What are /r/tinnitus' favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

High fidelity earplugs that come in a keychain container, so you’ll always have them on hand

I can’t recommend these enough, check the product you are purchasing. Sometimes the container is sold separately.

I've had T for about 20 years. And it has gotten louder over the years. No hearing loss. I have always known that it's not curable. And in the greater scheme of life, if this is the worse problem that I personally ever have then I will consider myself lucky. There is nothing I can do except try different treatments, etc. So I accept it. It's never really impacted the quality of my life, so maybe it's not that loud as others? I can't hear it while driving, etc. for instance.

I learned to scuba dive many years ago, and I was lying on the ocean floor and all I could hear...my T. That was depressing.

I am working at home at the moment, listening to the sound of rain on my ear buds. I use a lot of audio therapy to experiment. Still hoping for that right mix to give me just a bit of silence. The one time I really got into seeing doctors about it I discovered much more noise than my T. The sounds of muffled voices in my head for instance, which I do hear from time to time when in a really silent bedroom.

I like this site for audio experimentation: https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/neuromodulationTonesGenerator.php

I’m mid ‘40s and have had T for about 10 years. It can’t hurt you, but man, it sure can mess with you mentally (if you let it). Get a noise generator to sleep. I’ve used this one for several years: HoMedics White Noise Sound Machine | Portable Sleep Therapy for Home, Office, Baby & Travel | 6 Relaxing & Soothing Nature Sounds, Battery or Adapter Charging Options, Auto-Off Timer Sound Spa https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2JBMRE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_GC0B31FV2CK3PJH0CZ73?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1. Try to always have some noise in the background- tv, radio, etc, always. The more you focus on it, the more it’ll bother you and the louder it’ll sound. Stress and lack of sleep can make the T seem worse. Do you have hearing loss? If so, most hearing aids have tinnitus masker features in them. Mine play a faint white noise that cancels out the T. Besides that, 99% of people eventually get used to it (habituated). Also, benzodiazepines (klonazapam, Ativan, etc, are the only medications that’ll actually quiet it). There’s a website called tinnitustalk.com. It has everything on it. Some people avoid the site because they say it makes them focus on the T. I could go on and on from my previous years of obsession. Who knows, maybe your T will disappear completely. Also, there’s millions and millions of people with T. You’re not alone. Whatever happens, I know you’ll be ok. Let me know if there’s any way I can help.

I’ve had the cricket sound forever (I’m 53). It never really bothered me and I though everyone heard that until I developed the tonal kind started about 5 years. It was really bad at first, too. I was certain my life was going to be living hell.

It was a bit of a reality check. I lost weight, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, (should exercise more, but I’m pretty active), and I never, Ever, EVER stay in a place that’s too loud. In fact, I have a pair of these hi-fidelity earplugs with me all the time in case I’m in a place that gets too loud.

Now I really only notice it when I think about it for the most part. I know I’ll never hear quiet again, but we all have our yoke to bare. When I see people who are in wheelchairs or cancer or mental problems it makes me thankful my situation isn’t worse.

The other thing that has helped me a lot is sleeping with earphones because I hated the sound. I don’t listen to music or anything loud and I don’t look at my screen. It has really helped my sleep, which was a problem for me before. Now I put on something (usually mildly interesting I can learn from) and it’s like Pavlov’s dogs. I fall asleep pretty much immediately. It works when I wake up in the middle of the night, too.

The only other thing to pass on is that there is a product called Neuromod on the horizon that pretty much solves it for people with tonal tinnitus. This video is long, but absolutely worth listening to. It will take a few years to make it through the FDA to become available in the US, but it will be available in Europe this year I think.

Also, there is a drug making it’s way through the FDA that regrows inner ear hairs. Most deafness comes from damage to them (which is why you should avoid loud places). That deafness leads to tinnitus.

Hey, I haven't been here in nearly a year, but I've had tinnitus since 2016 and had the same experience, I was extremely depressed and thought about suicide a lot the first few months. This helped me a lot the first year, it quieted the tinnitus down to nothing when I listened to it for ~30 minutes, so I'd use it every night while reading and go to bed with almost silence.

However, after a year it didn't bother me anymore. And here I am 3 years later and hardly notice it anymore, sometimes I'll be in a quiet room for ~20 minutes then notice it blaring away, but it never bothers me, I actually enjoy it sometimes.

I just ordered a "bone conducting" headphone. It sits slightly in front of the ear and directs the sound through your cheekbone - not the ear cannel. I absolutely can't do in-ear buds, full over the ear headphones work slightly better but I know that is a mistake long-term. I'm very excited to try them out. The sound output isn't as good but a more responsible choice.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076FD1SQ8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Hey, 4-year club member here. It's completely understandable that you're feeling this way; I spent a long time when I got T thinking about how my life was just going to be shitty from now on. But now, after some time with T, I can attest that it is nothing more than a mild inconvenience that only comes up when you are not doing anything, talking to anybody, or even thinking. It's natural that it feels so intrusive; it's something your brain isn't used to, and depending on the severity of your T, it may take longer or shorter to become accustomed to it. Give it time and, most importantly, just live your life like normal. The sooner your brain realizes that this is now the norm, the more T will be phased out as you go about your day.

