
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I'm SSD with both tinnitus and hyperacussis since translab surgery Sept 09.
Had my full hearing with no tinnitus prior to surgery...both the tinnitus and hypercussis has about driven me nuts over the last few months.
Since I've started wearing the BAHA in Jan the sound issues are not as noticeable, however, I doubt that it has to do with the baha as much as healing and getting used to it. My doc (Dr. Friedman) said he thought the tinnitus and hypercussis would ease up over time.
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http://www.ata.org/for-patients/treatment#Amplification
http://www.askdocweb.com/tinnitus.html
Here are 2 of the multiple sites that mentioned hearing aids "possibly" helping with tinnitus. Seems like all say about the same thing and not positive if it would be referring to the bone conduction aids too. It mentions something about the frequency of the tinnitus, not sure how that is measured...??????
So, that is why I threw this question out there to check peoples history and thoughts to the subject.
Thanks for the replies! ;)
Denise
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Dear Denise,
I just read with interest what you sent us. I happen to have TMJ and have been wondering if others in our group also have it because they don't mention it. I've been wondering if it has a relationship to the headaches I've been having, but on this link it makes a suggestion that there is a cause for the tinnitus! I never would have guessed this and will contact my dentist about this.
Thanks, Denise.
Sincerely,
Mei Mei
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Hi,
I've had tinnitus since my late teens as far as I can remember. During the day it's there but I am busy so I hardly notice it. But if I am sleeping in a quiet room or camping, it's deafening. I had AN surgery in November so now I have SSD on my right side which happened to also be my noisy side because of the tinnitus. Related or not, I don't know. But it was there and it is still there now. I don't think it is any better or worse. It is just now the only sound on that side. And since in my case the CN8 was severed during surgery it is especially interesting that it is still there. It isn't a real sound that I'm hearing. It is noise created by my brain or body that is perceived some way other than normal "hearing". Many of you already knew this but it was new information for me. I had never really thought about it and so I had no idea I wasn't hearing it. I wish I could get rid of it though.
Michael
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Dear Michael,
I am sorry you are suffering so much from the tinnitus. I talked to my dentist yesterday about the possibility of TMJ and teeth grinding contributing to tinnitus and he was skeptical. He said that it probably would not help but offered to make me a mouth guard to give it a try...just wasn't optimistic.
I wish there were some answer to the tinnitus question...some escape.
Take care,
Mei Mei
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Mei Mei,
Don't know if this will help, but you may want to try it. About a year ago, I stopped eating wheat, dairy products and most sugars. My headaches went completely away. I am an O blood type. When I don't eat properly, I get the headaches and inflammation in my fingers. Also my massage therapist treats tmj or clenching jaws by sticking his finger in your mouth (gloved, of couse) and putting pressure on some of those knots that form. You kinda feel like a hooked fish. Hurts like the d***ens but it really helps. I don't know the proper name for all of this, but if you are interested I can find out more.
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Thank you for your suggestions. I have heard this before about wheat. In fact, my daughter went to an allergist about three years ago and was told to eliminate all wheat products from her diet. She is now doing much better. She is on a gluten free diet. As for the massage in the mouth, I don't know of any massage person who would do this, but it sounds helpful. I will ask around for this, but it might be hard to find.
I asked my dentist about the TMJ and Tinnitus and he didn't see the relationship in my case but would make a mouthpiece if I wanted one.
Mei Mei
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I went to the link this morning that Denise posted and read it over again.
Under the section on Cochlear Implants they mentioned that some patients get releif from the tinnitus after the implant. This was in the last line of the Cochlear implant section. This would be a great benefit to the BAHA. No?
In the section listing the drugs they had on there the drug that I mentioned on the Headache section of our forum that I have been taking for years for Myofascial Pain and headache prevention. Now this has a side effect of Tinnitus. I have been swearing by this drug for years. It's called Topamax.
I'll have to go to the headache forum and let them know what I learned from this link. It's frustrating to learn that such a helpful med. can also cause Tinnitus.
Sincerely,
Mei Mei
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Mei Mei, those are a couple interesting finds you got. Did you go for the mouthpiece? I know they are expensive.
