Tinnitus: that sound inside the head

[ander]

Humble purpose of this thread is to collect experiences about this very common "disease". And since it seems to have a not confortable interaction with MJ use, it would be nice to collect good pratices that lower this disturbing effect... since I will NEVER give up with MJ! Well... not for that reason anyway!

- What is it

Tinnitus is an awareness of sound in the ears or head which is not from an external source.
There are many different types of tinnitus sounds. Common descriptions are that it is a hiss, whistle, whirr, ring or buzz. Occasionally, it can be segments of music. The pitch can be high or low and the level can vary over time.
In its mildest form, tinnitus is extremely common and many people experience occasional sounds in their ears, for example after being in a noisy place such as a concert or loud pub.


My experience

- How is begun
I have discovered my high pitch tinnitus 3 years ago. I don't remember any particular event of any kind... Only that an evening I went to bed with that sound. The morning after the sound was still there and never abandoned me.
I think the level changes frequently, and I can't say if it is louder on particular moments... maybe in the morning..?

- Interaction with MJ use
For sure there is, and is not positive for my experience. I've also found infos on FC reporting that MJ increase the perception of the sound.

- Possible causes
Many... I think stress is mine. And maybe a retarded effect of loud music and scarce protection while working with loud & noisy tools..? Can't think about other causes.

- Possible remedies
My Doctor said: Your ears are ok. So for first stop smoking (done), sleep more and better (not easy), be active (I usually am), keep you hydrated (I'm working on it as I tend to drink little). Then let's meet again. I'm planning my next visit...

 

[CuckFumbustion]

- Possible causes
Many... I think stress is mine. And maybe a retarded effect of loud music and scarce protection while working with loud & noisy tools..? Can't think about other causes.

Ear canal and sinus pressure can contribute in a large or small way. The amount of fluid in the cochlea can make one more prone to ear ringing.

If it partially or mainly stress related. Then it is harder to gauge. I myself will follow your doctors advice more.
Want to be able to hear Ohm sound again (absence of all external sound, so you only hear the sound of space.) when I go to the ADK again.

 

[ander]

When I talk to people that has the same disturb, they usually say: "you'll get used to it." Well... I don't want to. I need music to fall asleep. If I concentrate myself to the sound... well... it can drive me crazy.
I'm pretty sure that quitting tobacco had a good effect on the intensity side. But I'm very far from enjoying the silence again.

 

[looney2nz]

When I talk to people that has the same disturb, they usually say: "you'll get used to it." Well... I don't want to. I need music to fall asleep. If I concentrate myself to the sound... well... it can drive me crazy.
I'm pretty sure that quitting tobacco had a good effect on the intensity side. But I'm very far from enjoying the silence again.

<- old audio engineer

Most cases of tinnitus are from external exposure.
These people may have been exposed to high levels (db SPL) of audio, and if it's high intensity impact noises (all musical instruments when amplified, and drums in particular, but also including folks running heavy equipment, etc.), or long term exposure at high enough levels... that damn ringing is often the result

Sometimes it's insidious, in my case I have always had very acute and extended range hearing...
to the point I couldn't go near (let alone IN) businesses that ran ultrasonic alarms and left their transducers ON during business hours. Excruciating, like chewing on tin foil.
Anyway, at one point my cubicle was filled with like 7 systems I was running tests on or managing during a development cycle, plus a big ass laser printer What they all have in common is they all use switching power supplies which typically use the common frequency of 15.75Khz - flyback transformer frequency for monitors (and often the harmonics like 31.5Khz), most people cannot hear these power supplies... I could, and over time my brain began to mask the sound. I think I was exposed long enough, where I developed a notch @ 15.75Khz, and now my brain is synthesizing it's own tone 'to match what is missing' I tested it with a sweep signal generator, it is dead on the money @ 15.75Khz.

So the question is, what is your 'inner noise' like? Have to tried to find the frequency?

I'm not sure (at least in my experience) that cannabis raises tinnitus profile, but I KNOW it gets more prominent when I've got higher inflammation in my system.

 

[looney2nz]

Ear canal and sinus pressure can contribute in a large or small way. The amount of fluid in the cochlea can make one more prone to ear ringing.

