i'll believe it when i don't hear it...
Posted on 05/08/2018 1:26:57 PM PDT by Red Badger
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Tinnitus affects 50 million Americans. It’s commonly called ringing in the ears, but it can bring other sounds like whooshing, hissing, whistling, buzzing and humming, and there’s no cure for the annoying, sometimes debilitating problem.
But there’s now new technology that is helping alleviate the symptoms.
Nick Stein says he has tried just about everything to relieve the ringing in his ears.
“Having to have a fan on when I went to sleep, or having a machine that makes sounds, like the sound of rain or a burbling brook,” Stein said.
So his doctor suggested he try the Levo System. Dr. Yu-Tung Wong of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles says the recently FDA-cleared therapy trains the brain to ignore the ringing.
“It’s very difficult to say that you are going to be able to make the sound disappear completely. What you’re trying to do with most tinnitus treatments is make the sound more tolerable,” Wong said.
The technology mimics the sound of a patient’s tinnitus. The patient then listens to the sound on an iPod while sleeping for 90 nights non-stop. The brain becomes more accustomed to the sound over that time.
“At nighttime when you’re sleeping your brain is more plastic. It’s more receptive to these kinds of changes,” Wong said.
Stein said his perception of the ringing sound has been reduced by 50 percent.
“My mood has improved. My focus has improved,” he said.
And he said he’s grateful he can now go for days and hardly notice his tinnitus.
Conventional tinnitus-masking systems produce sounds that distract the sufferer. The Levo system may actually re-wire the brain so that it can ignore the tinnitus. It’s not a cure, but it could be a relief.
RinTinTin is a deep rumbling sound because it comes from a woofer.
“You should apply for VA disability, 10% for hearing loss...................”
Would you believe part of using a mindset, to not let this bother me, extends to sort of “denial” and a conservative pattern of not going to the “government” for anything unless desperate?
I wouldn’t mind the money. But 10% has not been enough money yet, for me to go through the process.
Some tinnitus is actually osteoporosis of the skull squeezing one of the cranial nerves. I’ve been taking calcium and magnesium.
“The technology mimics the sound of a patient’s tinnitus. The patient then listens to the sound on an iPod while sleeping for 90 nights non-stop. The brain becomes more accustomed to the sound over that time.”
I dont understand how this is supposed to work. Tinnitus is 24hrs a day 365 days a year. It is already there when you sleep. How does playing a recording of a sound you hear 24hrs a day make you more accustomed to it?
[[ “Just a mention, I was on Ambien for a while and the ear ringing was awful. Quit the drug and the silence is golden. I have heard this from other benzo and benzo type drug users, too.” ]]
Yes, thank you! I was on Klonopin for a few months, and my already-severe tinnitus kicked in more. I am off that drug (wow, the side effects of withdrawal!!), but still have the ringing to a bigly degree, but then again, I’m also taking 25mg of beta blockers a day, which can also cause ringing.
My hearing the last few months has been poorly affected as well (I only have 5% in one ear, none in the other, to begin with).
I have quit all alcohol (1.5 years ago), coffee, and most other caffeine, however, I still partake in dark chocolate (probably should not).
Thanks for this thread Red Badger. I will look into this.
It’s kind of like people who listen to old 78 rpm records all the time. They learn to tune the scratchy surface noise out. I did this as a kid and it has paid off in late middle-age. I’ve had tinnitus for years but it doesn’t bother me. Like another Freeper posted, sounds like crickets chirping, but I can’t hear it unless I consciously focus on it.
This sounds interesting. I have terrible tinnitus from sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Some of the hearing came back thank goodness, but no improvement of the ringing.
I can sympathize with you on the withdrawal. It was nearly a year long process from Ambien and benzos are much tougher. There is a website called benzobuddies.org and it was a real blessing while I struggled. It took about 8 months off the Ambien for the tinnitus to quiet down. I have a rare adult beverage now and one cup of java each day with no significant bad result.
I was about to go nuts from the ringing after ear infections. High quality Ginko got it under control. I still have to watch my salt and sugar intake.
It’s all about training the brain, it’s so freakin true. At any point in your life you are hearing countless sounds but your brain ignores them. Same way to get relief from tinnitus and I have it probably worse than anyone where I can’t hear what people say to me unless they are right in front of my face
Ditto here. I've had it for years, but just ignore it when it activates. It is rather odd. It just comes and goes. Not sure what causes it..
same here.
Bttt.
5.56mm
Mine is ringing as well.
HA! This solution is older than the hills. Parents should “train” their children to listen to low to very low background music, television/radio chatter, or the like, so when tryin to sleep in a room with noise next door, above, below, etc., they can sleep comfortably through the night. I know ppl who cant sleep if ANY noise, random or otherwise, occurs during the night, OR day.
Waiting for mine to come through now. ‘They gave me 10% for a knee replacement, though - supposed to be 30-60. Who says there’s a problem at the VA?
i'll believe it when i don't hear it...
[[ “I can sympathize with you on the withdrawal. It was nearly a year long process from Ambien and benzos are much tougher. There is a website called benzobuddies.org and it was a real blessing while I struggled. It took about 8 months off the Ambien for the tinnitus to quiet down. I have a rare adult beverage now and one cup of java each day with no significant bad result.” ]]
Thank you for that information. Eight months is a very long time. You were probably wondering if the ringing would ever go away? I will check out the website too; thank you! It’s been over a couple weeks since I’ve taken no benzos at all and while I still have short-term memory loss (pretty bad actually) and increased ringing, I no longer am having rebound anxiety (knock on wood).
I have it in my right ear and at times it’s like a siren. You have no idea how bad it is and I hope you never get it either! Wouldn’t wish it on anyone. it’s so bad at times, especially when it warbles it makes me dizzy and fall down.
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