Tinnitus prevention

[No.343]

I am sitting here listening to a high pitch hum as I type. I'm a young pup, at 43 years of age, but I shoot guns a couple of times a week, ride a street motorcycle and an ATV and used to work in a factory and construction with loud machinery. I've heard different things about tinnitus. I've heard that Q-tips can make it worse. I've heard that artificial sweeteners can affect it. What other tid bits of information have you heard?

[Rob Boudrie]

Plugs + Muffs; buy the highest NRR you can find.

[Graham Smith]

Tinnitus may or may not be caused by noise damage, but if it is then it's permanent. I have minor trouble with it, but it's more due to congestion than anything else.

Your best course of action, at your age, is to talk to your doctor. If it is something other than damage, then you need to have it looked after before it gets worse or becomes permanent.

[Big Lau]

You can try lipoflavanoids... available at any chain drug store, ask the pharmacist or the OTC manager, they'll show you where to find them. If indeed, as it sounds from your description of your past exposure, the tinnitus is from noise damage, your going to need to get used to it. If the problem exists because of a nutritional deficiency or slight nerve conduction abnormality the lipoflavanoids may help. They aren't cheap so try one bottle. If you haven't experienced improvement by the end of that first bottle don't buy another. If there is improvement you will need to continue taking them for the rest of your life or until you decide your tinnitus is acceptable. Good luck.

[bkeeler]

I have it and caffeine and lack of sleep will make the ring worse. I dont notice it much anymore unless I have a lot of caffeine or lack of sleep. I have had it for almost 10 years. I am only 38.

BK

[murkish]

I get it if I take aspirin.

[GentlemanJim]

I have it

Exposure to dragsters drag boats and lots of shooting

Msg makes it much worse for me ...Flavored Doritos just kill me.

I know several foods make mine worse...but not sure why, or what does it

I cant hear a cricket...if its sitting on my shoulder

Jim

[Graham Smith]

There is quite a bit of good information on the web about Tinnitus. It can be made worse by a variety of food products, including caffeine, msg, and aspartame. In fact, a lot of food products that can trigger migraines can also cause tinnitus.

[LPatterson]

I'm not liking what I am reading about caffeine making this problem worse because you wouldn't like me without my morning pot of coffee.

[Steve J]

I get it if I take aspirin.

You may be allergic. It's one of the first symptoms of salicylate toxicity - overdose of aspirin, aspirin-like products, things like Pepto-Bislmal and even sports creme application if you're sensitive or allergic.

[kimel]

Tinitus can also be related to blood pressure which can be affected by coffee, various foods, stresses (e.g. lack of sleep) and so on. I found that once my bp was under control (150/95 down to 118/70) the tinitus more or less went away. It comes back when I am congested (like right now) but once I get clear again it goes away.

[-JQ-]

Until recently, I thought everyone heard the ring when all else is silent.

GentlemanJim- MSG is the devil and causes many health issues - esp. migraines - I'm a MSG-freak and everyone in my family knows NOT to use it. I think they finally got tired of hearing me complain...YMMV.

I have also heard there are facial exercises that may help in addition to dietary supplements.

[Big Lau]

OK, lots of stuff can make your ears ring. You're wifes' voice for instance... Anyway once you've got it, it probably ain't going away. As a pharmacist I can assure you that unless your shoving the Q-tip in far enough that it protrudes from the other side of your head, or if your're leaving it hanging it out of your ear throughout the day, or using it to pack the wax deeper into your ear canal instead of gently swiping the external components of your ear, a Q-tip will not influence your hearing, ringing or otherwise. And those of us who occasionally need to look at your ear canal appreciate the use thereof.

Many chemical substances can and do affect nerve conduction, which will influence anything served by a nerve, including your ears. Live life, eat, and drink, what you enjoy in moderation, exercise regularly, and relax, don't sweat the small stuff.

If indeed prevention of tinnitus is the goal, it will need to begin at childhood and be maintained throughout your life. When you make your kid mow the yard they need to wear hearing protection... every time... subjecting the poor child to the ridicule of every other kid that rides by on their bike. You'll need to throw the i-pod in the toilet, but AC/DC, or Merle Haggard in my case, sucks if it ain't cranked, and always, always, always wear hearing protection when around gunfire, hunting or otherwise. So, in a nutshell, prevention isn't practical for most of us, and by the time we consider it necessary it's usually too late. It's not treatable by current medical standards and it's a great excuse to ignore things you'd rather not hear. Peace be with you, or at least a pleasant, high pitched, harmless humm...

