ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: Tbanis2463 on August 20, 2012, 07:01:58 pm
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Specifically what kind of music or sounds can muffle my "Tea Kettle" sounding tinnitus? I heard white noise helps. If you have any links please share.
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Has anyone tried taking Lipoflavonoids? Apparently it's some over the counter supplement that improves blood circualation in the ear and may help with the ringing?
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Has anyone tried taking Lipoflavonoids? Apparently it's some over the counter supplement that improves blood circualation in the ear and may help with the ringing?
Phillies:
Been noted here on the forums in the past. No proven medical data to show it works in the control of tinnitus (to my knowledge, there is no proven medical process/data for the control of tinnitus but there have been discussions here over the past years of ways of trying to "deal" with it..... please try a "Search" option from the home forum page as not all the comments/discussions were noted in the "Hearing" forum.)
Phyl
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Has anyone tried taking Lipoflavonoids? Apparently it's some over the counter supplement that improves blood circualation in the ear and may help with the ringing?
I did for a while they are quite expensive and our tinnitus is not an ear thing but caused by the brain so I stopped thought it was a waste of time...I noticed no change.
Best Wishes
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Yeah, I also had heard there is really no hope of curing this. There are ways of trying to cope with it, through diet or environment changes, but besides that, it's gonna be there, soft or loud. :(
Jay
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I take 6 lipoflavionid pills a day, ginko, and curcuim, vitamin e, magenisum, and acupuncture eveyother week and sleep with one special ear plug fused with ginko, my tinnitus has gone from three tons to one, but it might be mind over matter. I sleep with a fan on and keep a fan going in my office to help.
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This is a terrible problem with no known cure. Mine bothered me until I just quite worrying about it. I just accept it as one of life's burdens.
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The tinnitus is the worst part of this. It has turned a liveable condition into pure hell for me. Tried cranial massage, no help but it did make me want to take a nap. Tried masking devices (high priced hearing aids), again no help. The screaming sometimes become almost unbearable to the point that it is disabling. Cant concentrate or think when it is at its worst. This keeps me on edge a lot of times. I am ready to start tranquilizers just to force my body into a state of submission. The darnedest thing is that when I go for a motorcycle ride the buffeting tends to cancel out or maybe overpower the tinnitus. Last Sunday my wife and I went for a 300mis ride and the noise was canceled out. The problem is I dont think I can sleep with a fan blowing 55 mph wind in my face. I am going to try the homeopathic route before I throw in the towel.
Skip
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Skipg - did you get treatment on your AN and if so when and what type of treatment did you receive?
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I did extensive research on all my options and consulted with an AN surgeon, local EVMS(Eastern Virginia Medical School) director of Neurotology who also operates, and a Cyber Knife doc who trained at Stanford and uses their protocol. A year ago they all agreed that watch and wait was an acceptable course of action due to the size and location of my tumor. If needed I had decided to go with CK. Now that I have experienced a large growth spurt, action is advised by the Neurotologist. He agreed with that GK or CK was an acceptable option even though he operates. I had been researching Proton Therapy but he knew little about this and was not able to give a recommendation. Anyway a long story comes to an end.....I have not had treatment yet but am going to the Proton Center soon. More to come under the Radiation section.
Skip
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Skipg - Let me know how it goes. I know I'm experiencing similar issues. Good luck to you.
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I find that if I use an ear plug when I'm doing something loud that is helpful. If I don't then, if I do something like cutting the grass the tinnitus is unbearable for an hour or so after. I had white noise tinnitus for 10 years prior to my diagnosis and it's onset was instantaneous with a loud noise exposure. I have no explaination for it.
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My tinnitus has been present for the last five months. Very consistent now. I attribute it to the growth and location of the tumor which fills my auditory canal. I am having surgery in October but I think I may have to be prepared to live with this earringing for ever. You are right guys-it's hard to believe. But we will have to "carry on" for we have no choice. And it could be worse. (My father's words-he was with the British in WWII)
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I will be seeing an Audiologist who apparently "specializes" in Tinnitus. I hope she can give me either a really good hearing aid, a masker, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), or the new Oasis Neuromonics sound therapy ($6000).
