| Make sure your ears get rest! If you are lucky this problem can be fixed, but unfortunately most of the "advise" you'll get is the opposite of what you should be doing. For example some "doctors" recommend to have some white noise, background music or other distractions playing while you are trying to fall asleep. Absolutely do NOT do this! The following observation can be made when it comes to hearing damage/loss:
- Constant low-level noise is much more damaging than short exposure to loud noises. Driving by a construction site is less bad than falling asleep with headphones playing.
- Ears need recovery like every other body part, depriving them of recovery can lead to long term hearing problems.
- As long as there is still some sensation the damage is not yet complete, as long as you still hear something there is a hope for recovery. Order of damaging, most > least:
Loud over long period > quiet over long period > loud in short burst > short, quiet noise concert/construction > aircon/fan in bedroom > airplane flyby > phone ringing/insect flyby If there is only one suggestion I can make, it would be to make sure the room you sleep in is absolutely dead silent!! Even if the ringing drives you crazy at night, make sure you can hear it! Do not cover it up!!! Also try to avoid any kind of constant exposure to noise in your daily life - fans, cars, aircon etc. should all be avoided/switched off until your hearing has recovered sufficiently so that you don't notice the ringing any more.
This can take months, your ears don't recover nearly as fast as an injury to your skin for example.
Consider wearing earplugs even in you everyday life, when you are out in the street, at work, etc. It might look stupid but who cares? It's about your ears/sanity!!! Do whatever you can to protect them!!
As a second option try taking vitaming B12 in high dosage together with vinpocetine (google: vinpocetine tinnitus). Attn: this will only work if you follow the advise above, make sure you live in a quite place, vinpocetine could make things even worse because your ears will be MORE sensitive! And as always:
Disclaimer: This is just a suggestion from personal experience, not medical advise, always consult a health professional if a medical condition persists! |
BUT I have spent most of the time trying to mask the sound - mostly by being outside among traffic most of the day, though it always comes back in the evenings / mornings. Then last night I decided to try to stop avoiding it, since without actually confronting it I'm not sure how my brain can get used to it. It was maddening, it does drive me crazy still, but somehow it's less exhausting than the constant fight against it. So I think your advice could still be valid in my case. We'll see. Thanks again for your response.