>on the other hand tinnitus is permanent.

The thing is, though, this statement seems to be becoming less and less true. Great strides have been taken, some quite recently, in the search for a T cure. I am confident that unless you're well past retirement age, it will be possible to regenerate ear hair cells in our lifetimes. From an economic perspective, there are millions of possible dollars to be made off of finding a cure (~1 in 5 people get T), so there are tons of people working tirelessly to find a solution. Drop the belief that this is some incurable mystery disease, because it would be self-deception to believe that. And above all, remember that you have millions of people who share your pain with you. You're not alone in this by a long shot. I'm not a therapist or anything like that, but don't hesitate to PM me if you feel like it. I'm always up for conversation. And remember that you're stronger than you think you are, and I'm proud of you for opening up to talk about this :)

I got high fidelity earplugs on Amazon that come with a little case. I take them everywhere. Literally the only time I’m aware of them is when I switch pants and when I need them. Best spent $24 ever.

They aren’t perfect, but when you find yourself in a loud place they take the edge off. I still tend to leave loud places, but you can’t really do that immediately without it being awkward and these things make that possible. I use clay earplugs and earmuffs when I really need to protect my hearing. That said, they are good because it seems to get rid of the super low base and high treble, but you can talk to the people you’re with. It’s a bit muffled, but not bad.

I do about once a week... listening to music (in headphones and live) brings my life happiness (ironically I have always worn earplugs to concerts... my T is caused by a diving accident). Just have good proper fitting earplugs. Keep them in nice in snug. I always prefer the sound at concerts with earplugs. The volume is just painfully loud at most indoor shows.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1P3U1O/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_DIzFCb9NMRNER

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Hey - have you tried either of these- they only provide very temporary relief for me but it's something I have bookmarked:

http://www.generalfuzz.net/acrn/

or

https://lifehacker.com/this-weird-trick-might-give-you-brief-relief-from-your-1794093023

Start with the $25 bottle on Amazon and see what you think, hopefully you either get some relief or don’t spend too much money

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ENC1T0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_G3TGC2PPMM5JNRM7KYYX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I've used these for about 6 months now. Take getting used to naturally but now I sleep with them nearly every night. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q34ZKLF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1&fpw=alm

Alas, "no options" is probably the most common treatment option for most tinnitus sufferers. I have a case that seems to be neurological in origin, rather than physiological, so I'm in the same boat. On the silver-lining side of things, I understand that there are drug treatments on the horizon for some forms of tinnitus, and some (rare?) cases can even be treated surgically for those lucky few. Stay tuned to Google Scholar if you're interested in the latest info on possible treatments, but be prepared for a rather constant deluge of unpromising news.

I know how you feel.

I felt the same way, everyone does at first. It's annoying and it sucks and it feels like your life is over.

BUT ITS NOT

It might take a few months to adjust, BUT YOU WILL! It also won't take long to find good masking tools on this sub. A website was posted here a while back and it has numerous soundscapes you can customize to mask your T. (mynoise.net) I like the white rain :)

Tinnitus is affected by the things we do. Drugs, including alchohol to caffiene will temporarily worsen the effects. If it's bugging you after a morning coffee, know that it's temporarily higher because of the coffee, that's not your new normal. Getting enough sleep also makes it less noticeable, as does exercising and eating right. When I'm anxious, I notice it more too.

You're not alone, we're all rooting for you.

It is possible that these are all related.

Your auditory system is highly susceptible to bilirubin toxicity (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11803418). Thus, it makes sense that increased levels of bilirubin in your system, particularly if this occurs for extended periods of time, would lead to auditory insults such as tinnitus. Have you noticed any hearing loss? Have you had your hearing tested? If not, it might be worthwhile.

Now, my confusion arises from your IMPROVEMENT in tinnitus reaction following a night of fasting. According to the Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gilberts-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20372811) fasting or eating a low-calorie diet, among other things, can increase levels of bilirubin in your blood. This would lead me to believe it would make your tinnitus worse. Conversely, lack of sleep also increases bilirubin levels. So, perhaps the quality of your sleep when you fast prior is much better, leading to more controlled levels of bilirubin and as a result a better reaction to your tinnitus.

Sorry my answer is just kind of train of thought. I hope it was helpful.

http://asoftmurmur.com/ I use this website and turn the white noise all the way up. I kid you not, it perfectly masks my tinnitus. Literally matches the frequency almost exactly. Since discovering this my sleep has improved dramatically

White noise. Ocean/surf sounds and woodland sounds (crickets, wind in trees) help me a lot.

Noisli is a good one, but there are so many white noise recordings and web pages and apps out there.

Fans are good for white noise. If you want other background sounds to mask the tinnitus, try mynoise.net. It's free, and the developer has a ton of great choices. Type "tinnitus" into the search field for tinnitus-specific maskers. He's got some freebies to download into iOS or Android so you can listen on devices, too.

At work, I sometimes listen to thunderstorm sound generators in my headphones. I usually play these two at the same time:

https://rain.today/

https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/rainNoiseGenerator.php

It gets better, friend.