[LadyinBlue]

I get it if I take aspirin.

You may be allergic. It's one of the first symptoms of salicylate toxicity - overdose of aspirin, aspirin-like products, things like Pepto-Bislmal and even sports creme application if you're sensitive or allergic.

Not sure if it's an allergy but certainly if it made my ears ring I would back off the dosage.

[Bill Nesbitt]

Big Lau, nice post. And a good looking Suburban.

I've had the ringing in my ears for years. I've gotten used to it.

[No.343]

The worst thing about it is that it makes it really hard to concentrate when I'm trying to do chores around the house. My productivity has really taken a nose dive. I have to have the game on, so I don't hear it.

[Steve J]

The worst thing about it is that it makes it really hard to concentrate when I'm trying to do chores around the house. My productivity has really taken a nose dive. I have to have the game on, so I don't hear it.

I remember being overly aware of it when mine first started. Now it's just there. Sometimes I notice it, sometimes I don't, but it never bothers me. Occasionally, an individual tone with start extra loud and then fade off. That will get my attention. Anyway, the sooner you learn to ignore it, the better off you'll be. Background noise, the game or music may actually help with that. Good luck.

[Big Lau]

I would recommend consulting a hearing specialist if it's negatively affecting your daily activities, they may be able to help you with concentration/ignoring mental exercises or there may be some other health related/medication issues that could be contributing to the problem.

I can say that I've had tinnitus since I was 22 y/o. Forgot my foam plugs in the truck and shot a 100 rounds sporting clays with 8 other guys. Too cool to walk all the way back to the truck and make everybody wait. I thought, what the hell can't be any worse than a concert and my ears always came back from concerts. Wrong-O. It only took one time.

I'm to the point now that it doesn't keep me from falling asleep nor do I notice it when reading. Those were the 2 tough ones when it first happened. It took quite a while to get over those and sometimes I still need to put the book down and walk it off.

I've researched, as well as I can, for supplements etc. that may help but the science just isn't there. I'm not one to recommend purchases unless I can back it up with at least a little science. I've tried all the OTC stuff and all was a waste of money for me. Nerve damage just isn't fixable yet. The miracle ear guy said he couldn't do anything for me about the ringing either, but he did try to set me up with some swell digital amplifiers, easy payment plan etc... Your brain will eventually accommodate and it will relegate the ringing to a noise that will be more easily ignored but it will take some time. Until then keep the music/TV going and pay attention to, and make notes of what makes it worse. Good luck.

[Tin Can]

Big Lau, As always you have gotten realy good answers. No one mentioned the Big Prize! When you go deaf you STILL have the ringing in your ears. Have it looked at now and always use hearing protection.

T.C.

[AlamoShooter]

I have had it 8 + years constant sometimes my hearing gets very sensitive too so that I have to ware ear plugs to the movies every time. Laying off Coffey did not make any diff. the Ring Ear ,did not help. I have not try-ed acupuncture yet, but I will.

Use the best ear protection you can get and double plug.

At this moment the ring in my head is same level as the computer , but a higher pitch.

I think most of my damage was caused by power tools and teaching shotgun set it off. For me it came on all in one day in 1999.

Being in the high beautiful mountains makes it worst.

The quiet moments are the worst on me waiting for sleep

Do not let it get you down -It can work bad Mojo in your head. Pm me if you want to.

.

[bwit]

"Peace be with you, or at least a pleasant, high pitched, harmless humm... "

Thanks Big Lau, you made me laugh.

I think the important thing to remember, that for some reason is a well kept secret, is that exposure to hearing damaging noise is cumulative. A loud noise here and there, going shooting without ear protection one day, all add up. Each time you are exposed to noise over a certain level you are doing damage and losing some of your hearing ability. It's like you have a glass full of water and every so often you pour a little out. Soon you will have lost all the water [ and your hearing].

Edited October 17, 2008 by bwit