Question:
Judy Gillen <gil…@ihug.co.nz
wrote:
Hi Judy,
The day is windy and hot (wer’e in summer-autumn here in New Zealand…and I wonder if that’s something to do with it…the rain (when it comes!) takes the bass noise to the ground, and not through walls as much!
Wind and rain are noises…
Yes, earplugs are needed there too…
I have not that much hyperacusis, but… have you already tried white noise? Perhaps white noise can help you a bit. I for my part have noisers as an add-device to my hearing-aids. And I found with noisers on, crazy sounds seems to become a bit milder. All night in my room the radio is running, all night. Last time when having been in the hospital I did not want to disturb the other patients with my radio, so I bought a very small portable radio (even smaller than a walkman), and I bought earphones for walkers and skaters (used like hearing-aids behind the ears) for sleeping. I was able to sleep. And the radio you can run "between" 2 stations, that’s similar to white noise, especially on AM. Perhaps you should give this version a try. regards from Germany in springtime… 
Juergen
Response:
Judy, And I always thought of New Zealand as quiet (in my own ignorant way!). Yes, my relatives and friends don’t really want to know how bad things are when they ask "How’s your hearing?" They want me to be cured miraculously or just stop jumping whenever somebody crinkles a piece of cellophane! By any chance do you have allergies? I’ve just discovered I have allergies, and they might have contributed to my hearing loss. When it’s windy, not only do my allergy symptoms increase, but my tinnitus and hyperacusis (or recruitment) seem to increase too. Or perhaps it’s just because I’m in a lousy mood because breathing is harder due to the allergies. But since you mentioned wind… The good thing to come out of this is I no longer have to vacuum, since that sound now drives both me AND the dog nuts. Sorry you’re having such noise problems. While it’s comforting to know there are others suffering as I am, I’d feel better if nobody else had to be going through what I’m going through. I’ll think of you whenever I watch "Skippy" on TV! I assume they showed that in New Zealand, since it’s an Australian show — the only one we get in the U. S! Andrew Gulliver – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
The day is windy and hot (wer’e in summer-autumn here in New Zealand…and I wonder if that’s something to do with it…the rain (when it comes!) takes the bass noise to the ground, and not through walls as much! You forgot to mention church!! Yes, earplugs are needed there too…the bands can be pretty tinnitus antagonists! I heard the other day that somebody with this actually is moving house, and living in a bus!! So they can move on, wif someone plays their stereo or is too loud.. Now there’s an idea!(g) Anyway…glad to hear I’m not alone! Must go..someone has started up a chainsaw!!! grrrrhhhhhh!!! Peace to you!(s) JudyG. New Zealand Andrew Gulliver wrote in message <38D73B6A.56F00…@hotmail.com… I developed tinnitus and hyperacusis recently, and the cause had nothing to do with loud noises.er mentioned a single word about hyperacusis. I described my inability to bear high-pitched sounds (water, paper crinkling, plastic wrap, computer beeps etc.) without reaching for my ears, or loud noises (vacuums, driving, music, too many people talking at once), and at no time did any of the three doctors mention hyperacusis. They had huge pamphlets about tinnitus and every other ear disorder, but not a single word about that. In fact, I had no idea I had the illness/infirmity/disease? until I discovered this newsgroup and saw the subject of "hyperacusis 100 x worse than tinnitus." Before I even clicked on the first posting, I knew that that must be what I have, because it is at LEAST 100 times worse, as I have been mostly housebound for the last month-and-a-half due to my lack of tolerance for the noisy everyday world.
Response:
This place sounds deserted. Should I close the door on the way out? I posted a bit on Deja a year or so ago, but I wasn’t doing it properly and this Dr. Nagler bawled me out about it. It’s a year later and nothing has changed, there is no fix, the h and t are worse, there is no plateau. From time to time, if I am very involved with something the t will lessen, but the h really is a bitch. If someone finds a way to decrease the h to a point where the water from a shower does not sound explosively distorted when it hits your head, please let me know. I’ll close the door here. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
In article <20000527104813.07045.00000…@ng-bd1.aol.com
,
mi…@aol.com (Milo7) wrote:
x-no-archive:yes Neurontin significantly helps subdue the hyperacusis. What is neurontin?
* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
My ear doctor recommended Dilantin as possibly helping with my hyperacusis. It’s also an antiseizure medication. Does anybody know whether this has ever been used to successfully treat hyperacusis? I agree with LtlPhysics that the hyperacusis is quite awful. The sound of birds singing and children laughing is equally unbearable, not to mention plastic grocery bags, aluminum foil, and any kind of silverware or dish noises. I’ve read lots of claims that TRT helps hyperacusis, but the success stories seem to be unable to access a computer, as their success stories are practically nonexistent. Any cured hyperacusis sufferers out there? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Milo7 wrote:
x-no-archive:yes Neurontin (gabapentin) is an anticonvulsant/antiseizure med manufactured by Parke Davis.