I use myNoise https://mynoise.net/noiseMachines.php which has more than 150 noise generators including natural rain sounds, campfire sounds, beach sounds, the standard stuff. I only ever use like 4 of them, though, and my favourite is the wind chimes. I don't have a smartphone, so I use the website version, but there's an app too.

I hear ya! (No pun intended) I get those loud spikes every now and again too. No idea what that is.

Give this a try. It's not a cure, but it helps cope. Listen with headphones for about 15 minutes. It gives me some relief.

https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/neuromodulationTonesGenerator.php

No - paracetamol isn't an NSAID, and has almost no anti-inflammatory effect.

However, it is fairly good for pain relief. Just stay under 4 grams of paracetamol per day, to avoid toxicity^.

^ http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Paracetamol#/Adverse_effects

>does anyone here smoke weed on a fairly regular basis?

Yes.

>how does it interact with your tinnitus?

Anecdotally, most report no detectable effect. Some report that it makes their tinnitus worse, some report that it makes it better.

>is anyone aware of permanent negative effects from marijuana in regards to ear health?

There are a few studies out there that look into relationships between marijuana/THC intake and tinnitus, but no studies to date (that I'm aware of) have ever indicated a risk of permanent negative effects on tinnitus associated with marijuana.

Hi. Any sound that you hear that does not have an external source is called tinnitus. Go to a silent room where you know there is nothing that would make a "white noise" sound and if you still hear it, it's tinnitus.

Just because you have it doesn't mean you permanently damaged your hearing. It can be caused by multiple things. The fact that your ear is full means there's a difference in pressure between your middle ear and the outside and it affects your hearing. This can be caused by sinuses issues (having a cold or the flu can do that, as well as sinusitis) or by Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

I wrote this post about tinnitus and the sinuses that you can read.

If the fullness fades but the tinnitus is still there, it might have to do with your hearing (though there are still several conditions that can cause it!). In that case, either take a hearing test to check or wait it out. There are cases of acute tinnitus that fade within a few months.

I think my various tinnitus sounds arise from a bunch of different causes, but I have noticed that when my TMJ is the worst and I've been the worst about posture and repetitive motion, the ringing gets a lot worse.

Glad to hear this is working for you!

edit: I have a book about this exact topic called "Neck Crisis". It has a lot of diagrams and exercises, and I'd recommend it except that it takes a 100-page meander through topics such as "how Bear Sterns and the Illuminati are conspiring to control the world", which seems like a bit of a tangent from tinnitus and posture... so I'm not going to suggest that anyone else spend $35 on it. No, I'm not kidding: http://www.worldcat.org/title/neck-crisis-pain-relief-in-the-computer-era/oclc/213525863

I had to go to a professional audiology center that did a test up to 16 kHz. You would need to find a place that specializes in hearing, and not a general ENT, allergist, etc. The specialists you often need to schedule a month or two in advance.

There are also websites that can play sounds above the normal speaking range of 8 KHz. This one is fairly good: https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/ultrasonicNoiseGenerator.php Each slider is at a different frequency. I can't hear anything past the first two. BE CAREFUL with them, though, please. Pay attention to the warning on the page. Start with the lower frequencies that you can hear and set your volume to a comfortable-low setting. If you can't hear a particular frequency, don't turn your volume up to max and put your ear next to the speaker hoping to hear something. Even if your brain can't register the noise, the vibrations are still hitting your hair cells & nerves and can cause damage. Also, it might cause your neighbors' dogs to start barking like crazy.

Also, I've noticed some speakers / headphones can't generate some of the higher frequencies, so if you can't hear them, it may be your equipment, not your ears. That's why getting checked out at a specialist is preferred.

My T is in the 10-15khz range and fans don't work for me either. When my T is loud I use this or this and I set the high treble to max and lower all the other frequencies.

Start using a mild customized noise generator in the background. The White Noise Generator at My Noise is great.

Customize the noise spectrum so that it mostly covers the frequencies close to your tinnitus. Adjust the volume so that your tinnitus is almost, but not completely covered. This will greatly reduce the distraction by the tinnitus, and it will also greatly facilitate habituation. After a while, chances are that you will not need the generator anymore, as you have learned to ignore the tinnitus.

I am always listening to nature sounds while Im on my computer. I like thunderstorms etc because I do find that I will focus on that rather than my ringing. When things are at their worst though I really do find relief from that funky neural tune thing. https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/neuromodulationTonesGenerator.php By the way you have a calming presence.

I'm in the middle of writing two huge essays right now, and part of that stress is what caused my T to flair up full force. The only thing that's making this bearable rn is listening to some white noise. I've found this site to be pretty great: https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/whiteRainNoiseGenerator.php

It seems that our tinnitus for both of us is caused by major stress. What's keeping me going is the belief that once this stress subsides, once I've done what needs to be done, the ringing will return to normal.

Please try to pull through. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm freaking the fuck out. I've had more panic attacks this week than ever before in my entire life. But regardless of that shit's still gotta be done. We'll make it through this, friend.

I highly prefer using this, https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/neuromodulationTonesGenerator.php

After stopping it my T sometimes diminishes to nothing for a while. I listened to your vid some and the tones feel a bit exhausting tbh, it's too much of the same tone.