Anything to help me cope with this Tinnitus (without making me feel drugged out with Xanax).
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Be sure and let us know how your visit to audiologist goes. I think I would listen to advise and then go home and research before sagreeing to purchase anything.
Have you visited the American Tinnitus Assoc. Site, ata.org, to read the description of tinnitus and hear various sounds? Very informative. As has been stated, tinnitus is not "in the ear" hearing function,, it is a brain perception function,,, as I understand it,, it is the brain trying to make sense of the distorted sound from that side.
If it were a hearing issue which could be "fixed" with hearing aids etc. then those of us who are SSD ( single side deaf) could not possibly have tinnitus on our AN side and many of us do,, myself included... White noise machine by bedside does help sleep.
Good luck to you and please post to let us know what you find out. I would just hate to see you spend too much money on something to "fix" it unless it's " money back" guaranteed...
Jane
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Alabamajane, thank you for your kind words.
I read on several websites, including the one you mentioned (ATA) , that hearing aids do help some people who suffer from tinnitus. My ENT also recommended a hearing aid as a "first try" to help alleviate some of my symptoms.
https://www.ata.org/managing-your-tinnitus/treatment-options/hearing-aids
https://medicine.yale.edu/surgery/otolaryngology/hearing/care/adult/diseases/tinnitus_hyperacusis.aspx
http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/tinnitus-treatment-options-in-hearing-11385
My hearing is 100% speech recognition in both ears, with a big "70 decline" (originally 55 decline) in the AN ear, but only in the "high-tones". At this point, I wouildnt be surprised if the decline is all the way down to 90.
My ENT said most hearing aids have a 30-day money-back return policy. You certainly brought up a very good point. You're right that no one should jump in and immediately buy the most expensive hearing aid or tinnitus device without a return policy or proof that it works. Especially people like me who are most desperate for anything!!
As I understand it, Tinnitus can be caused by either a hearing or a brain issue. Tinnitus is not 100% exclusive to the brain or 100% exclusive to the hearing. As my ENT said, my tinnitus is caused by my tumor on my hearing nerve. So we know what is causing my tinnitus.
Some people suffering from tinnitus have no tumor and no hearing loss, and no known cause of their tinnitus. That must be even more maddening for them
Either way, my tinnitus is so "catastrophic" that I'm willing to try almost anything at this point to make the noise subside a little bit. People say that the brain will eventually "habituate" to the noise level, but at 6 weeks out I find that hard to believe. The noise is only getting louder each day as my hearing continues to decline.
Surprisingly, my ENT claims this increasing tinnitus does NOT indicate that my AN is growing. Go figure??
Anyways, I have Elavil medication, but I'm afraid to take it because of the side effects. I have taken Xanax which helps me sleep through the night with no problem, but it only works for sleeping. I dont want to feel zonked out and droggy all day. Plus, I dont think you can take Elavil on an as-needed basis. Like any anti-depressant, I think you need to take it for like 3 weeks straight before its true effects start to work; however, I could be wrong. I dont need a sleeping med, I need something to keep the noise down during my waking hours.
I understand the actor William Shatner from Star trek was successfully treated for his severe tinnitus with Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). But he did NOT have an AN tumor like we do on our hearing nerve.
There must be something that can be done to help tone it down. Personally, I'm not one for meditation or yoga or dietary supplements. I am one for hard medication, or surgery, or something concrete.
I will let you know how it goes with the audiologist. I cant believe they are making me wait 2 weeks to see the audiologist when the noise is so loud. It's cruel.
Warm regards.
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I have had tinnitus my entire life, literally. I had it as a small child even before I knew what it was. I thought everyone had it. What I have learned is that the solution is distraction. If I just sit around thinking about it, it seems really loud. When I am doing something, like walking, working, yelling at my kids, etc I don't even remember that I have it. I use the sleep timer on my TV and fall asleep with TV on.
Nothing silences it, if I bother to check, it's still there. But, if I have something, anything, else going on, I don't notice it much.