Response:
Yes, dilantin helps. It was one of the first drugs that the shrinks tried out on me. At that time they were certain that the right medication would return me to life. This was a long time ago and my tinnitus and hyperacusis were relatively benign. I misread the dosage and doubled it the first time I took it. The affect was great, all of that noise backed away from me, it was almost visual. I slept a bit and felt very pacified as I moved around. I could see how this would calm the mind and help prevent seizures. I did not feel disabled by it in any way, it was all a positive experience. But I had taken a double dose and a normal dose was not as dramatic. The drug also has some nasty side effects and a sustainable high dosage was not considered possible. As I recall, a blood test was necessary to establish the allowable dosage. Given the choice, I would dilantin for the day and find another means of inducing sleep at night. It is no cure and when it wears off you can hear all of those sounds snap back or increase in volume. I had probably less than a hundred distinct sounds that were recognizable to me at that time. Now they are uncountable. Do you hear music, yet? * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
I also have over-sensitive hearing (hyper-acusis), and it is a terrible handicap in the world! Everyone thinks you are being disagreeable. It is a struggle to shop in stores with background music etc. (I have some tinintus also, but it is not a problem.) I’d love to hear suggestions to improve any of the things I’m trying already. (Or new approaches.) I think one reason for the hyper-acusis is that my ears do not produce much wax. I just checked a few pharmacies and health food sources, and no one seems to make a supplemental ear wax product. On the advice of an MD ear specialist, I often experiment with homemade ear-wax substitutes, and find them VERY helpful! The ears feel better, the sound goes to a comfortable level (like in a quiet snowfall), I feel the muscles readjust. The problem is that it is not possible to get the substitute out or adjust the amount — I use very soft oily materials — and so I end up unable to hear when I do want to! So I’m now trying, along with the wax substitute, a $30 "Amplified Listener" device from Radio Shack. This is a little microphone that fits in a pocket and amplifies whatever you point it at, and sends it through earphones. Looks like a Walkman or MP3 player. This is helpful because it is directional: can point it at ones dinner companion and not get background music. Also it can be turned off or adjusted easily — controls on the pocket thingy. (I think it amplifies close sounds more than far-off ones, so not so much background stuff comes through.) (Of course in the past I tried regular earplugs, even custom fitted ones, but they were uncomfortable and didn’t work well. The wax substitute is always comfortable and the earphones for the "Amplified Listener" can be taken out most of the time.) To make the wax substitute removable (or try to!), I sometimes sandwich it with cotton. Start with a little cotton to keep the stuff from contacting the ear drum, then a layer of of the wax-subs, then more cotton to hold it in the ear. This works pretty well sometimes, but is messy and keeps needing to be renewed. I’ve found chiropractic treartments — especially ‘Cranial-Sacral Therapy’ — very helpful. Massage and Rolfing too. (And yoga.) I think it’s party a matter of the muscles and bones being out of allignment, which stretches the ear canal and ear drum out of shape. Sometimes it will completely clear up for a few minutes. As to causes, it got much worse after a throat-eustacian infection and an overseas jet flight. When I got off the plane in Thailand I thought they must have different mufflers on their cars, everything seemed so much louder. But when I returned, my home town sounded just as loud. For wax substitutes, the MD cautioned me to use only oil-based products. For convenience now I use an organic hair conditioner (thick lotion) and apply it with a large syringe (made for giving medicine to babies). In the past I tried mixing beeswax, parafin, etc. The problem is that wahtever I use eventually melts and coats the eardrum itself. This deadens all sound and I can’t remove it (wax removal drops don’t help). Haven’t tried Vaseline. Bass rhythms shaking the floor etc are a big problem for me too. One help is to use a Walkman or MP3 player with music I like: it gives a different rhythm to focus on. Radio Shack has some adaptors that can run both the "Amplified Listener" and the music source into the same earphones. (Another way is to have two sets of earphones and put the earphones from the music device next to the input of the "Amplified Listener".) I’m trying to increase the volume from the MP3 player. The "Ampliflied Listener" makes a nice white noise of its own, and the cloth of the pocket brushing against it gives a swishing sound when I walk, which gives me a focus on my own body rhythms. On Mon, 27 Mar 2000 14:12:02 +1200, "Judy Gillen" <gil…@ihug.co.nz
wrote: Hi Andrew, I sympathise with you! You poor soul… The docs. don’t know what to do for hyperacusis…and your family gets sick of hearing about it.. I have bad hyperacusis today, and feel I am on my own in all this…when i complain about all the neighbours around here, with their stereos and the techno beat…am I unusual??