There are also a lot of presets other users created at the bottom, you can try them out or modify the settings to suit you.

It also comes as an app, so if it works well for you then you can use it with wireless earbuds at a very low volume while in quiet places. Due to my career, I'm in quiet environments researching quite a lot, so I use this with jabra elite sport earbuds in my T ear to mask it. And I use it while reading books as well.

Also, if you want to find your own tone instead of blindly masking it, you can use this, http://generalfuzz.net/acrn/

Slapping your head doesn't cure tinnitus at all, the sound, just like neuromodulation sounds, can temporarily alleviate the tinnitus for a few seconds or minutes but that's all it can do. As someone else said, it's residual inhibition.

Better off using this, https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/neuromodulationTonesGenerator.php

Most people with T can at least get a few minutes of peace with that.

You can also use this,

http://generalfuzz.net/acrn/

But it requires more setting up since you have to find your T frequency.

be sure to not try to use white noise to "drown out" the ringing. Loud sounds definitely just exacerbate the situation. I've found that the key to reducing tinnitus is to try and reset your natural "baseline" loudness perception. Which is not easy to do when there is a loud ringing in your ear.

I usually start with a masking noise at a level of loudness such as comfortably listening to music. Then I slowly over time decrease the volume bit by bit. Eventually the masking noise is at a very low level, and my tinnitus goes down with the loudness of the masking noise. I can even turn off the masking noise for short periods of time and not hear the ringing.

If whitenoise is not masking your tinnitus at an easy music listening level, I recommend trying out different sounds. a lot of people have success with sounds based off of running water, etc. I found this website a few months ago and it is a really great resource to experiment with different masking noises: https://mynoise.net .. remember the goal is to experiment with different frequencies and patterns, not just cranking the volume up to try and drown it out.

Finally, my tinnitus didnt start getting better until I accepted my new life. When it flairs up its usually because I start having negative feelings and thoughts like "if only i didnt get tinnitus...".

Seeing an ENT is smart if you havent done so already. But do not get your hopes up and do not try to endlesses search for a cure. If the doctor can not find a detectable problem the only way out is just acceptance. If you try to go and see more and more doctors and search online for more and more cures youre just going to make it worse because you are not accepting your uncurable condition.

I use this for my computer, basically puts a cap on how loud something can get.

http://www.3appes.com/en/developments/4/sound-lock-released/

(I think this is good, tried to google it and found several so you might want to try searching yourself for the program 'sound lock')

Just re-read it, not exactly what you are looking for, but still helpful.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gamebasic.decibel

Is the one I use. You can calibrate it by speaking while holding your phone stretched out in front of you til Db hits 60...

Usually the sound meter won't save the calibration so you will just need to note it down and mental math add 10-15 db if you phone mic is similar to mine.

80 db you can listen 8 hours... 83db max 4 hours 86 max 2 hours and so on.

Though you usually stuff around 70 db is bad for me.

Try different noises and filters. I use white noise under a pillow to mute out high frequencies.

In relaxio app (android) I use a car+wind+fan combination under the pillow.

Find your mask.

Go to doctor, try to find the source. Try the different meds available

Hey everyone, finally found my peeps dealing with the beep beeps (aka ringing). I have had it since I was 13 due to a very loud noise incident. It sucks, I feel ya but there is hope. My wife found this product and sleeping a lot better. I dont own any interest other than helping people with this awful constant ringing. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PM2P9L5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Hey! Thanks so much for the link, I'll definitely try it out - I've cut out smoking and caffeine the last few days and it has definitely helped. I've also bought a Bluetooth headphone headband to wear at night so I can play sounds while I sleep - here's the link on amazon if you're interested...

https://www.amazon.com/Headphones-Bluetooth-Headband-Sleeping-Headbands/dp/B07QLF7WHZ/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=bluetooth+headphones+for+sleep&qid=1609712239&sr=8-3

Mine arrive on Tuesday, I'll post on here to let you know if they helped if you like.

Take care and I hope you get some relief soon!

Your primary care physician’s office can remove earwax. You can also buy an earwax removal kit. This one has great reviews

I have hyperacusis, too. Bought these on Amazon so I would always have a pair of earplugs. They're on a cord and I just keep a set around my neck...in the car...in my pocket...everywhere, because you get 50 pairs for $10.99. Best bargain out there. Link

I've used these for quite a while now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q34ZKLF/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The Calmer's didn't work for me either.

Why not get a pair of ear muffs? I have a few pairs of Honeywell L1’s around my house. They’re very comfortable, cheap, and they protect me from my screaming toddler and loud noises in the kitchen.

Honeywell Leightning L1 Slimline Low Profile Safety Earmuff (RWS-53006) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B001PCTSZK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cIFpFb8P520V8

I use this one and the graphs are nearly identical to the ones I get from my ENT. The curves match but the actual values (hz/dB) differ.

I think that app is good for identifying changes in hearing as long as you are consistent with how you take the test, same headphones and environment each time.

The white noise machine we use in my son's nursery has "whiter"? (is that a thing?) noise than the app I've been using when we travel with him. I find white noise mixed with vaccume sounds closer to what the sound machine produces. I personally just tell my google home to play ocean sounds because I prefer it over white noise.

