Tinnitus - do you have ringing in the ears?

this thread has been dormant for a while, and since I acquired a bout with tinnitus last year, which I recently managed to shake, I thought I would resurrect it, in case my situation if familiar to others.

My ears started ringing last year. At first I didn't know there was a name for the affliction, but good ol' Google helped me realize it was common. My first assumption was that it was because I listen to my rig 5-6 hours a day. The research I did both on the web, and consulting a physician made me realize that wasn't the most likely cause since my listening levels are typically 80-85 db at the loudest.

Indeed it turned out that in my case, the more likely cause was caffein. I like coffee, always have. I like it strong, really strong. I order quad latte's at Starbucks and they make fun of me.

On to the punch line - after putting up with the ringing that kept getting worse (I could hear it over the music, even when it was turned up), I decided to cut back on the coffee. 2 cups in the morning, that's all. It took about 3 weeks of low coffee intake and the ringing has stopped.

BDgregory

Thanks for the input. I too have a starbuck's addiction (super strong coffee) and a ringing left ear. I need to do what you have done and try cutting back on my caffein as the ringing is getting bothersome. Also I have read that alcohol can cause or worsen tinnitus. I enjoy drinking red wine, especially while listening to music. Like you, I also don't listen to my system at high levels but I do play the piano and it is a large grand and can be quite loud even if I play at low levels. So I will try to cut back on coffee and see if the ringing subsides. And again thanks for sharing your experience I think this is a bigger issue than most people realize.

Chuck

All salicylates will aggravate (or induce) tinnitus, not just aspirin. If you have tinnitus stay away from the worst offender--Pepto-Bismol (bismuth salicylate). I found out the time I took it and it kept me up all night listening to my ear sing LOUDLY (and it only knew one note)!

I've had it for about 4 years after an auto accident whiplash injury. I will be trying out Neuromonics. It's not cheap and insurance "might" cover some of the cost...........www.neuromonics.com. It's a company in Austrailia that invented it. This is a very big issue for me. Seems worse with the cold weather. About 5500 bucks in all. 3K for a Walkman like processor and return visits to have your personalized program adjusted and check progress. That's where the other 2500 goes..........

They match a hidden frequency within music that matches your Tinnitus. You listen 2 hours a day for 6 months. You turn up the volume as needed till your Tinnitus tone is washed out.It isn't a cure, but subliminal "reprogramming" for you brain. After that you still use it as desired. It in theory makes you much less aware of it.

I've searched for hours on the net and so far this is the most promisinng therapy yet..........The ATA is just a bunch of suits making money off of your misery with not much results.

Someone on here mentioned a doc who used the same matching Tinnitus tone and "cured" a patient in a few weeks. I'd like to know where that is.

I'm curious what brands of speakers you all have, and do you find some brands smooth and easy to listen to.

What are they?

From Pete Egoscue's "Pain Free" page 206:

Tinnitus is a condition that often accompanies headaches, poor balance, and positional vertigo. Like the others, its principal effect, ringing in the ears, can be addressed by repositioning the head. The ringing is literally an alarm that is telling us that the inner ear doesn't like the position of the head.""