I certianly have the same problem.
Today is a bad day, because the bass noise penetrates the house, and you can’t get away from it…
It’s awful. I go nuts in such situations. Fill my ears with lotion, become quite deaf. For vibrations that come through the floor, look for problems around the tailbone and pelvis. Vibrations come through chairs or floor (carpets and cushions help), and anything wrong in that area of the body can make things worse. Tension or pressure near the tailbone stretches the cranial-sacral covering tight as a drum….
As we live on a main road, everyone seems to have their car stereos on, with this bass beat…but at least they drive on, but when it’s the neighbours(and at least 4 of them!)…that’s another thing…there is no peace! The day is windy and hot (wer’e in summer-autumn here in New Zealand…and I wonder if that’s something to do with it…the rain (when it comes!) takes the bass noise to the ground, and not through walls as much! You forgot to mention church!! Yes, earplugs are needed there too…the bands can be pretty tinnitus antagonists! I heard the other day that somebody with this actually is moving house, and living in a bus!! So they can move on, wif someone plays their stereo or is too loud.. Now there’s an idea!(g)
It works. 
Some motorhomes / travel trailers are very luxurious, too. There are a few campground owners who understand the problem and only accept quiet guests.
Anyway…glad to hear I’m not alone! Must go..someone has started up a chainsaw!!! grrrrhhhhhh!!! Peace to you!(s) JudyG. New Zealand Andrew Gulliver wrote in message <38D73B6A.56F00…@hotmail.com… I developed tinnitus and hyperacusis recently, and the cause had nothing to do with loud noises.er mentioned a single word about hyperacusis. I described my inability to bear high-pitched sounds (water, paper crinkling, plastic wrap, computer beeps etc.) without reaching for my ears, or loud noises (vacuums, driving, music, too many people talking at once), and at no time did any of the three doctors mention hyperacusis.
Fwiw, those aren’t my problems. It is the rhythm mostly. Unfortunately I can hear radios a block away, which others cannot.
They had huge pamphlets about tinnitus and every other ear disorder, but not a single word about that. In fact, I had no idea I had the illness/infirmity/disease? until I discovered this newsgroup and saw the subject of "hyperacusis 100 x worse than tinnitus." Before I even clicked on the first posting, I knew that that must be what I have, because it is at LEAST 100 times worse, as I have been mostly housebound for the last month-and-a-half due to my lack of tolerance for the noisy everyday world.
Yes. I’ve been wondering if it might be better to go ahead and keep the eardrums coated and accept the deafness. It’s comfortable, and a socially-acceptable handicap might be easier to manage than one which no one believes! Mary
Response:
High Flight wrote:
Robert E. Seletsky <mem…@sprintmail.com
cyberscribed:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Then allow me to be harsh: this is a support group, not a boxing ring. You call that harsh? You’re merely stating the obvious in a very mundane way. If you insist on being combattive, do it elsewhere. There are plenty of civil ways to disagree and you have chosen none of them. As we know (at least I hope you do), stress can worsen people’s T, so your ranting is completely counter-productive. Stress, as in getting stressed from reading my followups? That’s -very- funny! I’m not responsible for others’ stress management. Some people will lose it when you say "BOO!" to them. I’m starting to believe you’re one of them. Your guarantee of h abatement is what’s -really- counterproductive. Have a nice day!