If it partially or mainly stress related. Then it is harder to gauge. I myself will follow your doctors advice more.
Want to be able to hear Ohm sound again (absence of all external sound, so you only hear the sound of space.) when I go to the ADK again.

what is ADK? 'Ohm sound'... you're going into an anechoic chamber?
if it's a rated facility, it can be disorienting.

Yeah, you're right on the sinus and ear stuff, when my allergies go nuts, so does the tinnitus.

 

[JackBrus]

I have tinnitus too. Started when I was 8 years old or so, caused by many ear infections. We're 40 years later now, still have it. I hear it more when I'm not feeling well (stress, sick). Stimulants can temporarily make it worse as well. But cannabis has no effect on it.

There does not seem to be an effective treatment, most people have to just live with it. Fortunately I have not much trouble ignoring it. But other people's buzz/hiss/ring/beeps may be louder then mine.

Loud noises make my ears extra ringing for a week or so, that's why I use earplugs for concerts, drilling etc.

 

[ander]

<- old audio engineer

Most cases of tinnitus are from external exposure.
These people may have been exposed to high levels (db SPL) of audio, and if it's high intensity impact noises (all musical instruments when amplified, and drums in particular, but also including folks running heavy equipment, etc.), or long term exposure at high enough levels... that damn ringing is often the result

Sometimes it's insidious, in my case I have always had very acute and extended range hearing...
to the point I couldn't go near (let alone IN) businesses that ran ultrasonic alarms and left their transducers ON during business hours. Excruciating, like chewing on tin foil.
Anyway, at one point my cubicle was filled with like 7 systems I was running tests on or managing during a development cycle, plus a big ass laser printer What they all have in common is they all use switching power supplies which typically use the common frequency of 15.75Khz - flyback transformer frequency for monitors (and often the harmonics like 31.5Khz), most people cannot hear these power supplies... I could, and over time my brain began to mask the sound. I think I was exposed long enough, where I developed a notch @ 15.75Khz, and now my brain is synthesizing it's own tone 'to match what is missing' I tested it with a sweep signal generator, it is dead on the money @ 15.75Khz.

So the question is, what is your 'inner noise' like? Have to tried to find the frequency?

I'm not sure (at least in my experience) that cannabis raises tinnitus profile, but I KNOW it gets more prominent when I've got higher inflammation in my system.

Good points...
I must say that my hearing is very acute and sensible so I don't have any correlated loss. My inner noise is an high hiss... exactly like the one those supplies produce. I can hear it as well. And I've worked in places sorrounded by these devices for years... but many years before the discovering of my tinnitus so... don't know what to say. But for sure I've worked without hears protection, played music in a band without any care in the past... But there's no link to any recent trauma and the day I discovered my tinnitus and this confuse me. Are such long term results possible..?

 

[looney2nz]

Good points...
I must say that my hearing is very acute and sensible so I don't have any correlated loss. My inner noise is an high hiss... exactly like the one those supplies produce. I can hear it as well. And I've worked in places sorrounded by these devices for years... but many years before the discovering of my tinnitus so... don't know what to say. But for sure I've worked without hears protection, played music in a band without any care in the past... But there's no link to any recent trauma and the day I discovered my tinnitus and this confuse me. Are such long term results possible..?

Sadly yes. If the cilia in the ear are damaged badly enough, it becomes an accumulative injury.
Where and when it crosses over into perception and annoyance... too many variables.

If you have access to a physical sweep signal generator, or even a generator app through a decent enough playback system, you'll likely find that hiss resonates with 15.75Khz.

I played for years (drums and percussion), in later years I used hearing protection, and as an engineer I ALWAYS carried my custom made hearing protection (and used it if a club was too loud, or someone was mixing a concert too loud). But I never thought to wear 'em at work (not that that would have worked).

 

[ander]

Ok so I think that at least figuring out "exactly" the cause of the disturb is the first step to find peace... through resignation or possibly a cure...

 

[Pimpslapper]

I have had it for at least ten years, started out of the blue and I couldn't sleep for weeks, drove me bonkers. My doc tried all kinds of shit but nothing helped.
At the end of the day as any tinnitus sufferer will tell you, you will learn to ignore it. No, you HAVE to.
You may even have periods where you think it is completely gone, but it isn't.
Other times it still bothers you.
I liken it to guys who collect garbage, they can and do get used to smelling like a bag of smashed assholes and you can and will get used to the tinnitus.
Edit - weed has no or positive effect on it

 

[GreenHopper]

I personally don't have Tinnitus but my friend has had it for many years. He suspects it began after a rather noisy night out drum and bass clubbing.

