Got tinnitus?

[Jason White]

I know a lot of us woodworkers have some hearing loss due to advancing age or loud noise exposure, which for some (including myself) results in tinnitus, also known as "ringing in the ears".

Have any of you guys found a way to suppress or eliminate your tinnitus? I've seen every kind of doctor and have tried just about every type of therapy except for rTMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) which costs a minimum of $50k out-of-pocket here in Los Angeles. It's considered experimental, so insurance won't cover it. Plus, I'd rather spend that money on wood or tools!

I've had tinnitus for about two years. It's high-pitched and seems to be getting worse over time. I have some high-frequency hearing loss, most likely due to loud noise exposure. I now wear hearing aids, which helps with my hearing but has done nothing for my tinnitus.

Suggestions?

- Jason

[Erik Loza]

I don't have an answer for you except to say that I have a similar problem; high-pitched ringing in the ears at certain times. Only seem to notice it for example, when laying in bed at night and the room is quiet. It comes and goes. Maybe something triggers it? Did a lot of shooting when I was younger without ear protection- what a dummy. I bothers me at times but not enough to have sought any treatment for it so far. Of course, that could change as I get older. Hope you find a solution.

Erik Loza
Minimax USA

[George Bokros]

I have heard that Lipoflavinoids works but have no experience with it. It is available over the counter. I have a slight case of tinnitus but take nothing for it. Mine was caused by getting hit in the ear with a playground ball when I was in elementary school.

I do not endorse it but google it and see what you think.

[Jim Rimmer]

I have had it so long I can't remember not having it. Mine is at the frequency of a lot of burglar alarm warning (like when you open the door) and some smoke alarms. I can't hear the warning beep on the alarm. With the smoke alarm I eventually (pretty quickly, actually) pick up on the temp and recognize it. I also have an occasional metallic clicking sound in short bursts. Described to my ENT and he had never heard of it. That and the ringing is so bad I think other people should be able to put their ear next to mine and they would hear it, too. I am used to it so it doesn't really bother me. Occasionally the metallic clicking gets to me but overall I just tune it out.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Jason,

This is a quite common complaint among those of us with hearing loss.

I have tinnitus in both ears.

There is a lot of discussion about it among cochlear implant users.

I have a CI (cochlear implant) in my left ear and wear a HA in my right ear. The HA does little and I cannot function with just the HA. It does provide some very limited directionality at certain high frequencies. I can function with just my CI. When I wear my sound processor for my CI, the tinnitus is gone in that ear but remains in the other ear. Other CI users report that while using their CIs the tinnitus is gone. Obviously when I remove the sound processor at night, the tinnitus returns. Sometimes going to sleep can be difficult.

While it is unproven by science, recommendations of reducing caffeine and salt seem to help some tinnitus sufferers.

Good luck! I can empathize.

[Erik Loza]

...recommendations of reducing caffeine and salt seem to help some tinnitus sufferers....

Interesting... I ordinarily drink 1-2 shots of espresso per day and have not had my tinnitus in a while. Hmmm....

Erik Loza
Minimax USA

[Jason White]

I gave up regular coffee for a few months. It did nothing for my tinnitus.

- Jason

Interesting... I ordinarily drink 1-2 shots of espresso per day and have not had my tinnitus in a while. Hmmm....

Erik Loza
Minimax USA

[David G Baker]

I have written this on SMC in the past. My chiropractor does an adjustment on my ear that stops the ringing in my left ear for several months. Don't know if this will help anyone else but it has worked for me. I have not researched this online but it may be worth a search.

[Jerome Stanek]

Had mine since high school can't hear crickets chripping wife goes crazy when she hears them and says can't you hear that cricket.

[Tim Janssen]

I have had tinnitus in both ears for decades. I blame it on working with a belt sander for hours on end when I was building a fibreglass re-enforced ketch and spend about 7 months fairing the hull and not wearing hearing protection while doing it. This was in the 70's. I also have a significant high frequency hearing loss. The belt sander was quite a big one that made this loud screeching sound.
The tinnitus usually does not bother me even though I can hear it all time. I have always been told that there is no cure for it or relief from it. I too get some times some snapping sound usually in my right ear. It sounds a bit light a tiny electric charge.
Regards,

Tim

[Shawn Pixley]

I don't have tinnitus, but my wife does. Despite many loud concerts in my musician days, I don't seem to have negatively damaged my ears. I tried to keep low stage volumes and used ear plugs.

Unfortunately, I am on a medication that causes ringing in the ears now. It is a bit annoying but far preferable to the constant headaches I had previously. I use hearing protection regularly.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Folks,

In my statement concerning tinnitus with regards to being affected by reduced caffeine, and salt....I pointed out it wasn't based on science .....and was reported to have caused improvement by SOME sufferers.....

[Bob Rufener]

I have had tinnitus for probably 30 years. It seems to be getting worse as I get older (70 in 3 weeks). Doctors say nothing can be done. I got hearing aids about 6 weeks ago. A fellow I know that was in Nam and runs an auto body shop said that he has tinnitus (courtesy of Nam) and he has hearing aids. He claims the hearing aids negate the tinnitus. My hearing aids haven't done a thing for tinnitus but I can hear much better-especially high tones where my major loss is. Sometimes, life was better when I couldn't hear as well.....If you find a cure for tinnitus, let us all know.

[Chris Parks]

I have had it for longer than I can recall. It was most probably caused by military service with inadequate/nil hearing protection. It is very loud and the audioligist who last checked me reckons it was the loudest he had ever tested. The more you pursue a cure which does not exist the more it will bug you. The audioligist offered me the reading matter he had and a recommendation to see a ENT specialist but I declined as it would raise my awareness of it. Those that can't push it into the background suffer terribly and some suicides have been blamed on it. I saw a doco many years ago where the patient was given an injection of (I think) Morphine and the Tinnitus disappeared totally for a few minutes only to return at the same level.

[Ralph Boumenot]

I've had it for 25+ years and as far as I know there isn't any cure for it.