——————– I think you are nuts! Is that harsh enough for you, since you think I wasn’t harsh enough earlier. I don’t believe in being crude and mean-spirited. And stress is the last thing I need or anyone else needs from reading posts in this particular group. You’re obviously "fixin’ for a fight," and I’m not; you are evidently a very angry, disturbed individual, and this will be my last reply to this absurd exchange. I never made a guarantee to anyone of anything; I just stated my own experience of four years and the assertions of experts who write here (Nagler, Johnson, Gold) in the hopes of giving some positive possibilities a fellow T/H sufferer. If you are so disturbed by this that you are willing to embarrass yourself here in a public forum with such raving, I am willing to emend my original post thus: The big T specialists–Nagler, Jastreboff (both in Atlanta), Marsha Johnson (Portland, OR), Susan Gold (Baltimore) [not in any order of preference]–all deal with H as well as T. They claim that the reduction of H is actually pretty fast compared to T habituation. Even with no treatment, it is possible that one may find improvement in H improves over not too long a time. Eventually it may be almost normal. In four years, my own personal experience has been that the really dramatic loud sounds still make me jump, but normal noise isn’t a problem, except that for me–as with many others who have reported it, louder sounds makes T perception worse. Happy? And by the way, when I write, I don’t think of myself as "cyberscribing". Do you think of yourself as "cyberfighting" with an unwilling opponent? You’re welcome to it. Good luck, Bob Seletsky
Response:
Yeah, come on guys! You both post such helpful information all the time….. Let us let "writegones" be "writegones" Marlayna
Response:
Hi Andrew, I sympathise with you! You poor soul… The docs. don’t know what to do for hyperacusis…and your family gets sick of hearing about it.. I have bad hyperacusis today, and feel I am on my own in all this…when i complain about all the neighbours around here, with their stereos and the techno beat…am I unusual?? Today is a bad day, because the bass noise penetrates the house, and you can’t get away from it… As we live on a main road, everyone seems to have their car stereos on, with this bass beat…but at least they drive on, but when it’s the neighbours(and at least 4 of them!)…that’s another thing…there is no peace! The day is windy and hot (wer’e in summer-autumn here in New Zealand…and I wonder if that’s something to do with it…the rain (when it comes!) takes the bass noise to the ground, and not through walls as much! You forgot to mention church!! Yes, earplugs are needed there too…the bands can be pretty tinnitus antagonists! I heard the other day that somebody with this actually is moving house, and living in a bus!! So they can move on, wif someone plays their stereo or is too loud.. Now there’s an idea!(g) Anyway…glad to hear I’m not alone! Must go..someone has started up a chainsaw!!! grrrrhhhhhh!!! Peace to you!(s) JudyG. New Zealand – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Andrew Gulliver wrote in message <38D73B6A.56F00…@hotmail.com
… I developed tinnitus and hyperacusis recently, and the cause had nothing to do with loud noises.er mentioned a single word about hyperacusis. I described my inability to bear high-pitched sounds (water, paper crinkling, plastic wrap, computer beeps etc.) without reaching for my ears, or loud noises (vacuums, driving, music, too many people talking at once), and at no time did any of the three doctors mention hyperacusis. They had huge pamphlets about tinnitus and every other ear disorder, but not a single word about that. In fact, I had no idea I had the illness/infirmity/disease? until I discovered this newsgroup and saw the subject of "hyperacusis 100 x worse than tinnitus." Before I even clicked on the first posting, I knew that that must be what I have, because it is at LEAST 100 times worse, as I have been mostly housebound for the last month-and-a-half due to my lack of tolerance for the noisy everyday world.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -High Flight wrote:
Robert E. Seletsky <mem…@sprintmail.com cyberscribed: High Flight wrote: Robert E. Seletsky <mem…@sprintmail.com cyberscribed: The big T specialists–Nagler, Jastreboff (both in Atlanta), Marsha Johnson (Portland, OR), Susan Gold (Baltimore) [not in any order of preference]–all deal with H as well as T. The reduction of H is actually pretty fast compared to T habituation. Even with no treatment, you will find that the H improves dramatically by itself over not that long a time. Eventually it will be almost normal–the really dramatic loud sounds will make you jump, but normal noise won’t be a problem, except that for some of us, it makes T louder. ————– You can’t possibly know, or predict, what that particular person’s h will, or will not do, in the future. If your dismissive scenario were true, then organizations like The Hyperacusis Network wouldnt exist; no doctor would be treating it. Your simplistic optimism is unfounded, reckless and irresponsible. Jack —————- You know, Jack, Please spare me the patronization. E-mail is a funny thing. One finds ones’ self writing things that one would probably never say on the phone or live. So I will put your unnecessarily harsh reply in that context. One, this isn’t email (your credibility is shot from the start). Two, in terms of writing style, you (once again) can speak only for yourself, not others. As for the content of my post, anyone who knows me would laugh at a description of me as "simplistically optimistic"; You are what you write. heck, most people would never use the term "optimism" in the same sentence with my name. What I wrote is based not only on my own ghastly T/H experience, but is something of summary of information posted by the esteemed professionals I list in the above post. If you go back through posts to this support group, you will find those statements repeatedly from Nagler, Johnson, and Gold: that H is faster and easier to treat than T. Also, you will find that many people have written to say that they notice a dramatic lessening in their H over time, though not, alas, T–including myself. What a bunch of rubbish. You told him, in no uncertain terms, what will happen with -his- h. Of course, no one’s experience is universal, and I wouldn’t dream of positing such a thing, Your post speaks for itself. but it is fair and humane to report to a new sufferer some note of hope based on the observation of one’s own and others’ experience, as articulated in this very support group. Balderdash. You didn’t give him hope, you gave him a guarantee. You didn’t say "might," or "possibly," you said "will." That, to me, is unfair and inhumane. I don’t think "unfounded, reckless, and irresponsible" describes any of the above. Well I do think. And I stand by what -I- posted. Jack
——— Then allow me to be harsh: this is a support group, not a boxing ring. If you insist on being combattive, do it elsewhere. There are plenty of civil ways to disagree and you have chosen none of them. As we know (at least I hope you do), stress can worsen people’s T, so your ranting is completely counter-productive. B
Response:
Thanks for the information. Hopefully that good day does indeed fortell better days to come. Sometimes a little bit of hope is enough to help you make it through the day in better spirits.
