tinnitus

[Morgaine]

Hi all!

I hope any of you can help me with a situation which has been worrying me. I have a bilateral tinnitus (ringing ears) already for a long time to which I was already used to, but which is starting to bother me again. I got it after damaging my cochlea because of a rock concert... I noticed it got a bit worse now and I have been wondering if diving is not a problem. I always have to equalize with Valsalva, and since I'm aware that this manouver can be harmeful I don't blow too hard (well, what's too hard anyway?). Is it likely that my tinnitus got worse because of diving? I never had major ear problems in any dive, sometimes a bit more difficult to equalize, but I guess everybody has it from time to time. Is it possible to damage our inner ear or the cochlea with Valsalva?
I hope you can give me some advice; I really don't want to stop diving, especilally know that I started with UW photography, but I also don't want my tinnitus to get worse (It can be REALLY annoying, trust me!)

Thanks!
M

 

[miketsp]

I also suffer from moderate Tinnitus and it did appear to worsen when I restarted diving a few years ago after an interval of over 20 years. I have researched this on the web and talked to some doctors and there doesn't seem to be much to do about it. On the other hand Tinnitus is also supposed to be stress related and my job has also been much more stressful in this same period.
In my case it is a monotone at about 8kHz and it shows quite markedly on my audiometry test during my annual check-ups, just at this frequency.

I had collected together quite a bit of literature & web links.

One good page is:
http://www.scuba-doc.com/entprobs.html

Apparently best results come from relaxation techniques.

 

[Bob3]

I was just about to recommend our own Scuba Doc as a source for some good info.
I sympathize with you folks, I hear the cicadas all the time, (even when they're not around.)
I'm able to tune it out most all the time but it does help to have the TV or radio on all night sometimes.

 

[Lat. Adjustment]

I have it too and I think it has more to do with the gun fire in the 60's, sports car racing and stereo in the 70's than diving, it can't be stress, I'm as laid back as they come!

 

[Morgaine]

Thanks for the help guys!
I think I will have to relax a bit more!

 

[SilenceSaysItAll]

Hi,

I work for a Canadian company who specializes in tinnitus technologies. Over the last couple of years, I have seen many people with tinnitus getting some help through the audiologists using my company’s software. I thought you may want to check out my company’s website at http://www.stop-the-ring.com for information which may help you.

Sara