Here: https://www.amazon.ca/Etymotic-High-Fidelity-Earplugs-Standard-Polybag/dp/B00RM6Q9XW/

Also this one: https://www.amazon.ca/Etymotic-High-Def-Motorsport-Earplugs-Universal/dp/B010C8HZSY

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tmsoft.whitenoise.full&hl=en

I use this app for white noise. It has a ton of different noises, including crickets and frogs. They're separate tracks but you can make custom mixes and set different levels for each track (at least on the paid version). Crickets have been one of the best masking sounds for me.

I haven't tried that one, but Similasan has another ear drop called Similisan Earache Relief drops. A friend recommended it to me back in 2015, and I've been using it ever since. I would cry if they ever stopped making it bc it's the only thing that has ever helped my tinnitus.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00014THNG/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Your brain is generating the sound, yes. That's how tinnitus works brother man.

In case you want to experience silence for 10-20 seconds at any given time, [https://lifehacker.com/this-weird-trick-might-give-you-brief-relief-from-your-1794093023](here you are)

Actually, I was told if I must use headphones to get open back to avoid the occlusion effect. Thanks for reminding me! I have active speakers, just looking to upgrade them. I've heard of other speakers with tweeter noise. Hmm, I just looked up your speakers and they say they're active. Maybe you have an older model? https://www.amazon.com/Edifier-R1700BT-Bluetooth-Bookshelf-Speakers/dp/B016PATXSI

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018WPOQSG/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_BSNBP67Z469XS8P818VF_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

These are the best ones I've found so far. And they hardly noticeable when you're wearing them.

I use this brand, it seems to work.. I take two a day, one in the morning and one before sleep..

https://www.amazon.com/Pine-Bark-Extract-Capsules-Horbaach/dp/B07N7QRWC9/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2KIGTUG6B2R29&keywords=pine+bark+extract&qid=1659061807&sprefix=Pine+bark+%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-5

Speaking to my own experience, I have similar devices that generate white noise and have the speakers in them and its been a literal life change. I am glad that you were responsive to it.

For sleep, this is my go to: Bose Sleep Buds https://www.amazon.com/Bose-Sleepbuds-II-technology-Clinically/dp/B08FRR6Z1N/ref=sr_1_2?crid=SDN4D7TF4ES0&keywords=sleepbuds&qid=1658327466&sprefix=sleepbuds%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-2

They are similar to a white noise but they are more noise isolating to drown out background noises (or snoring). I have used them and have them at the same level as my devices and that has helped immensely. A little pricey but as long as you don't have nasal pressure they work great!

Habituation to me is that you don’t really notice it anymore, and when you do, it doesn’t bother you. So in a sense, yes, it’s somewhat like you don’t hear it anymore.

For example, if I’m really wrapped up in a book or my phone or just my thoughts, I can sit in a silent room without noticing it. Eventually my mind will sometimes go to it and be like “oh yeah, tinnitus” but it’s not the main focus.

Also, thinking in absolutes doesn’t do anybody any good. No need to think about “forever”. As with anything in life, take it day by day. If you are open to it, I’d suggest grabbing a copy of “You Are Here” by Thich Nhat Hanh. If that’s not your cup of tea, that’s okay, just putting it out there!

As for focusing on it for habituation vs not, I’m not really sure. Some say they like to sit with it and focus on it for a while, others like to quickly acknowledge it and then go about their day. In my opinion, the best thing to do is to just keep busy. Do your hobbies, whatever makes you happy. The best advice I got was on the Visual snow sub (I have floaters and visual snow as well), a guy chimed in and said “you can sit in your room alone and stare at the wall and fixate on your Visual Snow, or you can go live your life”. That was a couple years ago and I haven’t been back to the sub since and hardly notice it anymore. I think the same can apply to tinnitus.

Tinnitus can be frustrating in the sense that you see a lot of despair in this sub, but you also see a lot of “just get used to it”, which is frustrating too because that sounds dismissive. It will get better though. Please feel free to reach out to me via DM if you need to! I know that this can feel extremely isolating so please reach out to me if you need to. No need to deal with this alone.

Db or MHz? Db would be difficult to ascertain. You could maybe download an app which measures db and use headphones and slowly turn the volume up until it matches the volume of your tinnitus. But MHz is easy. Grab an app like this one , use headphones, and slide the scale until you reach the patching pitch and tone of your tinnitus.

Cool thanks. The flange helps you get grip on them to twist them out?

I found these, they might work too?

https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-MAX-1-Uncorded-Earplugs/dp/B0013A0C0Y/ref=sr\_1\_16?crid=AKI31AJZO84Z&keywords=flanged+foam+earplugs+macs&qid=1654955323&sprefix=flanged+foam+earplugs+macs%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-16

Oh yes, good question. I use these ones in the movie theater

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076VTXWBP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yesterday I watched Dr Strange in Imax without them because I left them at home by mistake.

Did it make my tinnitus worse? I don't know, I didn't check :)

In the past, I would've closed my ears after arriving at home to see if it was louder. I don't do that anymore!