Forget the ENTs; they don’t know anything and don’t care.
You’re not kidding. My ENT gave me an allergy test while I was on Claritin. Stupid me, I didn’t realize that the drug was suppressing the reactions I was supposed to get from the test! And he had prescribed the Claritin himself! Andrew Gulliver
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -High Flight wrote:
Robert E. Seletsky <mem…@sprintmail.com cyberscribed: The big T specialists–Nagler, Jastreboff (both in Atlanta), Marsha Johnson (Portland, OR), Susan Gold (Baltimore) [not in any order of preference]–all deal with H as well as T. The reduction of H is actually pretty fast compared to T habituation. Even with no treatment, you will find that the H improves dramatically by itself over not that long a time. Eventually it will be almost normal–the really dramatic loud sounds will make you jump, but normal noise won’t be a problem, except that for some of us, it makes T louder.
————–
You can’t possibly know, or predict, what that particular person’s h will, or will not do, in the future. If your dismissive scenario were true, then organizations like The Hyperacusis Network wouldnt exist; no doctor would be treating it. Your simplistic optimism is unfounded, reckless and irresponsible. Jack
—————- You know, Jack, E-mail is a funny thing. One finds ones’ self writing things that one would probably never say on the phone or live. So I will put your unnecessarily harsh reply in that context. As for the content of my post, anyone who knows me would laugh at a description of me as "simplistically optimistic"; heck, most people would never use the term "optimism" in the same sentence with my name. What I wrote is based not only on my own ghastly T/H experience, but is something of summary of information posted by the esteemed professionals I list in the above post. If you go back through posts to this support group, you will find those statements repeatedly from Nagler, Johnson, and Gold: that H is faster and easier to treat than T. Also, you will find that many people have written to say that they notice a dramatic lessening in their H over time, though not, alas, T–including myself. Of course, no one’s experience is universal, and I wouldn’t dream of positing such a thing, but it is fair and humane to report to a new sufferer some note of hope based on the observation of one’s own and others’ experience, as articulated in this very support group. I don’t think "unfounded, reckless, and irresponsible" describes any of the above. Best, Bob Seletsky
Response:
Hi, The big T specialists–Nagler, Jastreboff (both in Atlanta), Marsha Johnson (Portland, OR), Susan Gold (Baltimore) [not in any order of preference]–all deal with H as well as T. The reduction of H is actually pretty fast compared to T habituation. Even with no treatment, you will find that the H improves dramatically by itself over not that long a time. Eventually it will be almost normal–the really dramatic loud sounds will make you jump, but normal noise won’t be a problem, except that for some of us, it makes T louder. Your good day just foretold things to come. Forget the ENTs; they don’t know anything and don’t care. The e-mail addresses for the above people are scattered all through posts on this support group and should be very easy to find. Best wishes, Bob Seletsky – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Andrew Gulliver wrote:
I developed tinnitus and hyperacusis recently, and the cause had nothing to do with loud noises. I woke up one morning with Sudden Hearing Loss, and two days later developed tinnitus. After Prednisone brought some of that hearing back (except the high frequencies), I discovered I had hyperacusis as well as tinnitus. An MRI turned up no obvious cause, so the consensus seems to be it was either a virus or something to do with my allergies, which I didn’t know I had until about a year ago. The doctors admitted that "virus" is really another word for "we don’t know" what caused it. What I don’t understand is why the hearing clinic (one of the major hearing clinics in the world) never mentioned a single word about hyperacusis. I described my inability to bear high-pitched sounds (water, paper crinkling, plastic wrap, computer beeps etc.) without reaching for my ears, or loud noises (vacuums, driving, music, too many people talking at once), and at no time did any of the three doctors mention hyperacusis. They had huge pamphlets about tinnitus and every other ear disorder, but not a single word about that. In fact, I had no idea I had the illness/infirmity/disease? until I discovered this newsgroup and saw the subject of "hyperacusis 100 x worse than tinnitus." Before I even clicked on the first posting, I knew that that must be what I have, because it is at LEAST 100 times worse, as I have been mostly housebound for the last month-and-a-half due to my lack of tolerance for the noisy everyday world. Does anyone know why some of the most prestigious ear doctors in the world would not mention a word of this, would not have it listed in any of their comprehensive literature dealing with hearing loss and tinnitus, and instead would tell me "they don’t know what’s going on?" I was also told that stress reducers would be the best way of dealing