Ringing in the ears? Tinnitis?

[phillyaggie]

On an intercity trip recently, I tuned in to an NPR/PRI station and just happened to listen to a program re-run of the popular "To The Best Of Our Knowledge" from Wisconsin Public Radio. The program theme was "Noise" and had some really interesting segments. One that really caught my attention was this:

Also, TTBOOK's Technical Director, Caryl Owen, provides an essay on her lifelong fear of losing her hearing to the condition known as tinnitus.

You can listen to the show at:

090329B The Art of Noise

The above-captioned segment starts at approximately 33 minutes into the show and last for several minutes. You can get right to it by dragging the clip position bar on your player so it will load from there or you can download the whole show and listen to it if you'd like.

Anyways, I'm wondering if anyone here on PS is suffering from tinnitis or has in the past and it went away. I am really starting to fear this issue because starting a few weeks ago, I keep getting that ringing noise just the way Caryl Owen describes it. It goes away but comes back. And I've noticed that I'm sometimes not the best at hearing someone across the table in a noisy restaurant. It can be isolating, as Caryl puts it.

I never thought background noise, instead of no sound, would be the way one loses hearing.

Ohh, besides the gripping essay itself, you are treated with Beethoven's peaceful 6th Symphony if you listen to this show...along with lots of other good music.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZVdVuskkKU

[devilspocket]

Have you been checked by a physician? I believe you've said you are vegetarian, and vegetarians can experience B-12 deficiency. Although I'm not a vegetarian, my tinnitus was caused by this deficiency and was remedied with doses of the vitamin.

I've read that magnesium deficiency can also cause it, so blood tests are probably a first step before you resign yourself to having a long-term affliction.

I hope that your problem is as simply resolved as mine was; the noise is impossible to escape and is more than annoying.

[Polar Cub]

If it gets worse, or vitamin therapy isn't cutting it, perhaps an MRI is in order to rule out Acoustic Neuroma.
I've been there.

[Litter Box]

Go to a doctor who specializes in hearing problems. There are hearing aids with Dolby like circuitry that can cut down background noise. I could go on but your best bet is to see a professional.

[theatergypsy]

I have tinnitus. Sounds like the cicada noise you hear on hot days in mid-summer. It never goes away, but at times, other sounds mask it. I keep the TV on all night, or a radio, or CD's. If I'm in a noisy place, I find it hard to hear another speaking. But I don't blame that on the tinnitus, because even in my younger years, I could never understand trying to have a conversation in a noisy bar. "Shut up and finish your drink."

[Hospitalitygirl]

Thanks for these suggestions and remedies--I need to pass them along to my father, who has suffered for years.

[POPSS]

Had it for years. Be sure to get checked for Meniere's disease too.

[phillyaggie]

Boy, thanks for all the great suggestions.

Yes, I am a vegetarian, but I try to take either multi-vatamin tablets that have the B-complex of vitamins, or drink juices that are packed with the B-viatimins (stuff from Odwala or Naked, for example).

I have read a few causes that are hopefully one of the ones affecting me...apparently excessive caffeine intake can also cause it, and i've definitely had a lot of caffeine lately due to long hours at the office, so I'm going to cut that down.

I actually get a full, free annual physical from my employer including an audio test in one of those soundproof booths, because of the nature of my job. I've always passed it and never had a recommendation of being put into a hearing-preservation program.

ANd I'm definitely very sensitive when it comes to hearing even smallest of noises and sounds...often times I can tell something's wrong with my car just by some weird noise that others sitting in the car don't even register. So this ringing just makes it even worse because even though I try to not let it bother me, it is inescapable.

Another possible reason I have seen is an unusual buildup of earwax...although I clean my ears on a regular basis, I guess those cotton swabs could create compaction of earwax in the inner ear? in that case, could rubbing alcohol get it out? I know that's used more for getting rid of water from the ears and to keep infections at bay (alcohol drives out water due to surface tension differences between the two molecules).

[devilspocket]

This is from an article on ear wax from Medline, a reputable online resource.

Most cases of ear wax blockage can be treated at home. The following can be ued to soften the wax in the ear:

* Baby oil
* Commercial drops
* Glycerin
* Mineral oil

Detergent drops such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide may help remove the wax.

Another method of removing wax is called irrigation. Use body-temperature water (cooler or warmer water may cause brief but severe dizziness or vertigo). With your head upright, straighten the ear canal by holding the outside ear and gently pulling upward. Use a syringe to gently direct a small stream of water against the ear canal wall next to the wax plug. Tip your head to allow the water to drain. You may need to repeat irrigation several times.

Never irrigate the ear if the eardrum may not be intact. Irrigation with a ruptured eardrum may cause ear infection or acoustic trauma. Do not irrigate the ear with a jet irrigator designed for cleaning teeth (such as a WaterPik) because the force of the irrigation may damage the eardrum.

After the wax is removed, dry the ear thoroughly. You may use a few drops of alcohol in the ear or a hair dryer set on low to help dry the ear.

If you cannot remove the wax plug, consult a health care provider, who may remove the wax by:

* Repeating the irrigation attempts
* Suctioning the ear canal
* Using a small device called a curette

Occasionally, the wax must be removed with the help of a microscope.

I am not a medical professional, but if tinnitus were bothering me I would start with blood tests to rule out vitamin deficiencies, then visit either an internist or ent to rule out other possible causes such as the ones that have been suggested here.