I asked my ENT and a couple of different audiologists or whatever they are called why some people have difficulty with tinnitus and others manage it pretty well. The audiologists are actually pretty knowledgeable about these things. They all told me the same thing. The part of our brain that processes all this is the same part that is responsible for emotions. So, for some people, the tinnitus triggers an emotional response. I think the retraining process might approach it from this aspect and therefore could very well be useful for you. It's not that you are "emotional", it's that it has a different effect on some people and that training is the way to overcome this effect.
I also wouldn't rule out the Elavil recommendation. You are looking for a solution, it has been offered as a possible treatment. Start out at a low dose and see how it goes. It could allow you to get a handle on things while better, long term solutions like retraining take effect. Also, there may be other, less likely to cause side effects, meds that could help. I agree on Xanax, or other benzodiazepines being only for limited, as needed, use at night.
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ANGuy, thank you for your contribution.
I think each person's Tinnitus is different. As you know, there likely is no "blanket" treatment for everyone.
Everyone can not be treated the same. Some people have successfully managed/treated their Tinnitus (depending on the cause) like William Shatner. I hope I can get used to it too.
My Tinnitus is caused by my acoustic neuroma, and the major hearing loss from it in the high tones. While I dont expect my tinnitus to completely disappear, I certainly hope my tinnitus will be "toned down" in volume so it will become more tolerable. Hopefully to a level where I wont even notice it that much.
I agree that TRT and Neuromonics are good options. Right now, my ENT thinks it makes good sense to try a hearing aid because of the new hearing loss (what is causing my tinnitus).
Many thanks.
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For those with Single Sided Deafness (SSD):
Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
sthomas: Do any of these devices eliminate the constant ringing in the poorer hearing ear?
Sarah_Sydlowski,_AuD,_PhD: Unfortunately, most single-sided deafness (SSD) devices are not able to help tinnitus. There is no cure for tinnitus although some patients do benefit from using hearing aids or maskers in the ear that has ringing. In SSD, the hearing loss is usually so severe that these devices are not strong enough to stimulate the ear. Similarly, SSD devices are not designed to actually stimulate the affected ear and would not be strong enough to impact the tinnitus. Currently, the only option for very severe tinnitus and single-sided deafness is cochlear implantation. This is only in the clinical trial stage at select clinics. Early research suggests that this technology may hold promise for individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss and severe tinnitus because the cochlear implant provides stimulation directly to the hearing nerve.
mn890: I had a hearing aid years ago when I still had some hearing. When I took it out, I had terrible tinnitus. Will these new devices cause the same problem?
Erika_Woodson,_MD: Tinnitus is the brain's reaction to the information it's not getting from the ear (in the setting of hearing loss). Most individuals find a hearing aid to be beneficial in reducing tinnitus because it is providing some 'good sound' to the ear (and, therefore, the brain). What is likely occurring is that the brain benefited from the hearing aid, and the tinnitus was more noticeable with the aid out. The devices available for single-sided deafness should not influence tinnitus one way or the other, as they're not stimulating the ear directly.
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Found these interesting articles regarding tinnitus, hearing loss, and hearing aids:
http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/tinnitus-treatment-options-in-hearing-11385
http://www.tinnitus.org.uk/can-hearing-aids-help-people-with-tinnitus
My appointment with my audiologist is Monday, and I'm really looking forward to it!
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Good news! I went to my audiologist for the very first time this morning. We decided that the "one size fits all" hearing aid (and tinnitus retraining sound therapy) from "Resound Linx2 762" was the best option for me.
It cost $2650 and is well worth every penny as I am no longer "S".
It has a 30-day return where I would only lose $100.
I also tried the new Oasis device from Neurmonics, but it is not a hearing aid. In my situation it was best to have both the sound therapy and the hearing aid all-in-one (and for half price of Neurmonics).
"Resound Linx2 762" works for me because I still have relatively decent hearing (100% speech recognition but way down to 75 in the high-pitch).