with tinnitus (yoga, relaxation techniques), but there was no mention of TRT. Is this considered "fringe medicine" among the "official" doctors, or do they just not know how to deal with hyperacusis because they can’t measure it? The doctors at the clinic didn’t warn me to avoid loud noises as much as possible during my healing process, and after about a month (when I had recovered from most of my Prednisone side-effects), I eventually went to a classical concert featuring only five players. Even though the music wasn’t terribly loud (the highs were quite strident, though), the applause was impossible to take, and I was so overwhelmed by all the noises that I had to leave at intermission. Later that night, however, I noticed that for the first time since the onset of hyperacusis, that problem completely vanished. Although the tinnitus and the hearing loss remained, I was the happiest person on earth. And then just a mere 24 hours later, the hyperacusis returned. Has anyone had a similar experience as this? The doctor said it was probably just a coincidence that the extreme noise happened when I (temporarily) lost my hyperacusis. Is it a good sign that my hyperacusis vanished, if only for a short time, or is it a bad sign that it reappeared so quickly? Should I in fact always have the TV and radio off for the next few months in the hope of possibly recovering again? Does anyone know of good clinics in the United States who have a decent success rate with treating hyperacusis? Is there a better way of treating it than some of the other ways? Since allergies (and especially food allergies) can supposedly cause Sudden Hearing Loss, I’m wondering if anybody noticed any change in their hearing problems after having their allergies successfully treated? I will be given a comprehensive allergy test of both inhalants and foods to find out what I should avoid. The $200 version you get at the ENT is not specific enough and doesn’t cover food allergies. The thought that one can lose their hearing due to eating a certain food is frightening, especially if you don’t know what those foods might be, and therefore you continue to eat them. I also read somewhere about how applying pressure to your forehead with your hand can change tinnitus if it was caused by temple-mandibular-something-or-other. However, while my tinnitus gets louder when I do that, it doesn’t get louder when I clench my teeth, which was supposed to be another test. I have a feeling that everybody with tinnitus, regardless of cause, can change the volume, pitch, etc. of their tinnitus by clenching, applying pressure, etc. Any opinions on this? Thanks for any help you might be able to provide. Andrew Gulliver
Response:
I developed tinnitus and hyperacusis recently, and the cause had nothing to do with loud noises. I woke up one morning with Sudden Hearing Loss, and two days later developed tinnitus. After Prednisone brought some of that hearing back (except the high frequencies), I discovered I had hyperacusis as well as tinnitus. An MRI turned up no obvious cause, so the consensus seems to be it was either a virus or something to do with my allergies, which I didn’t know I had until about a year ago. The doctors admitted that "virus" is really another word for "we don’t know" what caused it. What I don’t understand is why the hearing clinic (one of the major hearing clinics in the world) never mentioned a single word about hyperacusis. I described my inability to bear high-pitched sounds (water, paper crinkling, plastic wrap, computer beeps etc.) without reaching for my ears, or loud noises (vacuums, driving, music, too many people talking at once), and at no time did any of the three doctors mention hyperacusis. They had huge pamphlets about tinnitus and every other ear disorder, but not a single word about that. In fact, I had no idea I had the illness/infirmity/disease? until I discovered this newsgroup and saw the subject of "hyperacusis 100 x worse than tinnitus." Before I even clicked on the first posting, I knew that that must be what I have, because it is at LEAST 100 times worse, as I have been mostly housebound for the last month-and-a-half due to my lack of tolerance for the noisy everyday world. Does anyone know why some of the most prestigious ear doctors in the world would not mention a word of this, would not have it listed in any of their comprehensive literature dealing with hearing loss and tinnitus, and instead would tell me "they don’t know what’s going on?" I was also told that stress reducers would be the best way of dealing with tinnitus (yoga, relaxation techniques), but there was no mention of TRT. Is this considered "fringe medicine" among the "official" doctors, or do they just not know how to deal with hyperacusis because they can’t measure it? The doctors at the clinic didn’t warn me to avoid loud noises as much as possible during my healing process, and after about a month (when I had recovered from most of my Prednisone side-effects), I eventually went to a classical concert featuring only five players. Even though the music wasn’t terribly loud (the highs were quite strident, though), the applause was impossible to take, and I was so overwhelmed by all the noises that I had to leave at intermission. Later