Any Divers with Tinnitus??(ringing in the ears)

[terrylowe]

I get patients coming in to see me with these complaints and it is really frustrating to not be able to help most of the time. I usually warn them about the scams that are out there and encourage them to get hearing aids if they have hearing loss with it. Here is a clip from one of the Mayo Clinic articles that I tell them about...
It will get better with medical advances. Just not much help for the here and now.



Treatment strategies that may be beneficial include:

— Amplifying hearing with a hearing aid. This may help because the brain would rather process external sounds than be distracted by an internal noise.

— Avoiding excessive noise. Ear plugs can be helpful when operating noisy machines.

— Avoiding stimulants. Caffeine, nicotine and decongestants can aggravate tinnitus.

— Adding background noise. Turning on quiet music, a fan or other background noises can distract the brain from the internal noise.

— Using behavioral therapy. Relaxation techniques can help people cope with tinnitus or keep it controlled.

— Using medications. Sedatives or antidepressants can help when the condition interferes with sleep or causes a high level of anxiety or stress.

 

[ac777]

I get patients coming in to see me with these complaints and it is really frustrating to not be able to help most of the time. I usually warn them about the scams that are out there and encourage them to get hearing aids if they have hearing loss with it. Here is a clip from one of the Mayo Clinic articles that I tell them about...
It will get better with medical advances. Just not much help for the here and now.



Treatment strategies that may be beneficial include:

— Amplifying hearing with a hearing aid. This may help because the brain would rather process external sounds than be distracted by an internal noise.

— Avoiding excessive noise. Ear plugs can be helpful when operating noisy machines.

— Avoiding stimulants. Caffeine, nicotine and decongestants can aggravate tinnitus.

— Adding background noise. Turning on quiet music, a fan or other background noises can distract the brain from the internal noise.

— Using behavioral therapy. Relaxation techniques can help people cope with tinnitus or keep it controlled.

— Using medications. Sedatives or antidepressants can help when the condition interferes with sleep or causes a high level of anxiety or stress.

Something out of diving helps what it is I'm not sure, but If you read some of the prior threads you might see a possible masker. This is the second time scuba diving for me I gave it up in early 80's because it didnt do anything for me at the time. Now I cant wait to go again and again .I did freediving in Greece down to 40' and found relief ?and this fueled the fire to dive again!!! I quit the seditives and drinking for the past year and saved the money so far to dive . But Im still puzzled about what makes it go away while Im scuba diving or freediving???

 

[KellyH]

I have had Tinnitus since I was 23 (big gun, no hearing protection, loud engine, no hearing protection, loud music, no hearing protection) do we see a pattern here. There is no cure, holistic holds some minor relief, but once submerged and receiving on the bandwidth of the ocean... peace comes.

 

[ac777]

I have had Tinnitus since I was 23 (big gun, no hearing protection, loud engine, no hearing protection, loud music, no hearing protection) do we see a pattern here. There is no cure, holistic holds some minor relief, but once submerged and receiving on the bandwidth of the ocean... peace comes.

Same thing I dont know what it is about the diving (free or scuba) it makes it just go away at depth????? If I could do it all the time I would !! I wonder if any Tech divers
have Tinnitus Issues??

 

[No.343]

I wish I had found this thread sooner. I just went to the doctor for tinnitus. He is sending me to get an MRI. He said that it is somewhat common to get cysts in your inner ear that can affect the hearing bones. I understood that to mean that he has no clue and wants to do expensive tests. Mine is getting bad enough where I can hear it during a conversation. The only place where I have relief is in the shower. I have also noticed that it gets worse after diving. It also gets worse after a long ride on my HD-EGC and shooting my pistols (I don't do them both at the same time). It also gets worse with nicotine. I don't have any nicotine habits, but sometimes when me and and the boys are hanging around without adult supervision we smoke a cigar. I have also noticed that during allergy season it is particularly brutal. Unfortunately, out of all of those factors that I have identified the only one that I can control is the cigar smoking. I have to dive, ride and shoot.

 

[ac777]

I wish I had found this thread sooner. I just went to the doctor for tinnitus. He is sending me to get an MRI. He said that it is somewhat common to get cysts in your inner ear that can affect the hearing bones. I understood that to mean that he has no clue and wants to do expensive tests. Mine is getting bad enough where I can hear it during a conversation. The only place where I have relief is in the shower. I have also noticed that it gets worse after diving. It also gets worse after a long ride on my HD-EGC and shooting my pistols (I don't do them both at the same time). It also gets worse with nicotine. I don't have any nicotine habits, but sometimes when me and and the boys are hanging around without adult supervision we smoke a cigar. I have also noticed that during allergy season it is particularly brutal. Unfortunately, out of all of those factors that I have identified the only one that I can control is the cigar smoking. I have to dive, ride and shoot.

What type of Tinnitus Subjective or from loud noise????

 

[No.343]

I just saw the ENT today. His diagnosis is cochlear hydrops. I haven't googled it yet. From what I understand the main problem is fluid buildup.

 

[irishsquid]

I've had it for almost 35yrs. It started mildly and probably was caused by standing in front of an Ampeg SVT amp set at 10 playing a Les Paul. It got worse in the Navy from hearing A6s, F14s, F18s, S3As, etc., working as a final checker on the flight deck. That was followed by a 2 year stint on a bombing range in northern Japan. Interspersed throughout all of that was firearms use and practice. Today it's louder than ever; kinda like crickets from hell mixed with a higher pitched ringing and almost constant in both ears. Can't hear phones, fire/smoke alarms, trucks backing up, etc. I have learned to live with it. It is my constant companion and on the rare occasion when it lessens, it sort of freaks me out, as then I notice it somewhat missing. I couldn't imagine life without my own "soundtrack" playing. I have never noticed when diving if it subsides, but will try to remember to pay attention.

 

[DiverDoug]

I've been diving since 2000, and I know that my two tone tinnitus disappears underwater. After over 250 dives, it's a fact, as far as I'm concerned. What I'm wondering is the medical significance of this reproducible finding, and whether the audiologist/ENT types have done anything with such a finding. It does appear, from looking at these posts, that I'm not the only one that finds tinnitus relief from being underwater.

 

[purplediver]

Hi all,
I've had subjective Tinnitus for about 3 years. when there"s no back ground noise its very loud.
But I've been free diving and scubadiving and found the noise and pressure and surroundings of being under are very soothing ,but there is a price for all good things !!!
once I'm out the noise return's an at a level that can be very unforgiving.

If you or someone you know has this drop a line.

Kevin Mc Court, AKA, ac777

I have tinnitus and mine too disappeares while Im diving. This perplexed my ent doc. I thought with it being do quiet it would be especially loud.