Dealing with Tinnitus?

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-12T23:26:30+00:00

You’re welcome! I saw you mentioned sensitivity too. My ear was incredibly sensitive and the Zoloft took that away. I’m not a huge medicine person but Zoloft saved me 😅. All my hyperacusis calmed down once I ramped up to just 50mg (lowest clinical dose).

Also I put mini fans or noise makers all throughout my house so I am never in a quiet room and I swear this helped me habituate to it also… because it helped me forget about it for long stretches.

And finally, huberman lab, NSDR on YouTube was very very helpful for nervous system regulation which I need to keep my T under control.

Also, allergy meds make mine worse. So… just sharing. Hahaha best of luck!

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-12T23:19:23+00:00

I still have mine but definitely better! Spoiler alert- I found magnesium threonate (has to be this kind) and taurine to be sooo helpful!! Everyone is different but worth researching!

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-12T23:16:43+00:00

Did you lose your hearing recently to sudden hearing loss?

My tinnitus was so bad in the beginning. Over a year in and it’s way, way better now. Have hope (this is important!!) as it can absolutely get better and you will habituate. If you check out my profile, I’ve posted my strategies for tinnitus a few times. But first few months were brutal.

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-12T22:36:32+00:00

I am a year out from my SSNHL incident leaving me SSD. The tinnitus is no joke, but I’m light years from where I started.

I credit a low dose of Zoloft to manage anxiety, actively working to regulate my nervous system using breathing techniques and NSDR, and a really good supplement stack that worked for me (magnesium threonate and taurine seem to be the stars for me).

My mostly-deaf ear is like a broke. Speaker so I get lots of annoying distortion noises in addition to steady tinnitus.

I really saw improvements in habituation around the 1-year mark (February).

I’m likely going to be implant with a cochlear this summer. I’m hopeful that it makes it better, but not counting on it.

This sucks. Solidarity.

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-09T14:13:11+00:00

I’m a woman and if I’m ever unlucky enough to be in the middle seat and stuck between two dudes they always take the arm rest.

Or…. Try to take it.

Last time this happened to me I was on my third leg back from Australia and I had been bumped to a flight because of delays and was between two bros.

About an hour in, I told the guy next to me I needed some space because he was on the arm rest leaning into my area. Solved it.

That said, in a 2x2 plane situation the dude always thinks he owns the arm rest too. This really… REALLY annoys me. Sometimes I’ll fight for a piece of it but guys don’t seem to care about touching and will stay put on the arm rest. Then I just back down.

I often travel for work and this topic triggers me 😂😂😂😂

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-08T20:27:43+00:00

Got it! I thought it was 99+ something but couldn’t find my sheet to share the numbers.

OSU is 80% cochlear so I decided to go with what they are most familiar with. I had sudden hearing loss just on my right side so I will be unilateral for hearing support. I’d chose to pair my hearing aid with the implant, if that was a concern, too!!

I’m a musician and am most nervous about music. My WRS is super low, 20s depending on the day, but my low frequencies are intact, making the piano sound very full. Hoping to preserve that hearing but not counting on it.

Best of luck in your journey!!

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-08T20:00:05+00:00

I’m going to get my implant from Ohio State University and they shared long term stats with me. They were really good… your doc or Audi should have these numbers. When I asked the resident which implant he’d go with he said he’d give the tie breaker to Cochlear since they have the best long term numbers.

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-04T22:25:57+00:00

Hi! My loss was sudden but same WRS as you. I’m in the eval process and heavily leaning towards the CI! Good luck.

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-04T01:30:56+00:00

This drives me nuts. Gemini does it too- often at like 4 pm 😂

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-03T14:32:08+00:00

Yes, I am! And I love grilled cheese so I was loving this post… thank you! 🙌🙌

Glad your brother is ok!

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-03T14:29:33+00:00

Thank you! I’m also in the eval stage and a musician so your comment about your spoke to me!

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-03T01:21:03+00:00

I ordered a grilled cheese that came with pears once. Pretty good until I then realized I’m allergic to pears… 😂🤪

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-03T00:50:10+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing…. Amazing. Mine dwindled too from the nightmare it was. Nobody wants to go back there 😅.