that night, however, I noticed that for the first time since the onset of hyperacusis, that problem completely vanished. Although the tinnitus and the hearing loss remained, I was the happiest person on earth. And then just a mere 24 hours later, the hyperacusis returned. Has anyone had a similar experience as this? The doctor said it was probably just a coincidence that the extreme noise happened when I (temporarily) lost my hyperacusis. Is it a good sign that my hyperacusis vanished, if only for a short time, or is it a bad sign that it reappeared so quickly? Should I in fact always have the TV and radio off for the next few months in the hope of possibly recovering again? Does anyone know of good clinics in the United States who have a decent success rate with treating hyperacusis? Is there a better way of treating it than some of the other ways? Since allergies (and especially food allergies) can supposedly cause Sudden Hearing Loss, I’m wondering if anybody noticed any change in their hearing problems after having their allergies successfully treated? I will be given a comprehensive allergy test of both inhalants and foods to find out what I should avoid. The $200 version you get at the ENT is not specific enough and doesn’t cover food allergies. The thought that one can lose their hearing due to eating a certain food is frightening, especially if you don’t know what those foods might be, and therefore you continue to eat them. I also read somewhere about how applying pressure to your forehead with your hand can change tinnitus if it was caused by temple-mandibular-something-or-other. However, while my tinnitus gets louder when I do that, it doesn’t get louder when I clench my teeth, which was supposed to be another test. I have a feeling that everybody with tinnitus, regardless of cause, can change the volume, pitch, etc. of their tinnitus by clenching, applying pressure, etc. Any opinions on this? Thanks for any help you might be able to provide. Andrew Gulliver
Response:
You may not have damaged your ears, just reverted to the time before you learned how to cope with the tinnitus and now have to relearn it again. Some might call this a relapse. Focusing on the tinnitus sounds is one of our problems and we have to learn to ignore them. The fireworks refocused your attention on the ringing and you haven’t yet stopped worrying about it. As soon as you notice the ringing, concentrate on something else. Also convince yourself that it isn’t the end of the world to hear the tinnitus. It’s OK that you hear these sounds just that you’d rather not hear them. You’ll be OK as soon as you stop worrying about them. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Dave Tudor wrote:
My T and H are noise induced. Originally 10 years ago after playing in a loud rock band and more recently after exposure to loud fireworks. I don’t know how to explain how I’m feeling at the moment. Generally my condition is much worse after the recent fireworks. I’m finding it difficult to listen to music but my H has been at a level over the last 3 days where my left ear is just sore, not only in noisy environments but quiet ones also. Yesterday I saw my hearing specialist and discovered that my hearing in both ears is still within normal limits, but my left ear feels terrible – ringy, hissy, sensitive and strangely deafened, although the hearing test yesterday suggests that my hearing loss is minimal. Not sure what to do about the H, becuase oddly mine doesn’t seem to be relative to the environment I’m in. It can be really painful just sitting in a quiet room. I had it before and after a long time it subsided, but at the moment things aren’t too good. My specialist has referred me to a hearing therapist who’s going to see if things like TRT could be an option. At the moment my ear feels like it doesn’t belong to me !! I’ve always struggled with the concept of tinnitus and pain. Many specialists believe that there is a direct link, and certainly in the ear, both are often the result of damage in some shape or form. I think I could adjust to my T if it was the only problem, but couple this up with the H and also the ’sensation’ of hearing loss and its pgoddamn awful !! My one saving grace and hope is that 8 years ago I was feeling the same way, but I overcame it. I sincerely believe that time can be a good healer. As I have said 8 years ago I was very depressed and thought there was no way out, but I did survive it and come out OK. Today, I’m still struggling with the fact that it would appear that I’ve damaged my ears again, but I do believe that in time things do get better. Regards Dave Giacomo MV wrote in message <8a4n80$c5…@serv1.albacom.net… I know that there are many different causes for H and I would like to know if there are here people with H caused by exposure to loud noise: I would like to talk to them!! For example, does this kind of H affect both ears or just one? what’s your pain level? what happens to you when you hear a painful (to you) sound? is your H stable or did it worsen through the years? and if it worsened: why? do you think that there’s also a mental component for your H? thank you Giacomo
Response:
My one saving grace and hope is that 8 years ago I was feeling the same way, but I overcame it.