I’ve tried a few different brands and Vibes are my favorite. https://www.amazon.com/Vibes-High-Fidelity-Concert-Earplugs/dp/B018WPOQSG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=1V0R2CKNTY909&keywords=vibes+high+fidelity+ear+plugs&qid=1652286274&sprefix=vibes%2Caps%2C315&sr=8-3

Yes exactly the same mine has gotten worse in the last few weeks, likely stress related. Used to be in the background, only noticeable when it was very quiet, now it’s very much in the foreground and affecting sleep. Been checked out before anyone asks. I don’t know if you do, but if you have hearing aids wear them regularly as they can help with tinnitus. I found a sound machine that helps at night. I bought this one

Most of all any worsening tinnitus needs to be checked out.

>after a night out a couple weeks ago

Did you wear protection? I couldn't recommend these enough for going out. People don't notice them (their color helps a lot for this) they're pretty good at blocking noise but you cant still hear and understand people even in a club/bar.

> A month or two after that I noticed that I was a little susceptible to just sharp noises, like pans and pots banging together for example. No hearing loss that I can notice.

I had a similar experience. Mine started after sleeping with this crap.

>Dealing with T has triggered anxiety and panic attacks, and being out in public unfortunately increases the severity of them. Trying hard to stay strong and get

What ear plugs do you wear?

are these any good? https://www.amazon.com/Alpine-PartyPlug-Plugs-Music-Environments/dp/B00REB9VTO

Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs, 50 Pair - 33dB Highest NRR, Comfortable Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring, Travel, Concerts, Studying, Loud Noise, Work https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9FWFA8MMYH7KBM5QG1DV

Mack's Blackout Soft Foam Earplugs, 7 Pair with Travel Case - 32 dB Highest NRR, Comfortable Ear Plugs for Concerts, Jam Sessions, Nightclubs, Loud Events and Shooting Sports https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071ZWDL3L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_05DE5F779SH7167NWAFG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Both are good protection and if you have them inserted properly nobody will even know you have them in. I mean literally. Especially at a concert. Wish I could go to a concert again, protect your hearing. I understand where your coming from cause other plugs that are bright stand out these don’t

2 Pairs Concert Ear plugs, Hearprotek Noise Cancelling High Fidelity Earplugs-Hearing Protection for Musicians, Live Music, Drummer, Percussion, DJ & Clubbing https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GSZ5TZF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1ES4Q89F8TWNJAAKSCC9 I have these ones do u think they will be okay?

Specifically Magnesium Citrate - seems to be the most effective one. You just reminded me to order one from Solgar since I have some T and also chronic muscle tension.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012T97SDQ/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o01\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've seen people mention a special pillow with a hole in it for your ear so it's not against the pillow. Can't vouch for it but there is one review from a tinnitus sufferer: https://www.amazon.com/Original-Pillow-Hole-Your-Friend/dp/B00NCDSINI

EarPeace Concert Ear Plugs - Reusable High Fidelity Earplugs - Hearing Protection for Music Festivals, DJs, Musicians, Motorcycles, Raves, Work & Airplane Noise Reduction - Standard, Black Case https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B076VVP6CX/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_P6WBF6ZF8HS2NDEG5883

Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs, 50 Pair - 33dB Highest NRR, Comfortable Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring, Travel, Concerts, Studying, Loud Noise, Work https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_AB8WD15W4Q5HR35P8P33?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Mack's Blackout Soft Foam Earplugs, 7 Pair with Travel Case - 32 dB Highest NRR, Comfortable Ear Plugs for Concerts, Jam Sessions, Nightclubs, Loud Events and Shooting Sports https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071ZWDL3L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_NFATR224DNKD5WQ357D5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

If you insert them both properly you can barely even see their in. I wouldn’t waste your time with musician plugs if you already have t. The black ones are so sleek looking, and the peach ones have even better protection.

earpeace earplugs EarPeace Concert Ear Plugs - Reusable High Fidelity Earplugs - Hearing Protection for Music Festivals, DJs, Musicians, Motorcycles, Raves, Work & Airplane Noise Reduction (Black Case - Standard Plugs) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B076VVP6CX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_8FDRWJA20V8AC6FNCF6J

Check out Magtein, or Magnesium Threonate, I've recently been using it before bed and I think it's helping. Best wishes on getting off the anxiety meds, feel for you. https://www.amazon.com/Magnesium-Threonate-Capsules-Magtein-Bioavailable/dp/B01M4GM9R1

This one. It genuinely did work for me. Otherwise, I wouldn't be wasting my time here. But I see it doesn't work for others. So I'm guessing it works depending on what caused your T.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018J1LOSI/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_P78X2Z9DW5T2JWF87YYD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Thoughts on these? They come with two pairs, 23 and 29 db...... LiveMus!c HearSafe Ear Plugs - High Fidelity Earplugs for Musician, Concert, Drummer, DJ & Clubbing - Reusable, Comfortable - Noise Protection, Cancelling (Standard Size) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H2F87I8/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_EJMGHN6C9VCF56JPBG27?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I always listen to podcasts and recently got some new “sleep headphones”…

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FSXY3Y8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_dl_WWQ5AE43JB4NWC3BA920?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

But even then I feel like if I set noise to stop once I’m asleep I’m woken up by tinnitus, if I don’t set it to stop playing then I’m woken up by the noise of whatever I’m listening to.