I've only been wearing this device for a couple hours. It's also the very first time I've ever worn any thing like this (I can't even wear contact lenses because I'm so fidgety.)
Anyways, I wish I would have found this device 2 months earlier when my T began.
It's not a cure, but it takes the stress level of T down a few notches to where my T is tolerable.
My audiologist was able to match my new hearing aid/sound therapy device to the exact specifications of my hearing loss.
I have a follow-up appointment in 2 weeks to discuss my progress, and at that time I will also try a similar device called the "WIDEX Zen"; however, it costs $500 more than the RESOUND LINX 2.
The only negative, besides my insurance not covering any costs, is when I take the device out of my ear my T is soaring super loud, so i will definitely have keep it in my ear ALL the time (except for sleeping and showering).
I encourage people who have "catastrophic" Tinnitus to check out your options with an audiologist specifically trained in Tinnitus. My audiologist happens to also have T so she really understands. Obviously everyone is unique and different , so what works for me may not necessarily work for you, but people with horrible T are desperate to try anything.
Best wishes.
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Thank-you, thank-you. Sometimes I just want to remove my head.I'll check Richmond, va area. Maybe wait til after the surgery?
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My audiologist was Sally from Michigan Ear in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
She is terrific.
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I use background music to mask my tinnitus. Personally I use mellow electronic music with no voices. I keep my ipod on 24/7. Since my surgery (5 months post op) the sound has changed from a loud ringing to a different quieter ringing that intensifies with certain sounds. I now use an earplug in my good ear when around loud noises such as hair dryer or vacuum or grandkids :) or just stick my finger in my ear until it quiets down.
You just have to find a way to 'ignore' it which we all know isn't easy.
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Agree Jaqiday,, not much you can do to alleviate it,, you just have to learn to adjust to it and find "stressors " that cause it to increase. Such as, caffeine, stress, fatigue, loud noises , some medications etc.
It is most important to protect your "good" ear also. As you suggest, using an earplug with loud noises such as hairdryer, loud music, lawn mower, grand kids :o,, any thing that will damage what hearing you have left.
It's irritating at times sure, but at times, I don't realize I have it. But it's constantly there,,,, >:(
Good luck to all trying to deal with it.
Jane
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There is no "cure" for Tinnitus but there are some things that can be done on some people to alleviate it. My audiologist, who has been living with Tinnitus for 7 years, said that "masking" rarely works in the long run.
According to her experience, you need a combination of a quality hearing aid combined with a good sound treatment (not masking). This is exactly why my audiologist didn't "turn up the volume" high enough on my sound treatment therapy (which is built-in to the hearing aid) to "equal-out" the sound of my Tinnitus. Actually, the sound-therapy volume is a few notches LOWER than the sound of my T (so it doesn't mask out the T).
As a result, I hear a "mix" of the T and the sound therapy, which creates enough distraction (and is a significant component of TRT - Tinnitus Retraining Therapy).
Plus, the hearing aid alone greatly reduces that "fullness" in the ear feeling I had due to my hearing loss.
Neuromonics does not have a hearing aid component. It is strictly "sound therapy" which works on neuroplasticity. As I mentioned earlier, everyone is unique and different; however, in my specific situation my RESOUND LINX2 device has worked fabulously (and quite frankly saved my life). I can also change the music on my hearing aid via an Ipad or Ipod (which I don't own yet).
I hope everyone finds something that helps alleviate their Tinnitus. My audiologist said even if I become SSD (single-sided deaf) in my AN ear, that there will still be devices available to help with Tinnitus.
I don't sleep with my hearing aid on, so when I awake my T is very loud. Also, when I'm in environments where the sound is louder than my sound-therapy, then I can really hear my T.
I wish everyone suffering from T the best of luck. Trust me when I say I know how you feel. Please keep hope alive, and continue the search for something out there that will work for your specific T from a trained audiologist who may be able to make your T better.