He has good days and bad days but manages it using white noise generators (mostly a youtube or website playback of white noise). I just got off the phone with him and he says it works mostly by offering a distraction. He flippantly also said "try having a nearly 2yr old toddler, you'll be so knackered you won't care".

He said the cannabis helps but it's not as effective as running around after an inquisitive toddler. I think he was trying to garner sympathy.

He also mentioned about a therapy session he once went to that referred to learning how to whistle or hum the pitch you hear and how that can help.

Good luck.

 

[phattpiggie]

50 this year and I've had tinnitus since I can remember. I think it may have come from living in a portacabin next to a run way where they regularly flew supersonic, the whole cabin would shake when they hit the sound barrier. It's called a sonic boom for a reason.

Loud music won't have helped later on in life.

For me there is no way of stopping it and as others have said you just have to get used to it.

A friend got it when his partner died, he is okay when out at work, scaffolder, but at home he needs background noise to drown it out. He has to have some noise even when he sleeps.

Mine is a high pitched whistle accompanied by the occasional bass 'flutter'.

My little one was messing around and clapped her hands over both my ears which made it worse, and it's probably louder now than it was before.

I went to see a band play and they hit a note which was loud with a bit of reverb and this had me wincing.

It's no fun but after having had it for the majority of my life I've learnt to live with it.

MJ doesn't make it better or worse it just helps me focus on other things, distraction and background noise, usually music, help.
I don't notice it when I am doing something which involves high levels of concentration, turning wood, but it's always there.

 

[cannabis.pro]

https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/lasting-relief-from-tinnitus-with-medical-marijuana

Going on my 21st year of tinnitus ringing caused by rifle shooting. I don't find that cannabis makes the condition worse.

My personal experience is that cannabis helps me forget about the ringing instead of focusing on it. This issue is only in one ear and my other ear is OK but I run into issues in loud environments as it is hard for me to focus on any single sound source. I can be looking at someone talking to me and not hear a word they are saying but hear the loudest sound in the room over what I want to hear. The tinnitus ringing sound is most noticeable to me in quiet environments.

 

[JackBrus]

Good points...
But there's no link to any recent trauma and the day I discovered my tinnitus and this confuse me. Are such long term results possible..?

Either you have had it for long but somehow ignored it, or it just started.

Tinnitus is a complex thing. Herre is what I understand from it: the problem is not in the ear but in the brain. Basically the brain is filling in sounds. So we have a faulty reaction of the brain to the signal that the ear nerves are sending (or not sending, actually). This is why cutting the ear nerves is not (!) a guaranteed solution. Some desperate patients have undergone this surgery, they got so crazy of the constant beeps, hisses that they'd rather be deaf. But as said, sometimes even this drastical step does not work....

It that sense (warning: arm chair theory!) it is a bit like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_regional_pain_syndrome , which is also an abnormal brain reaction. Here as well, cutting nerves (or even amputations) have proven to be often not effective..... This condition usually starts with a small, trivial cause. I am not a doctor but maybe tinnitus can also start with something small and trivial ?

I am lucky in the sense that I only have mild tinnitus. It does not influence my life. A factor may also be that I have always had it. Actually, I was 18 or so when I discovered that other people do NOT hear all those hisses and buzzes and beeps I find that it gets worse with loud sounds.

One of the best investments I made was to buy a pair of custom earplugs. Like these ones:

They make a wax mold of your ear and then make these perfectly fitting silicon plugs. In the plug is a swapable sound filter. Often these are made by etymotic, guess they are market leaders.
http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection.html

There are different filters. The musician filters (which is what I have) give an almost flat attenuation. High frequency sound, mid freqs and low freqs are all turned down equally. This means it is like turning down the volume. The sound stays (virtually) normal, not dull, boomy or whatever. It sound way better than putting cotton wool in your ears. Alternatives would be special filters for use on motorcycles, for hunters etc. Those filters are not flat, but attenuate certain frequencies more. Like the sounds of the motor, the gun, the machine that you work with, and so on. But for general purpose I feel that musicians filters are best.