…I might start trying some rain noise/ white noise or something.

But yeah, I often don’t hear my tinnitus until sleepy time. Having two kids help with that…but I’ll be damned if they are tasked with masking my tinnitus while I sleep.

Have you tried a neti pot yet? I got this one on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZCNG2X7/

It's awesome. If you have an infection, this isn't a cure but it helps flush all the gunk out of your nose.

I actually bought these Vibes High-Fidelity Earplugs -... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018WPOQSG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Are those good? I’m going to an audiologist to get some custom made earplugs so I can try to keep it from worsening. I’m using the Amazon one for the gym, restraraunt and my friends who blast music in their cars.

It was this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CQ9468V?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Well, I think the reason it works on me is because I have the tinnitus primarily in one ear. As long as I sleep with the bad ear pointed upward, I can have my sound blocker on and kind of drown it out.

My issue was that at night it would jump or rather sort of vibrate over to the good ear when it was pressed into the pillow. Which sucks, because even though I could technically sleep on my back, I like to sleep on my side. The ear hole prevents it from smashing or crushing my other ear. I think that allows some airflow and circulation and stops it from vibrating over. I also have gone through a lot of pillows because I get neck pain a lot too. This one actually supports my neck .

That being said, I'm sure how well it will work on people who have ringing in both ears.

The one I specifically use is available Here

There are others like it around for cheaper I'm sure but it's well worth the money. A full charge lasts me 2 whole nights. The sound isn't going to be sennheiser quality but it's not like I want it for music and jogging, I want it to deaden the tinnitus. It works well for that. It can take a little getting used to sleeping in, but I just literally slept like a log the first night because I didn't have the loud high pitched whistle in my ears.

Hope this helps you.

Hey. I also spent time in Kandahar. In 2008. My ears ring constantly. It seems to be getting worse too.

I keep a sound machine running all the time in my room. This one specifically, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076F2JKYC/. I like it because it's not playing audio. It's an actual small fan. On real bad nights I wear a pair of headphones. I have a subscription to the Tide app. There's a couple good sounds that help the ringing just sort of blend in.

You can buy a million different white noise generators on Amazon, but you really should check them out in a store before buying if you like the noise.

These are my 2 favorite websites for white noise: https://asoftmurmur.com/ http://www.rainymood.com/

I think you're overthinking this. When you put cans on, you're cutting out ambient noise and essentially amplifying whatever tinnitus you have. I use in ears at my desk but I often run my desk fan (facing away so I don't get too cold) and/or this rain app for background noise. I use in ear headphones but mostly just for professional reasons. Cans don't look very good in a professional setting, depending on your vocation, of course.

One more thing! Are you sure the noise from the computer isn't coil whine from the graphics card?

https://lifehacker.com/this-video-explains-what-coil-whine-is-and-how-to-avoid-1669522880

Amazon link.

EarPeace Concert Ear Plugs - Reusable High Fidelity Earplugs - Hearing Protection for Music Festivals, DJs, Musicians, Motorcycles, Raves, Work & Airplane Noise Reduction (Black Case - Standard Plugs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076VVP6CX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9GW8F89H90SMDSYH7SC9

I don't use it now, I think I just bought a bottle from Amazon. I used this one, but it didn't help, but wouldn't rule out anyone trying it.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Bronson-Ginkgo-Biloba-Strength-Serving/dp/B08PW2XRXK/ref=sxin\_13\_pa\_sp\_search\_thematic\_sspa?crid=3I1JNTV8NJCIF&cv\_ct\_cx=gingko+biloba+capsules&keywords=gingko+biloba+capsules&pd\_rd\_i=B08PW2XRXK&pd\_...

Do yourself a favor and get a good cervical pillow.
You may have to try a few to find one that fits your body perfectly but Amazon does free returns.
This is the one that works best for me.
Faces one way for side sleepers and another if you sleep on your back.

It actually feels so good that I look forward to going to bed.

The ashwagandha thing has some meat to it. I’m kind of surprised I hadn’t heard of it before.

Check out this study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6979308/

I’m taking this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYHJYD5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_XPNCBD6A2SEEPBQGKN9K?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I basically just bought the one with good reviews. It turns out it’s the best. It has the highest dosage, it’s the part of the plant you want, and it comes with the pepper for better absorption.

Try white noise machine (app on your smartphone), I used it for tinnitus but now I am using it to get a better sleep. It should help.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tmsoft.whitenoise.lite

Free version is sufficient but buy it if you feel like it.

Also I used medication with good results. It might work for you too. DM me for the name of the medication.

Also adjusting your diet helps greatly. No fat, refined sugar and too much caffeine. Don't just quit caffeine but reduce consumption. Try to consume pineapple, banana and some fruits and foods. They reduce tinnitus.

These worked for me, I hope they work for you too.

I'm sorry to hear. I don't mean to trivialize your condition but I used to think I could not mask my tinnitus as well. Sometimes it's just trial and error and I hope you'd be able to find something that works for you. The "cricket" sound created from the app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.haimistudios.tinnitus (or the youtube video) is almost a miracle for me. I thought the high pitch T is something I'd just have to learn to live with. Again, sorry to hear. Good luck on your journey to better health.

