Tinnitus --- what can I do about it?

SFC Kevin Bazurto — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:57:34 -0400

For those of you that have tinnitus, what do you do for it? Sometimes the ringing in my ears is too much. I feel like I'm going insane it is so loud... Anyone have suggestions?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 5:15 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:15:34 -0400

Not much can be done. Once you get to the stage of ear ringing, there is nothing that can be done. About the only thing that can be done is to ensure you wear your ear pro whenever you get near anything loud, otherwise you will only get worse. Always remember the 4 P's of hearing loss: Painless. ⇒ Progressive. ⇒ Permanent. ⇒ Preventable.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 5:23 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:23:07 -0400

protect what hearing you have left and I generally have music playing in the background to help me cope with the ringing.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Oct 20 at 2015 5:24 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:24:28 -0400

I found it helps to keep a radio or TV on in the background to mask the ringing whenever possible. I also find it easier to get to sleep if I keep a radio on at night. To keep the wife happy, I use a pillow speaker with the volume set to the lowest perceptible level.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 5:29 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:29:19 -0400

I've tried a lot of things... nothing ALWAYS works. Night time or quiet time is the worst. Seems like I have hyper cicadas buzzing/ringing all the time at concert level volume. Having diversion sounds works best for me - having something on all the time. Forced problem solving where my mind is really occupied on a task also seems to help. Just never goes away...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 5:32 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:32:22 -0400

I went to the VA for my tinnitus. The doc suggested I give up salt, nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol. Something tells me she never wore a uniform....

On a more serious note, I tend to use similar techniques to some of the other posts. As long as I have some basic background noise I'm fine. Every once in awhile they get so loud at night that I can't sleep at night. It sucks but it could be a hell of a lot worse. I know there's some over the counter stuff out there but I've never tried it myself.

Response by A1C Charles D Wilson made Oct 20 at 2015 5:43 PM

A1C Charles D Wilson — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:43:48 -0400

I have been trying to get help with this also. The VA said I have no hearing loss to very little hearing loss but the tinnitus is what is driving me nutzzzz. Standing in front of F-100 P.W. engines during my time got me. Even with ear plugs. I have to have some back ground noise (radio TV) going to drown it out.

Chuck D

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Oct 20 at 2015 7:36 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:36:57 -0400

Not sure how it affects you, (mine is only in quiet areas) but I have to have some type of background "noise", preferably at of near the frequency of the ringing I hear as it tends to "absorb" it. During the night, Nature sounds or music (preferably Jazz, as there are no words to trigger any dreams). During the day, this is not too much of an issue unless it gets too quiet (testing, classroom activities, etc) but other than that, my iPod goes where I go... Unfortunately, this is not a cure and though it helps me a lot, it doesn't always work... It's settling for the lesser of several evils...

Response by PVT Robert Gresham made Oct 20 at 2015 8:21 PM

PVT Robert Gresham — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 20:21:41 -0400

SFC Kevin Bazurto Like a few others, I keep a fan running in the bedroom all night, every night. My wonderful Wife has learned to live with it.

As far as during the day goes, I also have hearing loss from my limited time on the 4 deuce, so my audiologist gave me hearing aides. They help me to defeat the constant ringing by always giving me some type of auditory input. I have either the television, or some type of music on, almost every hour that I am at home.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 8:29 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 20:29:24 -0400

I pretty much just except it and carry on. During quiet times is when it bothers me most. Most times I just try and not think about it. But I also have quite a few headaches and migraines so they make me forget about the ringing. Sorry I wasn't much help, good luck!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2015 11:50 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 23:50:13 -0400

Absolutely nothing. I acquired it from my Aircraft Carrier days in the early 1970s. A couple years ago I got some super expensive hearing aids from the VA that mask the ringing of Tinnitus with some "washing" sound. The trouble with hearings aids is that they solve one problem but create two more. I have read that there are herbal remedies on the market, but I've never tried any. It's just something I have successfully ignored for forty-five years, even though it's almost deafening now.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 21 at 2015 3:39 AM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 03:39:27 -0400

Also be aware that you can sometimes distract yourself from the ringing by having background noise (a lot of people recommend a white noise machine) but it won't always completely drown out the sound. I can have all kinds of background noise and the ringing in my ears still makes me twitch.

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Oct 21 at 2015 5:02 AM

SSG Michael Scott — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 05:02:12 -0400

Hearing aids, get a white noise box and pray

Response by SGT Robert Zuniga made Oct 21 at 2015 5:42 AM

SGT Robert Zuniga — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 05:42:41 -0400

What did you say? After 10+ years out, I guess my mind has figured out a way to tune it out during the day. At night is when insanity returns. Nothing will help with it. I too have a noisy cheap box fan to help me sleep at night. Extra noise seems to help. Thank you Uncle Sam for your great gifts!!

Response by SGT William Howell made Oct 21 at 2015 8:45 AM

SGT William Howell — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 08:45:11 -0400

What you can do is go down to the VA and make sure you get your 10% disability for having it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2016 1:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:31:47 -0400

My hearing aids have made it manageable. I usually sleep with my radio on and in between stations on AM so I have white noise to drown out the ringing and buzzing.

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Jul 28 at 2016 12:12 PM

SSG Michael Scott — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 12:12:08 -0400

Use hearing aids and white noise.

Response by SPC Manny Managuit made Jun 21 at 2019 6:49 PM

SPC Manny Managuit — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 18:49:59 -0400

I mask it with music or try working out. I only notice it when I zoned out

Response by SPC David Batterson made Aug 3 at 2019 12:08 AM

SPC David Batterson — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 00:08:23 -0400

I've had tinnitus since 1991, and long ago learned to live with it. Much of the time I don't "hear it" although it never goes away. Years ago I bought a "Moses/Lang CD" produced by the Oregon Hearing Research Center at Oregon Health Sciences University. It's a temporary relief, provided by listening to what is commonly called "white noise." It's at different frequencies, and you experiment to see which CD tracks work best for you. I've also heard Xanax helps many people, but I haven't tried it, as it can be addictive.

Response by SPC David Batterson made Jan 29 at 2021 3:45 PM

SPC David Batterson — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 15:45:56 -0500

If you haven't applied for VA disability for tinnitus, it's worth a shot. I applied but they turned me down, saying I couldn't prove it happened due to my time in the Army.