Alleviation of Tinnitus

[Warmfuzzies]

Inspired by the colour thread, and suffering from a worsening tinnitus, I am hypothesising that if I could find the frequency that’s annoying me, I might be able to generate an anti phase sound, and switch this god damn awful noise off.
Or am I wide of the mark?

[grumbledoak]

I don't think it works like that. It's not a real sound.

[V8LM]

You can buy aids that mask the ‘sound’ - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinnitus_masker

[mybrainhurts]

[pherlopolus]

Wearing my hearing aids really helps, as it boosts the frequencies I am missing and supposedly stops the brain from makings it's own noise.

Nothing stops it completely, but I can mask it with Electronic/industrial music, steam engines and white noise sometimes.

[Warmfuzzies]

Thanks all, apart from the French Revolution.....

I’m aware it’s a perceptual thing, and possibly the brain creating its own noise environment, just looking around the NHS only seemed to offer CBT, not sure that’s the right place for me at least to start

[FlossyThePig]

pherlopolus said:

Wearing my hearing aids really helps...

Same here. I do find that most of the time I don't notice it until someone asks me about it or I read a comment like the title of this topic, then it returns with a vengeance.

[jmorgan]

Think mine is rocking in at 6k. Blank it most of the time. Until someone mentioned it.......

[Roofless Toothless]

grumbledoak said:

I don't think it works like that. It's not a real sound.

It can be.

I started displaying symptoms of otosclerosis in my mid thirties, and suffered from tinnitus as it progressed. I am now heavily dependant on two hearing aids. Thankfully, this was only a phase, although lasting a few years.

Middle ear derived tinnitus can sometimes be heard from the outside, as it is a real noise emanating from physical disturbances in the head, not a nerve/brain issue. I can clearly recall being tested for signs of this via a sensitive microphone in my ear.

It is not the most common type, but it can happen.

[Prof Prolapse]

Actually this sort of treatment has been used previously, to what success I don't know. It isn't about cancelling out waves however, my understanding is it's more about "retraining" your brain.

Curiously websites like the below exist where you pick the frequency closest to what you hear, and then with repeated exposure they claim you will experience a reduction in volume. No idea if it works or not, but if it's cheap it may be worth a go?

https://www.audionotch.com/app/tune/

I'm skeptical of treatment options on the NHS, but here's a link the appropriate webpage to discuss with your GP as required;

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tinnitus/#treating-t...

[Warmfuzzies]

Prof Prolapse said:

Actually this sort of treatment has been used previously, to what success I don't know. It isn't about cancelling out waves however, my understanding is it's more about "retraining" your brain.

Curiously websites like the below exist where you pick the frequency closest to what you hear, and then with repeated exposure they claim you will experience a reduction in volume. No idea if it works or not, but if it's cheap it may be worth a go?

https://www.audionotch.com/app/tune/

I'm skeptical of treatment options on the NHS, but here's a link the appropriate webpage to discuss with your GP as required;

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tinnitus/#treating-t...

Thanks for the links, I read the NHS stuff, but not the audionotch.

Interestingly, although I'm probably not going to purchase, yet? Trying the audio frequencies has made a small but noticeable difference this morning sitting at the Mac, it seems to have taken the edge of of it somewhat...

So, thank you.

k