I too, would like to thank you for your very kind and helpful comments. I'll just also put here for whatever it's worth concerning your last note, that I took a Logitech 2.1 stereo sound system (typically used on a computer), and I ziptied the speakers to my headboard in such a way that they aim straight at my ears, then I run mynoise.net (the White Rain generator being my personal favorite) on a device hooked up to those. Helps a lot!

This is a great machine and I've used it for a long time. Recently my frequency changed and it didn't seem to help as much as previously. (Couldn't find a setting that worked.) Then I discovered this site: https://mynoise.net/. It has lots of different sounds and what worked for me was finding a frequency that worked on the insect noise section. It really helps me sleep and helps when I'm in quiet places which is where the T really bothers me. 2 big thumbs up from me!

https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/neuromodulationTonesGenerator.php

Or some other form of acoustic nerumodulation, tell him to use it for like 30 minutes with headphones on every day, it'll drastically reduce the sound overtime. I used that my first year and could stop after a few months since it became unnoticeable.

For the other issues, he's clearly depressed and anxious, so exercise, nutrition, sleep, antidepressants, and weed can all help.

The tinnitus is most likely caused by your hearing loss. My tinnitus consists of multiple sounds, the highest being around 15kHz and I can hear it outside. I listen to podcasts whilst trying to sleep and I sometimes use this and turn up the high treble if my tinnitus is stressing me out and I can't sleep.

You might have to live with it for a while. But don't give up hope, there is a lot of research being done that has me hopeful for treatment in the future!

If I avoid alcohol and caffeine, get enough sleep, and use a white noise program (https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/whiteRainNoiseGenerator.php is my favorite) it stays at a much lower level for me.

Sometimes mine will get louder for a few days, but it usually returns back to normal levels within a week or two, especially if I don't fixate on it.

I was like you. I have never given a chance to live with it. But now., It is just ringing. You'll get used to it. Never ever think of doing something irreversible. Listen to music with white noise background or crickets. https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/ultrasonicNoiseGenerator.php

Stop thinking about it. You are stuck now with it. Just use crickets and music to forget about it. 2-3 months later you will forget about it.

https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/neuromodulationTonesGenerator.php

I used this for my first year to help quiet it down when I wanted to go to bed. May help you guys. Takes about 20-30 minutes but it helped a lot.

Hey, Seems yours tinnitus are really powerful. Maybe you could try something like white noise, it helps to focus, this website is really great at it : https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/whiteNoiseGenerator.php

Stay strong, good luck.

Listening to trains screeching, and binaural sounds coming together seems to do something to reduce the volume for me, for awhile.

In addition to all the various "noises", white, pink, brown, smoothed, there's a B-52 that's pretty sweet, and train station noises, coffee shop sounds, library sounds all work well for me to provide something to "put in front of" the tinnitus that I can still do stuff that involves thinking. Even a washing machine, there was one that was EXACTLY like the one in the basement when I was a kid, I swear.

There's more than one frequency generator site available, mynoise.net is fantastic, and has many "compositions" available, both free and premium.

How is your diet? As mine becomes much louder if I eat things like chocolate or have too much salt. Mine is hard to ignore as it's very high pitch but I was shown this recently and I use it when I'm going to sleep or when my tinnitus is loud, it helps tremendously.

I have a kind of "whistling/zinging/static-y tinnitus, and I sleep with a white noise machine and that has been helping a lot. I use the MyNoise.net white noise generator, which you can customize to whatever you need.

Prior to founding AudioNotch I made this site under a pseudonym, and it shows you how to make your own Notched Music for free: https://sites.google.com/site/freetinnitussoundtherapy/clients (the notch here is wider than the notch we use on our software and we have evidence that narrower notches produce greater treatment effects in volume reduction - provided you've tuned your tinnitus frequency correctly).

If you compare our price point to Neuromonics and BeyondTinnitus (our closest competitors), we're significantly less expensive (Neuromonics is several thousand dollars and BeyondTinnitus is $300.00 for six months of access). I also believe that our product is superior to theirs.

Cheers, Peter.

I have tinnitus for over 15+ years. I started to use earplugs 5 years ago and tried 10+ types of earplugs. Now, I'm sleeping with earplugs literally every day for 3+ years. I've got so used to them that I don't feel any discomfort if they're replaced regularly. This is also because I found the best earplugs for my ears. The only bad thing I could say is maybe my ear canal became wider just a tiny bit but I'm not sure. Anyway, it has no impact on my life.
Try different earplugs and choose the right ones for your ears then you'll be fine. Earplugs really vary in size and softness. At first, I wore too big and long ones. I didn't know if it were my ears but I saw blood on my pillow and there was sometimes pain in my inner ears. For my tinnitus, I remember maybe it got a little worse.

By the way, my ear canal is small and I use S-size earbud tips. The earplug I'm currently using is Mack's Dreamgirl Soft Foam Earplugs.

considering getting in-ear studio monitors and a bass body backpack thing but I don't play enough to really warrant it.

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