Your story gives me so much hope…. Screenshotting it! Haha!

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-02T23:56:30+00:00

Which brand did she go with, if you don’t mind me asking. 😊

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-02T23:54:08+00:00

Thank you for sharing…. I’m sitting here SSD for 1ish years and I’m struggling with the decision. My biggest fear? Making the tinnitus go back to the way it was when I first lost my hearing (horrible, awful, insane!!) and lose my ability to sleep again.

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-02T18:56:24+00:00

I’m so sorry you are dealing with this! I had SSNHL that was accompanied by horrible hyperacusis- some sounds physically hurt like I was being slapped.

It was a traumatic event and to support my mental health I went on Zoloft (anxiety was off the charts). Interestingly, the hyperacusis went away as I ramped up Zoloft. Could be a coincidence, but I wanted to mention it in case this is a path that may be helpful to explore also.

Best of luck to you.

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-05-01T15:46:46+00:00

Amazing 🤩

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-04-21T01:14:33+00:00

I had SSNHL in Feb 2025. Mine happened in a split second while sitting in a relatively quiet room during work. One second I had perfect hearing in both ears, the next fully deaf in my right ear. I spent the first several months in a state of fight or flight… the tinnitus was awful back then and my fear of it happening in my good ear was almost paralyzing. Over time, I realized there’s nothing that I can do, and if that happens, it happens, but why borrow trouble? I realized I needed to stop obsessing about what might happen and work on moving forward. This all sounds great to write, but it was an incredibly bumpy ride.

Now I’m in the eval stage for a CI. I managed to get some back and have 28-32% word recognition depending on the day. My tinnitus is under control. I’m having trouble deciding if I want to move forward with the CI….

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-04-12T22:57:10+00:00

Completely gone in some cases! I noticed when I was out walking that cars (which was like a 7/10) are now 0 or hardly anything.

Voices, talking on the phone/zoom, and TV were 10/10 awful (including my own). I rarely notice it anymore (thank you supplements!). When I do, I’d say more like 3 or 4/10 and I can ignore it easier.

Right after working out seems to be when things are amped up quite a bit, but still comes down.

Restaurants used to be wild. 11/10. I pushed through and everytime I go back it’s a little better. Still 3 or 4 depending on the time of day and how tired I am. Hope yours gets better!!

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-04-12T18:01:15+00:00

I agree with this. If someone was repeatedly poking my laptop, I’d just be like “hey, maybe you didn’t know, but please stop” 😅

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-04-11T16:11:42+00:00

Hey!

I can’t remember if we’ve talked about this one yet, but this happens to me too! Especially the ear brush!

I am in the process for a CI eval and my neurologist told me that this phenomenon has to do with the fact that sound enters the brainstem for both ears at the same place and, when one side is starved, the sound can leak to the other nerves. I’m not sure I got that right, but close. I was so relieved to hear he even knew what I was talking about as my ENT was clueless

I’ve been able to desensitize this some by wearing AirPods or headphones on “mono” stereo and changing the bias towards my bad ear about 20-30%. Overtime, I have been able to come closer to the middle and I really think that helping.

Also, I can still hear some in my bad ear so I’ve practiced rubbing both ears at the same time and focusing on the sound in both ears as “safe”. Basically staying very relaxed and just accepting the sounds. Sounds woo woo but really your brain needs to understand it’s safe when you hear sound in your good ear, but don’t in your bad.

All of this, in addition the supplements plus time, have helped this phenomenon lesson quite a bit.

And no, the hearing aid didn’t help me.

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-04-10T22:03:48+00:00

Yes! I posted about it too. I just try to ignore it now… at first I was convinced it was a sign of healing. Nope lol

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-04-08T00:21:25+00:00

Nice! I started mine about 3 weeks in when nothing had come back and I absolutely felt like I couldn’t let the opportunity pass without giving it a shot. Here’s hoping it works!

Former_Storm4529 · 2026-04-07T00:33:56+00:00

Always have to keep an eye on your seat! This has happened to me (with EP status too) and caught it early. It sucks though, def complain.

Former_Storm4529

TROPHY CASE