Hi Dave, Keep this in mind, and repeat it to yourself regularly. You will get better again. You did it once, and adjusted, and you will do it again. I just went through the same thing AGAIN myself, and I have to tell you…I felt pretty awful a month ago, but am fine again today. Marlayna
Response:
I posted topic "hyperacusis 100 x etc..".I have tinnitus and hyperacusis which are caused by exposure to loud noise.I used to play drums and go often music concerts only sometimes using earplugs. Here is answers to your questions in my case:Other ear(left) is more sensitive allso tinnitus is louder in that.Pain level:about 60-70db,high frequency noise is badder.I don’t feel pain in that moment when i am exposured to noise,pain comes afterwards(earache,headache).My H+T is developed slowly.First (about 5 years ago) I had only T after loud concerts,then I had permanent T after one extreme loud consert,then I used to have H after not so loud concerts etc.Nowadays I can’t go almost anyplace outside my home without my custom made earplugs.I wish I had bought those years ago…Moods and other mental things affects little to my H. Sorry this post got little bit long but if you wanna ask something else I can reply straight to your e-mail address. J.L
Response:
My T and H are noise induced. Originally 10 years ago after playing in a loud rock band and more recently after exposure to loud fireworks. I don’t know how to explain how I’m feeling at the moment. Generally my condition is much worse after the recent fireworks. I’m finding it difficult to listen to music but my H has been at a level over the last 3 days where my left ear is just sore, not only in noisy environments but quiet ones also. Yesterday I saw my hearing specialist and discovered that my hearing in both ears is still within normal limits, but my left ear feels terrible – ringy, hissy, sensitive and strangely deafened, although the hearing test yesterday suggests that my hearing loss is minimal. Not sure what to do about the H, becuase oddly mine doesn’t seem to be relative to the environment I’m in. It can be really painful just sitting in a quiet room. I had it before and after a long time it subsided, but at the moment things aren’t too good. My specialist has referred me to a hearing therapist who’s going to see if things like TRT could be an option. At the moment my ear feels like it doesn’t belong to me !! I’ve always struggled with the concept of tinnitus and pain. Many specialists believe that there is a direct link, and certainly in the ear, both are often the result of damage in some shape or form. I think I could adjust to my T if it was the only problem, but couple this up with the H and also the ’sensation’ of hearing loss and its pgoddamn awful !! My one saving grace and hope is that 8 years ago I was feeling the same way, but I overcame it. I sincerely believe that time can be a good healer. As I have said 8 years ago I was very depressed and thought there was no way out, but I did survive it and come out OK. Today, I’m still struggling with the fact that it would appear that I’ve damaged my ears again, but I do believe that in time things do get better. Regards Dave – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Giacomo MV wrote in message <8a4n80$c5…@serv1.albacom.net
… I know that there are many different causes for H and I would like to know if there are here people with H caused by exposure to loud noise: I would like to talk to them!! For example, does this kind of H affect both ears or just one? what’s your pain level? what happens to you when you hear a painful (to you) sound? is your H stable or did it worsen through the years? and if it worsened: why? do you think that
there’s
also a mental component for your H? thank you Giacomo
Response:
I know that there are many different causes for H and I would like to know if there are here people with H caused by exposure to loud noise: I would like to talk to them!! For example, does this kind of H affect both ears or just one? what’s your pain level? what happens to you when you hear a painful (to you) sound? is your H stable or did it worsen through the years? and if it worsened: why? do you think that there’s also a mental component for your H? thank you Giacomo
Response:
Why would someone attack you? You found something that worked for you, I would take that as great news.
I was kidding really. But there are some anti-unconventional medicine lurkers around here….! :)
Response:
I will post this once again at the risk of attack! I had terrible hyperacusis three years ago. Just woke up with it one day after having bearable tinnitus for many years. Several sinus infections, tylenol, sudafed and claritin were the possible culprits of the "worsening". At any rate, I tried lots of acupuncturists. One had me open my jaw slightly and put needles directly in front of my earlobe and behind (when you put your fingers there and open your jaw you can feel the opening). Several days after each treatment, I would hear a crackling noise. After I pulled on my earlobe for a day or so, the crackling would subside, normal, undistorted hearing would return and I could live again. I BELIEVE my e tubes were full of fluid/mucous/etc. This treatment helped eliminate the fluid. It’s worth a try. I am not cured, and still struggle with it, but it is nowhere near as bad as it once was. In fact, I think I will return again, as I can feel allergies are returning the symptoms. Good luck all.
Response:
In article <20000605125348.25120.00000…@ng-me1.aol.com
,
marl…@aol.com (Marly67) wrote:
I will post this once again at the risk of attack!
Why would someone attack you? You found something that worked for you, I would take that as great news. I had terrible hyperacusis three years ago. Just woke up with it one day after – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
having bearable tinnitus for many years. Several sinus infections, tylenol, sudafed and claritin were the
possible
culprits of the "worsening". At any rate, I tried lots of acupuncturists. One had me open my jaw
slightly
and put needles directly in front of my earlobe and behind (when you
put your
fingers there and open your jaw you can feel the opening). Several
days after
each treatment, I would hear a crackling noise. After I pulled on my
earlobe
for a day or so, the crackling would subside, normal, undistorted
hearing would
return and I could live again. I BELIEVE my e tubes were full of fluid/mucous/etc. This treatment
helped
eliminate the fluid. It’s worth a try. I am not cured, and still struggle with it, but it is nowhere near as
bad as it
once was. In fact, I think I will return again, as I can feel
allergies are
returning the symptoms. Good luck all.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.
Response:
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