Mostly they are offered in a -9 dB attenuation; - 15dB and -25dB. Of course, the more you attenuate, the more you protect your ears. But, will you wear them? I found that -15 dB felt too much like a "glass wall" between me and my band mates or between me and the concert I was watching. For me, -9 dB is ideal. It takes off the '"edge" but I still feel "connected" and not "isolated". I can even have conversations. I also wear them in airplanes, in trains, on long car drives . If I am playing music sometime I put an -15 dB in the ear that is closest to the drummer and -9dB in the other ear Other people swear by -15dB for everything; I know a hard hitting drummer who always wears some -25 dB plugs. Trying out is the way to find out!

 

[looney2nz]

Either you have had it for long but somehow ignored it, or it just started.

Tinnitus is a complex thing. Herre is what I understand from it: the problem is not in the ear but in the brain. Basically the brain is filling in sounds. So we have a faulty reaction of the brain to the signal that the ear nerves are sending (or not sending, actually). This is why cutting the ear nerves is not (!) a guaranteed solution. Some desperate patients have undergone this surgery, they got so crazy of the constant beeps, hisses that they'd rather be deaf. But as said, sometimes even this drastical step does not work....

It that sense (warning: arm chair theory!) it is a bit like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_regional_pain_syndrome , which is also an abnormal brain reaction. Here as well, cutting nerves (or even amputations) have proven to be often not effective..... This condition usually starts with a small, trivial cause. I am not a doctor but maybe tinnitus can also start with something small and trivial ?

I am lucky in the sense that I only have mild tinnitus. It does not influence my life. A factor may also be that I have always had it. Actually, I was 18 or so when I discovered that other people do NOT hear all those hisses and buzzes and beeps I find that it gets worse with loud sounds.

One of the best investments I made was to buy a pair of custom earplugs. Like these ones:

They make a wax mold of your ear and then make these perfectly fitting silicon plugs. In the plug is a swapable sound filter. Often these are made by etymotic, guess they are market leaders.
http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection.html

There are different filters. The musician filters (which is what I have) give an almost flat attenuation. High frequency sound, mid freqs and low freqs are all turned down equally. This means it is like turning down the volume. The sound stays (virtually) normal, not dull, boomy or whatever. It sound way better than putting cotton wool in your ears. Alternatives would be special filters for use on motorcycles, for hunters etc. Those filters are not flat, but attenuate certain frequencies more. Like the sounds of the motor, the gun, the machine that you work with, and so on. But for general purpose I feel that musicians filters are best.

Mostly they are offered in a -9 dB attenuation; - 15dB and -25dB. Of course, the more you attenuate, the more you protect your ears. But, will you wear them? I found that -15 dB felt too much like a "glass wall" between me and my band mates or between me and the concert I was watching. For me, -9 dB is ideal. It takes off the '"edge" but I still feel "connected" and not "isolated". I can even have conversations. I also wear them in airplanes, in trains, on long car drives . If I am playing music sometime I put an -15 dB in the ear that is closest to the drummer and -9dB in the other ear Other people swear by -15dB for everything; I know a hard hitting drummer who always wears some -25 dB plugs. Trying out is the way to find out!

Etymotic makes good stuff! Their in ear monitors are frequently used to keep stage levels low and eliminate feedback and allow for custom monitor mixes for individual players. The caution there is do NOT crank them, ear buds are also a large area of concern as many people play them well above the levels they should be and there are no 'safeties' built into audio players.

The custom molded plugs I bought starting decades ago, besides having heavy impact protection, they offer tunable filters so you can create your own style of filter (low pass, high pass, band pass). Mine look a little different from the Etymotics, they use a very small 90 degree angle bent tube to pull in other frequencies and block them differently (you change the tubes for different responses).

Drummers and bass players need to pay notice the most, as the impact noise from drums and cymbals as well as the low frequency content of the bass are the most challenging to our hearing.
Guitarists and keyboardists need to pay special attention to where they are in relation to their amps, you can crank an amp up to deafening levels, and ANY signal injected into it will be destructive.
I practiced with the foam plugs for a long time, but the custom plugs allow more range and control.

