By Wendy Holub
My tinnitus comes in waves, and I’ve been living with it now for more than six years. In case you don’t know, tinnitus is the sensation of ringing in the ears when an external sound source isn’t actually present.
Loud Noise Takes the Blame
I suspect that the source of my tinnitus is years of unprotected noise exposure that came back to haunt me in my 60s after a couple of exceptionally noisy situations. Shortly before I became acutely aware of the ringing in my right ear, I attended my daughter’s wedding reception. Though the music from the DJ blared, I didn’t even consider earplugs because I wanted to be able to communicate with the guests during such a special occasion. Around this time, my garage alarm also malfunctioned in close proximity to where I was standing.
Before Wendy could recognize that she was experiencing tinnitus, she thought that her garage was infested with crickets.
Following the alarm’s assault on my ears, I found myself convinced the garage was infested with crickets. Of course, there were no six-legged insects in sight. The sound of the crickets was coming from me. What a startling realization that was. I promptly pursued medical assistance.
After a check-in with my primary care doctor, I visited an ENT, who confirmed both tinnitus and high-level hearing loss in my right ear.
Finding Some Relief
The ENT suggested some lifestyle modifications to alleviate the bothersome ringing. After about six months of a medication called Lipo-Flavonoid, which contains ingredients like vitamins B-3, B-6, B-12, and C, and a transition to a low-salt diet, I was able to find considerable relief. For the most part, I maintain considerable relief to this day.
Still, the annoyance remains intermittent as there are no documented cures for tinnitus. Just recently, I had a water filter system installed in my home. The instructions directed me to listen for the water in the tank to stop running. But I could only hear the ringing and chirping of my tinnitus.
I also find my tinnitus annoys me in quiet situations, like when I am reading before bed. Total quiet is not my friend. I’ve tried white noise machines, but I actually find them quite bothersome.
Interestingly, when I had a mild case of COVID-19 in fall 2020, I not only lost my sense of smell, but experienced heightened tinnitus. The ringing eventually returned to its normal levels.
Remaining Hopeful for Better Discoveries
It would be nice if there was some other medication that would help or noise treatment. I’ve been fortunate that it primarily affects my right ear. However, occasionally I do get ringing in my left ear, too, and I’m assuming that will worsen at some point, making life much more difficult. Here’s hoping that more research from organizations like Hearing Health Foundation will bring about better outcomes for tinnitus sufferers like myself in the future.
Wendy Holub lives in Ohio. Please remember to consult your own physician before trying a medication like Lipo-Flavonoid, which has not been proven clinically effective, or making changes to your diet to find relief from tinnitus.
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I do feel like something is lost when older adults are put into what feels like isolation chambers due to our hearing ability. We have something unique to contribute from the perspective of our years, and I would like us to find a way as a society to allow us to do that.