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I'm not on the forum often but check in to catch up once in a while. I don't share this often as no one seems to understand it when I do but I thank God every day for Tinnitus. I am SSD from AN removal in 2002 and found I am NFII in 2011. As my hearing in my "good" ear recedes I often wonder how it may be some day when it is totally gone. I cannot imagine absolute total quiet. I get claustrophobic at night just thinking about it. So I am thankful I will have the one pitch of ringing in one ear, another pitch of ringing in the other, and the ever present sound of my neighbor's lawn mower in both ears.................Hmmm? I wonder how he mows his lawn in January with 4 feet of snow on the ground. ::)
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Interesting perspective Archer for something most try to stop.
Mine is not "screaming" loud and most of the time it is bearable. I understand where you are coming from especially being NFII,,, it would be a scary situation to be deaf in both ears. Can you have any treatment now that will enhance your chances of not losing it entirely in "good" ear??
Best wishes go to you,,, and keep the irritating tinnitus going!! :-*
Jane
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What is NFII?
My tinnitus seems to have gotten worse now, 7 months post-surgery. I also have TMJ, which affects it too.
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Alabamajane,
I had GK done a year ago by Dr. Lunsford at UPMC. So far so good. 6 month MRI looked good with the tumor darkening and losing size so I hope to hear when my Grandkids graduate college in 22 years. :D. Thanks for the good wishes!
Debbie N.
NFII is basically having ANs in both ears. Mine just developed about 10 years apart. I'd have probably treated #1 differently had I known #2 was coming. Live and learn.
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Here is an excellent article on Tinnitus:
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/856916-overview#a1
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Just to update.... This morning I sampled the WIDEX Dream "Passion" hearing aid which features "Personal ZEN" for Tinnitus. I have to pay an extra $650 ($500 for the upgrade + $150 for the remote control since it's a mini hearing aid).
The good news is my score went down from 90 (catastrophic) to 53 in just 2 weeks with the Resound Linx2 hearing aid. I hope my new WIDEX hearing aid will bring that score even lower.
My tolerance of the tinnitus has much improved since getting the hearing aid. Hopefully, my numbers will continue to decline as I habituate.
Total price is $3300 for the new WIDEX Dream "Passion" mini hearing aid, with "Personal ZEN" for Tinnitus feature.
I'm switching because I think the sound quality and hearing aid quality is better with WIDEX.
Resound uses "white noise" such as "crashing ocean waves," while WIDEX uses fractionated harmonic tones that never repeat.
Anyways, I will keep my fingers crossed in the hopes that I continue to progress well while acclimating to my new tinnitus journey.
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I'm glad your ability to handle the tinnitus has improved so much. My guess is that it is a combination of the technology and your positive attitude. Probably, the + attitude would have gotten you there anyway, but maybe without the optimism brought on by the tech, you wouldn't have had such a positive attitude? Who knows, I'm just glad it is working out so well.
I think I have an advantage in that I have had tinnitus my whole life, even as a small child. I thought that ringing sound was normal and just never paid it much mind. Now, the last few years or so, it is much more pronounced, but as long as I am doing something, anything really, I don't even remember I have it.
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For those who are suffering from "Catastrophic" Tinnitus (9 out of 10 on severity) then I highly suggest you contact Dr. Michael Seidman from Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Apparently he has developed some new and cutting-edge procedures for Tinnitus. Dr. Seidman also offers many new options that aren't traditionally available.
He is an ENT surgeon and treats Acoustic Neuroma and Tinnitus patients. I met Dr. Seidman for the first time just four days ago at my first ANA Support Group Meeting. He is a genius. For example, there is one procedure Dr. Seidman performs that enables you to turn "on-and-off" your Tinnitus with a switch. You would have to inquire with him for the many different Tinnitus options available and see if your insurance covers it.
He also can inject a shot of Ketamine into your ear, which would be one of a few "off-label" procedures for Tinnitus.
As a former Catastrophic Tinnitus sufferer myself, I highly recommend a phone consultation to see what Dr. Seidman can do for your Catastrophic Tinnitus. He said at the meeting that he has seen many suicidal Tinnitus patients at his office.
http://www.henryford.com/body.cfm?id=38441&action=detail&ref=1306