 

[ander]

Happy to hear that MJ is, generally, not influential for the majority. Maybe in my case is a matter of blood pressure...
In my researches I've also found other possible causes to Tinnitus (so maybe there's a "cure" for some cases): never heard about Vagus Nerve? I've just little informations now, but it resides near the hears. An incorrect chewing and so an incorrect position of the mandible can compress this nerve and the product is a similar disturb. Also our posture can influence that, and Tinnitus can be related to a wrong position of the bones at the base of our neck...

- Interesting thread on jaw misalignement.

- Well... not exactly what I was saying but it seems that recent studies are investigating the relation between Vagus nerve and Tinnitus. With positive results...

- Vagus nerve apart... there are many natural remedies to try out...

So I won't give up for now.

 

[biohacker]

I feel for all you guys, as I have it pretty bad too. All started with muchmusic video dance parties in high school, waaaay too loud, and dancing in front of the speakers was "cool" so you could "feel" the bass in your chest. Then way too many clubs in my 20's, as well as car stereo subwoofers etc....lotsa loud factory work where ear plugs were never enough. And finally a decade working in the fire service always around loud running diesel engines, super ear piercing commercial alarms.

My hearing is awesome....but the T sucks, although it only bothers me when it's completely quiet. For this reason, I always use a white noise fan when I sleep.

Just a few things...

Ear buds make T worse....although I don't care....I love my earbuds in the gym.

Driving with your windows down doesn't help, and just your driver's side can cause T in that one ear.

Vaping definitely doesn't make it worse, HOWEVER if I go on a T-break, I get alot of withdrawal symptoms, and T is through the roof and very noticeable. So it's either withdrawal, and will go back to baseline in time, OR vaping is a great way of managing it.

My ENT checked my jaw....and he it sounds "grindy", and I do get TMJ from time to time when I clench my teeth/jaw too hard when I lift heavy weights.... fack, TMJ is worse than T!

 

[Baron23]

Yep, I got it also. Aircraft noise in the USAF, riding Harleys forever, shotgunning for clay targets and waterfowl.

I have always used custom molded ear plugs for shooting....but it has accumulated over the years and that's that.

I don't notice MJ impacting my T one way or the other.

 

[verdampersweats]

I drown it out with fans im very lucky i love the asmr feeling and sound of whooshing air but if it stops i could never ever sleep. So im sort of tied to my fan no camping no hotels but im happy i can cope. And its been here for as long as i remember its always there but sometimes maybe once every month i hear a drop in pressure like a dunk and slowly my hearing fades into a loud hissing whistle until it sort of pops and my hearing will go right back to normal.

Apart from this i use my ears as normal for audiophile music and headphones!

 

[herbalist33]

Not really a sufferer apart from the odd phantom noises now and again, but I happened to read an interesting article maybe a year ago, and managed to find it again. Some of you guys/gals may find (temporary) relief with this technique:

Place the palms of your hands over your ears with fingers resting gently on the back of your head. Your middle fingers should point toward one another just above the base of your skull. Place your index fingers on top of you middle fingers and snap them (the index fingers) onto the skull making a loud, drumming noise. Repeat 40-50 times. Some people experience immediate relief with this method. Repeat several times a day for as long as necessary to reduce tinnitus.

I hope this helps at least one or two of you.

Peace

Oh, and here's a link to the Reddit thread too:

https://www.reddit.com/r/bestof/comments/3l54rd/reddituser_amazes_with_cure_for_tinnitus/

 

[ander]

I hope this helps at least one or two of you.

Peace

I did try this method before... and then forgot about it... Now I tried again and you know what..? IT WORKS! I have to do a test when I'll go to sleep this night.

Relief lasted about one hour, for what I can feel.

 

[biohacker]

I find much relief from self ear massage....instantly reduces by at least 50%...I massage all over even the top edges, etc. and keep massaging until relieved. Thanks for the link @herbalist33

 

[Tranquility]

Some find relief through "brown" noise.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus_masker

http://www.sanuthera.com/white-noise-pink-noise-what-color-is-your-tinnitus/

http://www.audionotch.com/faq

 

[Pimpslapper]

The self ear massage has been a help, thank you!

 

[phattpiggie]

@herbalist33 I fukin love you and we should have little hairy chested babies, I did it for less than 20 taps and it does work, temporary but what a weird sensation not hearing a bloody whistle.

I've had to do it again, not sure if it's worked the same this time but it's definitely made the noise different.

Thanks Herbalist.