I was surprised how LONG the drug list was that can contribute to tinnitus. Ya know I seen the Topamax name on there. It tended to stand out because I've seen where a lot of people on here seem to take it. BUT, I never payed attention if they have tinnitus or SSD. interesting
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Dear Denise,
No, I'm not going for the mouthpiece, I'm just tempted because it is non=surgical. I wrote to them and they are only considering people on the West Coast in the SanFrancisco Area.
I have an appt on June 14 with Dr. Niparko for preliminary work up for the BAPA and will probably do that.
Regarding the Topamax and thank you for alerting me to the information, I don't know what I am going to do about it. I've been taking it for over 8 years and now think it is probably the cause of the tinnitus pre surgery. I was originally prescribed the Topamax for Myofascial pain and prevention of headaches. I've been pain free all these years. Maybe I should go off of it for a trial and see what happens to the tinnitus. The other person just mentioned a wheat free diet so I'll try that as well.
Will keep you informed. It's trial and error. I hate to stop the Topamax with the Post Surgical headaches I've been suffering now.
Mei Mei
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I received a note from my doctor at Johns Hopkins after asking for help with tinnitus. He told me to decrease my use of caffeine as that might help and that the BAHA would help while I am wearing it. This confuses me because what I've read on this board I was told the BAHA didn't make a difference. I've also copied and pasted an attachment on the use of the iPod or Mp3 player for help with tinnitus. See if this helps you. Mei Mei
Using iPod or MP3 player for partial masking therapy
If you are bothered by tinnitus (ringing in the ears), listening through the tinnitus to music played at a level just below that of the tinnitus may help.
To do this, follow the instructions below:
It is helpful to use good quality noise cancelling headphones.
Listen to music at a level just below the level of the tinnitus to music that you like. Suggested types of music are Celtic music or other classical musical with tones similar to the tones of the tinnitus which you hear.
Do not try to drown out the tinnitus but rather try to focus on the music through the tinnitus.
Avoid further damage to your ears by limiting the exposure to loud noise.
Avoid total silence as this tends to aggravate the tinnitus. Try to sleep with a ceiling fan, environmental noise machine or radio on low.
Try the iPod or MP3 therapy for approximately 2 hours per day.
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He Mei Mei,
THANKS for emailing me that info. I for sure printed it out, but am wondering how we are to know the level of our tinnitus? I have added that to some of my questions since I will be having an MRI in the next weeks and then seeing the actual neurosurgeron for a follow up this time (vs. neurotologist). I can totally sleep fine without any noises to drown out my tinnitus, so I figure it must just be a mild stage. Thing that is odd though is how it never even started until about 2 1/2mo. post op and tend to come & go (still thinking more weather related or allergy/sinus, being there is lots of that right now here in Michigan).
Also, you mentioned above about the doctor recommending decrease in caffine. I have read that like everywhere. As for you dr. mentioning wearing the BAHA should help, well of course that is kind of why I started this thread. I have now read in multiple places that hearing devices "may" help with tinnitus. I have gotten feedbacks or emails from a few others (not just from this site) that say they thing if they use their hearing device regular, they do notice a differece. OF course, there are a couple they say they are not sure and one said they really never paid attention ;)
THANKS AGAIN!!!! ***love this forum***
Denise
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Mei Mei,
I forgot to mention hopefully if you go off the Topamax all goes well. Sure that is one you would have to wean off very slowly.
Have you ever thought of putting your surgical date or info. in the signature part below? (just curious because I do tend to forgot how much farther along some are than others........then I end up asking questions sometimes that a lot of times can be answered by looking in signature) :-)
take care!!!
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Dear Denise,
Glad you received the information. I keep meaning to update my signature file but am lazy because I was so busy with getting ready for surgery and getting my father settled in with the new aide in the house. I don't even know how to put my picture on the forum. My tumor size was 1 cm and was taken out on Jan 12 at Johns Hopkins by Dr. Niparko and Tomargo. I am now SSD but no facial paralysis. I do have daily headaches.
I am concerned that the doctor says that the BAHA helps with the tinnitus helps and people on the forum say that it doesn't. This really confuses me. I've stopped the caffeine, but not the Topamax. I've also stopped the wheat and am going gluten free including oatmeal. I hope this helps the headaches as well as the tinnitus.
Trying to stay as natural as possible and to be as healthy as possible. Have a good Sunday EVERYBODY!!!!
Mei Mei